Prison recidivism - Research Paper Example

?Justin Jarman Susan Doody Eng 112 July 10, Prison Recidivism Introduction Various practitioners affected by deviant behavior have been intrigued by diverse factors contributory to crime. The quest to determine the origins and evolution of criminal behavior was traced by Barak, Leighton and Flavin to a critically identified period of revolution, classified as the revolution of reason in 1764 (Barak, Leighton and Flavin 3). With criminology’s story transcending marked periodic revolts spanning centuries followed by the revolution of science (1876) and revolution of reflexivity (1976), a greater understanding on the nature and tendencies for criminals to exhibit repeated relapse to crime has been closely delved into. The current research is conducted for the benefit of students, parole and probation officers and community service providers who have stipulated genuine interest on the subject and who should be persuaded to be more aware on the factors that initiate repeated criminal activities of previously apprehended people found to commit crimes. The audience would be persuaded to be vigilant and monitor the propensities for criminal behavior in order to address and prevent potential future dilemmas. In this regard, the objective of the research is to contend that people who have previously exhibited and manifested criminal behavior have greater tendencies and susceptibilities for relapse. The discourse would initially define what criminal behavior is in general before expounding on issues and factors that pave the way for criminals to manifest a habital relapse of their deviant behavior. Criminal Behavior In general, criminal behavior have been explained in terms of exemplifying antisocial behavior defined as “any action that violates accepted moral, ethical, or legal standards” (Moeller 2). Any behavior that is deemed deviant from normal and traditional standards, as conformed and dictated by the society, are thereby considered antisocial and veering towards criminal behavior. The motives behind most crimes have been persistently examined in terms of determining internal factors and external factors that contribute to their occurrence. Some suggest that criminal behavior are the result of basic human urges ranging from craving for excitement, wanting to get more than what one presently possess (greed), desire to impose oneself on others (lust) and to apply violent behavior due to anger, disgust, and other strong emotions (rage). The problem arises when people entertain the proliferation of these human urges beyond the laws and rules set by society. In study conducted by Burton and Marshall significantly explained pathways to criminal behavior by citing the research of Moffitt who distinguished and categorized two types of antisocial people: the life-course-persistent individuals who have been identified to be susceptible to persistently manifest in continuous engagement of deviant behavior; and the adolescence-limited, as the term implies, are only involved in criminal behavior in a temporal state, usually during the development stage of adolescence when other skills and behavioral facets are still an ongoing process of growth (Moffitt 674; cited in Burton and Marshall 47). Citing additional researches, Burton and Marshall stated that “entering the criminal justice at an early age generally leads to an increase in future offending” (Burton and Marshall 47). At this point, the research would determine factors that increase the chance of individuals to engage in criminal activities. Factors for Prison Recidivism The results of diverse studies on crime have paved to way for researches to indicate that there are common factors that have been found to increase the tendencies for individuals to engage in antisocial and deviant behavior. Burton and Marshall have enumerated the risk factors, defined as “factors that increase the risk occurrence of events, such as the onset, frequency, persistence, or duration of offending” (Farrington, Industrial, family and peer factors in the development of delinquency 27; McGuire) ranging from individuals with parents who have been involved in previous criminal acitivities; those who were associated with peer members manifesing delinquent behavior; those individuals who are members of large families; those who are products of broken homes; and those who experience difficulties in academic endeavors (Burton and Marshall 48). These factors have significantly increased the propensities for individuals to commit crime due to pressures that impinge them bordering on family problems (expected of large families, those from broken homes, and especially when exposure to criminal activities have been imposed by parents who exhibited antisocial and deviant behavior themselves) and on peer problems (including compliance to academic requirements and standards expected from the educational institutions). For those who have been categorized to belong to the life-course persistent individuals with a history of criminal behavior and have repeatedly relapsed into engaging in future criminal act, the distinct factors that lead into recidivism are hereby identified. The study conducted by Nilsson aimed to determine what factors lead to ex-convict’s relapse in engaging in criminal activities. Initially, definition of the term was qualified as “individuals as having reoffended when they, following the release from prison, have committed a new offence and as a consequence received a sentence to be served within the prison and probation system” (Nilsson 63). The author’s findings indicated that “problems relating to education and employment, but above all an accumulation of different types of resource problems, are clearly correlated with recidivism” (Nilsson 57). The discourse identified relevant statistics and figures related to recidivism in terms of type of crimes that are more often repeated: theft and drug offenses; the demographic profile: younger individuals more than older ones; foreigners over nationals; and men over women (Nilsson 59). Prison recidivism were proffered to be exacerbated by resource problems, identified as follows: (1) those found to have educational problems; (2) no prior employment history; (3) those with financial dilemmas; (4) those with no identified residences; (5) no previous associations with family members; (6) with identified health problems; and (7) those identified to have been exposed to violence and thereby considers themselves unsafe (Nilsson 65-66). More importantly, the perception and actual experiences of ex-convicts in terms of according assistance from welfare programs, the crucial importance of receiving assistance in education and employment were given priorities and the lack of access to these programs were deemed instrumental in recidivism (Nilsson 79). Having determined the reasons behind prison recidivism, the final portion of the research would support the contention that people who have previously exhibited and manifested criminal behavior have greater tendencies and susceptibilities for relapse. Argumentative Analysis It has been explicitly stated that people who have previously exhibited and manifested criminal behavior have greater tendencies and susceptibilities for relapse, especially for those who fall under the identified profile: those who have committed or have potentials to commit theft and drug offenses;younger individuals; male; and foreigners trying to support and sustain their living in another country. From the given prisoner profile, the identification of factors that increase the propensities for ex-convicts to relapse and engage in future criminal activities require closer evaluation of these resource difficulties and address them to prevent recidivism. By identifying the root causes for criminal behavior, at the onset, community organizations tasked with providing social welfare programs should focus on enhancing support from the family and strengthening family relationships. The identified familial problems should be detected and social workers for spouses and children of prisoners must be oriented to strengthen their bonds through counseling, offering interventions and holistic support; as well as determining ways and means to provide educational and employment support, as required. The research studies cited by Burton and Marshall validated the argument that criminal offenders who entered the criminal justice system at an early age have greater tendencies to relapse (Farrington; Moffitt; McGuire as cited in Burton and Marshall 47). In this regard, practitioners, such as parole and probation officers and social workers, who are directly involved in interacting with these individuals, must work hand in hand to identify risk factors and deficient resources that could contribute to repeated criminal behavior. Conclusion Prison recidivism continue to pervade and exist in contemporary societies. With diverse research and studies that identified risk factors for their increased proliferation, crime practitioners, parole and probation officers, in conjuction with community social workers must collaborately work towards addressing resource deficiencies with the aim of preventing recidivism. By assisting in the re-entry of prisoners to society, ex-convicts could eventually be productive members of society through increasing morale and confidence in themselves and implementing appropriate interventions that would help them generate higher productivity and opportunities for personal and professional growth. References Barak, Gregg, Paul Leighton and Jeanne Flavin. Class, Race, Gender, and Crime: the Socia Realities of Justice in America. 2010 Burton, Jodi M and Lisa A. Marshall. "Protective factors for youth considered at risk of criminal behavior: does participation in extracurricular activities help?" Criminal Behavior and Mental Health (2005): Volume 15, 46-64. Farrington, DP. "Industrial, family and peer factors in the development of delinquency." Hollin, CR and K. Howell. Clinical Approaches to Working with Young Offenders. Chichester: Wiley, 1996. 21-56. —. Understanding and Preventing Youth Crime. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 1996. McGuire, J. "Community-based intervention." Hollin, CR. Working with Offender: Psychological Practice in Offender Rehabilitation. Chichester: Wiley, 1996. 63-93. Moeller, Thomas. "Youth Aggression and Violence: A Psychological Approach." NetLibrary, 2001. Moffitt, TE. "Adolescence-limited and life-course-persistent antisocial behavior: a developmental taxonomy." Psychological Review (1993): Volume 100, 674-701. Nilsson, Anders. "Living Conditions, Social Exclusion and Recidivism among Prison Inmates." Journal of Scandinavian Studies in Criminology and Crime Prevention (2003): Volume 4, 57 - 83. Read More