You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
In some countries, governments are making some criminals do voluntary community work rather than being put in prison.
To what extent do you agree with this?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experiences.
You should write at least 250 words.
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IELTS Task 2 Band 9 Sample Essay
It is often noted that many governments are adopting policies that allow a few offenders to perform charitable services instead of staying in prison. I completely agree with this idea because it helps prevent recidivism as the convicts gain some important employment skills from the volunteer work and earn new connections that can bring them new jobs after serving the sentences.
According to the site Good Hire, volunteering curbs criminal thinking. “When a former offender understands the concept of ‘giving back’ through volunteering, that goes a very long way towards changing negative thought patterns,” the site says. Volunteering can help ex-felons improve the skills they have and develop new skills. Thus, they gain opportunity to practice the skills they already have and try new things usually in a low-pressure environment. Low pressure because it is just volunteering where employers are never going to pass on hiring someone just because they are more skilled.
From a different perspective, for ex-felons especially, it can be difficult to prove to a potential employer that they are worth the risk. Volunteering is a great way to deal with this challenge, because it helps these convicts get out there in the society, make new connections and meet a whole new circle of friends who can attest their skills to the potential employers in the future. Thus, an ex-felon can get the opportunity to prove that he or she is reliable, respectful, and hard-working. When an employer sees this, he or she is much more likely to take a chance and offer a paid position.
In conclusion, offenders should be given the opportunity to rehabilitate themselves, they should be facilitated to engage with the community through voluntary activities where they can learn new skills and develop a new network generating their potential employment and distracting from criminal thought.
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