When criminals are prosecuted, the two ways that they can be dealt with are retributive or restorative. Some people think that the criminals should just be kept away from society and locked up. Others believe that people can change and criminals deserve a chance to turn their lives around. On one hand, I believe that depending on the crime, everyone deserves a second chance. On the other hand, what if the criminal doesn’t want to put in the effort to restore their life? The way I would resolve this is simple. All criminals deserve a second chance to a certain extent.

        The punishment is part of the process. Without punishment, the criminal won’t learn. That is where it is necessary to be retributive, depending on the crime. The improvement the criminal makes should be due to the punishments he or she has endured. After the character of the criminal has improved, the criminal should begin the restorative process. Then a court hearing should occur to see where the criminal should go from there. A similar process is shown in Great Expectations. Magwitch is a criminal that was put through a lot before he used his fortune to help Pip. After he had endured so much, his character improved, so he was able to repay Pip, and Pip became a gentleman as a direct result of Magwitch’s experiences with people like Compeyson. Magwich didn’t turn his life around, yet he did turn Pip’s life around. Obviously, in Great Expectations, the law is extremely different, yet the impact that it has on one’s life seems to be the same so far.