Using 100 words or more please elaborate further on the following opinion/response:
Mental health facilities can offer a wide range of programs that a defendant may be confined to.They can be enrolled in a drug and alcohol addiction programs or even psychological programs like anxiety disorder, autism, and schizophrenia. The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections states that “one-fourth of their prison population suffers from some sort of mental illness, and the treatment of these individuals was a significant concern.”(Pa.gov). The different programs may offer support groups where the offender can relate to others.It can be very helpful to these offenders to have people reaching for the same goals as they are.They can be there to support and to hold each other accountable.
I believe that the offender should not have the right to refuse the alternative sentence.The Judge should be evaluating the offender and finding what is best for the defendant to gain and learn for his/her mistake.With the evaluation they determine what type of sentence is going to be the most successful in completing the sentence they were given.One of the ideas of giving alternative sentencing is to help the defendant with overcoming their issues.If an offender is getting a sentence to a mental facility for psychological help they are most likely not in the right state of mind to make a good decision about a safe effective sentence.They will have suggestions from the Judge to complete a series of classes and counseling.If they are being sentenced to an addiction treatment center it may not be as effective.
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