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HIGH PRISON RECIDIVISM RATE.
Term Paper ID:28486
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Discusses variety of programs to help ex-offenders & prevent prison return, especially among young people. Academic, vocational, drug, religious, social & life skills programs.... More...
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Paper Abstract:
Discusses variety of programs to help ex-offenders & prevent prison return, especially among young people. Academic, vocational, drug, religious, social & life skills programs.
Paper Introduction:
One of the major problems in knowing how to deal with criminals is the high recidivism rate. According to current figures, 62 percent of state prisoners will be re-arrested for a crime within three years of their release, and of these, 41 percent will return to prison (Pierce, 2000). Recidivism rates are highest in the first year after release, and are highest among young offenders: three out of four inmates under the age of 17 are re-arrested, and half will go back to prison (Sudo, 1989). Obviously there is something wrong with the way the justice system is punishing criminals for their crimes: it does not reform them, or deter them from committing further crimes once they are released from prison.
Getting tough on criminals with longer sentences does not seem to be working. The resultant overcrowding means more money is ne
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Religion has been shown toimprove self-image, enhance treatment and rehabilitation programs, helpinmates assume personal responsibility, and potentially reduce recidivism. We love our prisons more than prisoners.Nat. One of the major problems in knowing how to deal with criminals is thehigh recidivism rate. Nation=s Cities Weekly, 23, p. (1998, April). Thirty other statesconsidered employing the same type of system. 6. A14. It also provides a low cost program, which is important giventhe budgetary constraints that are currently limiting rehabilitationprograms in prisons. 54-58. Spirituality has beenshown to help inmates adjust to prison life and to reduce recidivism.Religion seems to give hope, meaning, optimism and security to individuals,all of which will help them return to a normal life once released fromprison, and help prevent recidivism. USA Today (Magazine),122, p. 2. Although everyone seems to agree thateducation and job training, reduce recidivism, the stumbling block appearsto be funding. It includes socialskills training, anger management, oral education, and guided groupinteraction in which participants discuss their problems in a group settingand help each other resolve them. Unfortunately, prison industries are severely hamperedby two 193 s federal laws that drastically limit interstate commerce inprison-made goods. Good News. (1989). (1994, June). A program known as Equip -- Equipping Youth to Help One Another -- isa program using multiple approaches to train juvenile inmates to helpthemselves and others deal with their problems, and has significantlyreduced the recidivism rate (Reducing number, 1994). This wasignored by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison who refused Pell grants toprisoners saying it would be unfair to those who were refused them in 1992due to lack of funding (Zook, 1993). Thisprovides a possibility for having a significant impact on reducingrecidivism. Let prison inmates earn theirkeep. Inmatesprogress from maximum security to a work release program, working outsidethe prison by day, and sleeping there at night. Many studies haveshown that in prisons where inmates are given education and workopportunities, their self-esteem rises and they are equipped to take ameaningful role in society once they leave prison. The programhas significantly reduced the recidivism rate. The Chronicle of HigherEd., 4 , p. For juvenile offenders, nine states have systems which impose amilitary style of discipline known as "shock incarceration," intended toshock the kids into going straight (Kane, 1989). (1994). Amendment would cut off Pell Grants to prisoners,despite data that shows education cuts recidivism. Studies have shown a link between religion and the mental and physicalhealth of prison inmates (Johnson and Larson, 1998). The results have not beenimpressive: just as many graduates of such programs end up back in prisonwithin three years as do those paroled from a general prison program. B7. 5. Scholastic Update,122, pp. In 1996, Edwin Meese and Knut Rostad urged that prison work programsbe expanded because they presented a realistic opportunity to reducerecidivism (Meese and Rostad, 1996). A study by the National Institute ofJustice found the link between drugs and crime was the strongest amongstaddicts using heavy drugs such as cocaine and heroin. Catholic Rep., 33, p. 18-2 . Los Angeles Times, p. Department of Justice report, religious programsattract more inmate participation than any other types of programs with theexception of educational programs (Johnson and Larson, 1998). R. When ondrugs, the user often exhibits erratic and violent behavior, leading tocrime. Nevada is having low-risk offenders draw up re-entry plans outlining where they will live, work,and get needed treatment (Glasser, 2 ); in Washington, the correctionbudget will be divided up based on the risk that ex-offenders represent tothe community: in Maryland, habitual drug offenders must submit to regularurinalysis, in a program that has reduced drug use among participants by 53percent; Florida electronically monitors released violent offenders and sexoffenders; Massachusetts uses surveillance of prisoners expected to commitfurther crimes upon release. Christ. A sense of self-worth,the ability to function in society and relate to others effectively, theskills to enter the job market, and the ability to stay away from drugs andalcohol are all needed skills which need to be taught to inmates if theyare to be prepared for release back into society without fear ofrecidivism. Miller, N. J. Getting tough on criminals with longer sentences does not seem to beworking. Inmate treatment plan proving successful.Austin-American Statesman, B1. With rising prison populations and the need to release prisoners earlyto make room for more, some solution has to be found to reduce recidivism.Research overwhelmingly supports rehabilitation programs that include drugtreatment programs and job training, as well as training in social skills.Various programs are being tested around the country. The resultant overcrowding means more money is needed to houseinmates, so less is spent on rehabilitating them. As far back as 1992, it was noted that there was a correlation betweeneducation for inmates and lowered recidivism rates (Zook, 1993). 16. Many addicts areunemployed and the only way they can afford drugs is by stealing. A Texas program known as RIO -- Re-Integration of Offenders --provides job training and life skills in 85 of its 112 prisons (Baldauf,2 ). B. Prisoners are given academic andvocational programs to prepare them to reintegrate into society. Of those, more than 8 percentwere attending the required after-care programs and were staying out oftrouble with the law. With the burgeoning prison population, moneyfor such programs is scarce and rehabilitation programs suffer. (2 ). (1994). (1998). Smolowe, J. When they are released from jail, they can graduate to apaid job at a city community garden. Pierce, N. If these conditions andbehaviors are not corrected, recidivism will occur. In San Francisco, a Garden Project allows inmates at the San BrunoCounty Jail to work at an organic farm and greenhouse on the premises(Pierce, 2 ). Of 1 82 former inmates in the program, just overfour percent (48) were back in prison, 158 had been lost to followup, andthree had died. Becauseof the overcrowding, conditions in prisons foster criminal behavior, andcan turn even a mild inmate into a violent thug (Smolowe, 1994). They said mounting research showedthat prisoners who have worked in prison industries have learned new skillsand habits that make them less likely to return to crime when they leaveprison. Claretian Publications. At that time,more than 1, inmates had completed the fist phase of the counselingprogram and had been released from prison. Usersmust form an association with a drug pusher, who is often involved in othercrimes, and the user often becomes involved in these activities. (1993). Merely housing prisoners does not prevent themfrom committing further crimes on release, and does nothing to correct theproblems which led them to prison initially. House Speaker Newt Gingrich also called for an overhaul of theprison system, requiring that inmates work, study and be certified drug-free upon release. (1999). In Hampden County, Massachusetts, prisoners are prepared for theirrelease from the day they arrive. Turning inmates into taxpayers, theTexas way. S. Mon., p. At the same time, a study by the Federal Bureau of Prisons showed thatinmates who voluntarily participated in work and vocational trainingprograms during their imprisonment were better able to hold jobs afterrelease and less likely to commit another crime or parole violation thanother former inmates (McLeod, 1992). They can get a job witha future and rise above the conditions that led to their imprisonment. Ex-cons on the street. R., & Larson, D. Recidivism among participants in theprogram is 24 percent, compared to 55 percent for inmates not in theprogram. According to a U. Lois helps ex-offenders with housing, transportation,drug counseling and basic education, and tries to place them in jobs.Delaware offenders who received therapeutic drug treatment, both while inprison and afterward in a work-release program, were 7 percent less likelythan other inmates to return to drug use and incur re-arrest, according tothe National Institute on Drug Abuse (Pierce, 2 ). Theprograms seem to have the most effect on young criminals who would probablyhave benefited just as much from community service, and has no effect onstreet crime. (1997). Drugs & crime: a vicious cycle. The faith factor.Corrections Today, 6 , p. Reducing number of repeat offenders. Sci. Though many prisonersget work in prison, it is often in jobs which they will not be able topursue once they are released, such as cleaning highways in the Californiasystem (Ruether, 1997). With the "war on drugs" throwing more and more people in prison,overcrowding is forcing the release of many nonviolent criminals. 8-9. As far back as1989, a drug crisis spawned a wave of crime that flooded the prison system,making it hard enough to house all the extra inmates, let alonerehabilitate them (Sudo, 1989). Though there has never been a scientific study linking drugs andcrime, law enforcement has never doubted the relationship. The problem is a lackof funding for such programs. Glasser, J. Programs abound, but the core factors that seem to make programs workare providing education, job training skills, socialization skills, anddrug and alcohol treatment. The program also exposes them to positive role modelsand to the idea of restorative justice. In the last three monthsof their sentences, inmates sleep at home, go to work, attend evening classat a day reporting center, and are electronically monitored. Kane, J. 1 Elliot, D. This forms a vicious cycle that sooner or later leads the addict toprison. Johnson, B. In the first two years of the program, the recidivism rate forthose who took the program was 16 percent, compared to 23 percent for thosewho did not take the program, a small but positive improvement. (1996, May). In Wisconsin, as many as 33 percent of violent criminals are repeatoffenders (Good News, 1999). It wasestimated that between 6 percent and 8 percent of people coming into theprisons were there for drug or alcohol related problems. Prisons inmate jobs offer long-termpayoff to society, study finds. (1989). A dose of discipline for first offenders:paramilitary treatment humiliates young criminals - but does it work?Time, 134, pp. U. It has been shown that religiouslycommitted individuals cope better with stress, and are more likely toadhere to societal norms, values and laws. References Baldauf, S. ..And throw away the key. The program offers classes that help inmates learn work values,interview-taking techniques, how to get along with supervisors, and angermanagement. Ruether, R. To earn these privileges,participants must stay drug-free, pay court-ordered child support, work fora high school GED or take college courses, get a California driver'slicense and open a bank account. 17-18. Convicts back on the street - what did we expect? A program in St. S. Catholic, 64, p.9. Meese, E., & Knut, R. The committee hopes that the program willhelp participants find meaning in their lives and help them resolve theirhostile emotions. (2 , May). Time, 143, pp. U. S. Jail shows inmates the steps to freedom.Boston Globe, p. (1992, January). Jails forshort term sentences provide few opportunities for education or work forinmates, while prisons for those serving longer sentences can offer moreresources for prisoners to better equip themselves to return to society. (2 , September). McLeod, D. By the year 1994, drug and alcohol counseling for inmates showedsigns of preventing recidivism in Texas prisons (Elliot, 1994). Wall Street J., p. News & WorldReport, pp. According to current figures, 62 percent of stateprisoners will be re-arrested for a crime within three years of theirrelease, and of these, 41 percent will return to prison (Pierce, 2 ).Recidivism rates are highest in the first year after release, and arehighest among young offenders: three out of four inmates under the age of17 are re-arrested, and half will go back to prison (Sudo, 1989).Obviously there is something wrong with the way the justice system ispunishing criminals for their crimes: it does not reform them, or deterthem from committing further crimes once they are released from prison. Zook, J. While theproblem concentrates on job skills training, it may be more successful ifit is extended to cover social skills, an area in which most inmates arelacking, and one which often leads to recidivism. One reason for recidivism seems to be that many prisoners are merelyhoused in prisons in a violent, abusive environment which mixes firstoffenders with hardened criminals where they have to earn how to survive.A large number of prisoners come from impoverished environments where lifeon the streets and a criminal career were the only choices open to them,and they don't know how to change this (Miller, 1999). It has been proposed that drug rehabilitation programs in prisonsmay help the recidivism rate, but at the time of this article, this had notproved true: 3 percent of prison inmates had already participated in adrug treatment program at some time, but had returned to crime. The legislative committee is exploring theuse of a faith-based program with criminals and others at risk as analternative to locking them up. 24. 1 6-11 . Sudo, P. The justice system finally acknowledged that there was alink between drug and alcohol abuse and crime, and started to take steps toprovide treatment in the hopes of reducing recidivism by eliminating thesource of the criminal behavior.
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