Relapse model
Relapse refers to a situation where the victim returns to a previous state of behavior or mental condition (Percy, 2008). Relapse supports the disease model, and it is linked closely to the medical and psychological models. It is a constituent of the overall process, which is specific to the affected individuals. Relapse is akin to a normal event that can be handled by treatment. The relapse model coincides with a number of medical and psychological behavior models.
Recidivism Model
Recidivism is defined as the act of returning to prison, but generally, it is taken to refer to return to a pattern of a given behavior. However, the focus of recidivism is being caught and being returned to the justice system. Many studies measure recidivism by considering the number of times an individual returns to prison (Hosser, Windzio & Greve, 2008). Studies in this area do not look at the reasons for returning, but only whether the person returned to prison or not.
Harm Reduction Model
This model considers treatment as successful if going through the treatment has less harm than not taking the treatment at all. An example of this aspect is a violent person who completes a treatment program for violent conduct. If in a repeat incidence, the person destroys property, the treatment is considered a success because s/he did not harm the owner of the property. His/her violent behavior is considered to have reduced.
Contrasting the three models
The advantage of the relapse model is its consistency with other treatment efforts. For this model, one reoccurrence of behavior or a lapse is not a treatment failure. The lapses are used as learning points, and they help in understanding the pattern coupled with how to control a full relapse.
Its greatest limitation is the ambiguity in measuring the reoccurrence of the targeted behavior accurately. Forensic treatment providers have to report the relapses, and thus the tendency to fear or hide the reversions makes the measurement of the reoccurrence of the targeted behavior difficult.
One of the advantages of the recidivism model is that by using records for law enforcement such as prison records and offense databases, among others, one can measure the outcomes related to recidivism. This aspect makes the use of this model highly beneficial. However, its challenge is that it does not factor in the reason why the victim returns to the prison.
Finally, the advantage of the harm reduction model is that it takes into account both the frequency and the quality of the behavior (Hanser & Mire, 2011). Therefore, this model is highly adopted by most needle-sharing programs for addicts of heroin in Europe and organizations that distribute condoms for HIV prevention in Africa.
The greatest challenge of the harm reduction is its difficulty in measurement. For example, if a drug addict reduces his/her intake of the drug from “more frequently” to “less frequently,” such a trend is not quantifiable, and the victim is still at risk of other challenges. Therefore, the model is qualitative.
An individual can complete a treatment program for sexually abusing children, and then in a repeat incidence, he returns to prison due to watching pornography. Using the relapse model, the client is a treatment failure due to the relapse of the behavior patterns (sexually minded). Using the recidivism model, he is also a treatment failure because he has returned to prison. However, with the harm reduction model, he is a treatment success because although he has returned to prison due to sexual habits, he did not cause harm to any person.
Conclusion
Each of the three models offers a different perspective on a problem and its treatment outcome. Therefore, forensic clinicians should be familiar with the models as this aspect helps them to adopt the best approach to treatment and measurement of success. None of the three models is superior to the other. Therefore, the best model is the one that is used properly towards the targeted problem.
References
Hanser, D., & Mire, S. (2011). Correctional counseling. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
Hosser, D., Windzio, M., & Greve, W. (2008). Guilty and shame as predictors of recidivism: A longitudinal study with young prisoners. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 35(1), 138-152.
Percy, A. (2008). Moderate adolescence drug use and the development of substance use self-regulation. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 32(5), 451-458.