Andrew Peyton Thomas

Imprisoning criminals reduces the crime rate because it removes criminals from society, thus limiting their ability to commit more crimes, argues Andrew Peyton Thomas in the following viewpoint. In addition, imprisoning criminals teaches them that they will be punished for their crime, Thomas maintains, which acts as a strong deterrent in the future. As long as society continues to incarcerate criminals, Thomas contends that the crime rate will continue to fall. Thomas is an attorney and author of Crime and the Sacking of America: The Roots of Chaos.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What are the two ways in which incarceration can reduce the crime rate, according to the author?
2. In the author’s opinion, why are violent crimes such as murder and rape not as well suited to the imprisonment- reduces-crime theory?
3. Which...