Catching criminals is only half of the problem in preventing crime. The system is ineffective if people continue committing crimes after their release from correctional facilities. Unfortunately, according to CSG Justice Center (2012), half of the offenders will become recidivists. The effects of such a program are minimal on society and criminals themselves. Even though on the surface, the punishment might seem tough and scary for the offenders, without a proper system of rehabilitation in place, criminals are more likely to continue committing crimes.
Criminals, like any other human, are different, and some things may work on some but not others. CSG Justice Center (2012) discusses the experience and proposes solutions to increase its effectiveness. For example, one of the factors that can increase the effect of rehabilitation programs is risk assessment and targeting. According to Worrall (2014), “People often opine that rehabilitation and treatment programs work for some people and not others” (p. 280). CSG Justice Center (2012) notes in the example of the Ohio corrections facility that an increase in the intensity of rehabilitation programs yields negative effects on low-risk groups of offenders. In other words, it boosts recidivism rates in this group of offenders. At the same time, it creates positive results in high-risk individuals, lowering recidivism rates. The same is with the longevity of the program. In the low-risk group, it has no effect, while in the high-risk group, it has proportional positive effects. Thus, it is important to identify the risk and plan the rehabilitation programs accordingly, focusing more on high-risk individuals.
One of the most interesting things about rehabilitation is the need for social care. Sometimes because of media, criminals are mystified, and the work of their minds is portrayed as something alien. However, according to CSG Justice Center (2012), criminals are just people with low sensitivity to risk and rates of responsibility. They lack meaningful human connections and a healthy, positive environment that encourages the development of responsibility and coping skills. Therefore, to rehabilitate them successfully, some degree of social care is important. They need to be integrated into society to build meaningful relationships and learn these things. Overall, this research shows that people working in rehabilitation facilities should not focus on their internalized prejudices about criminals but should study the best methods to achieve their goals.
References
CSG Justice Center. (2012). Recidivism Forum: Policies and Practices[Video]. YouTube.
Worrall, J. L. (2014). Crime control in America: What works?. Pearson Higher Ed.