What underlying assumption is present in the argument for keeping arrested criminals behind bars?

The assumption that release leads to increased crime rates is fundamental to the argument for keeping arrested criminals behind bars. This belief suggests that if individuals who have been arrested are released, there is a higher likelihood that they may engage in further criminal activity, thereby posing a risk to public safety.

This assumption influences the rationale for maintaining incarceration as a means of preventing potential crimes and ensuring community safety. It presupposes that without the deterrent of imprisonment, those individuals might reoffend, thus justifying the approach of keeping them incarcerated to protect society. The argument hinges on a fear of recidivism and a belief in the effectiveness of imprisonment as a preventive measure.