How does music influence human nature particularly in the youth - Research Paper Example

Psychological treatments are important in offsetting the negative effects that incarceration has on an individual (Donohoe, 2012, p. 367). It is effectual with young people more than with old offenders. Psychological treatments are highly recommended for the young offenders because their offending rates are high. In addition, it helps to determine if an early intervention could avert them from getting deeper into crime. It is considered more effectual to give psychological treatment in prison than in community corrections. This is because those in prison tend to consent treatment more readily. Psychological treatments are known to help offenders in a number of ways, which include reducing the rate at which they are rearrested. They also help offenders gain self-control and improve their interpersonal skills in solving problems. The treatment also helps them comprehend issues from other people’s point of view, thus avoiding egocentrism. The offenders moral values improve and they embrace critical reasoning. Anger management is a crucial skill learned in this process, and it assists the individuals undergoing through it not to rush into action when they are angry. The anger management is, however, not to make them avoid becoming angry, but rather to help them monitor their reactions. Nevertheless, psychologists argue that although psychological treatment is authorized in sentencing offenders, its effectiveness is debatable. Many argue that the offenders deserve punishment while in prison, and treatment is pointless. This is because they may not change their behaviours, or are unwilling to do so. They may also opt for treatment not because they can change, but to avoid judgement from the society. Criminal behaviour may include sexual offences, manslaughter, and robbery with violence. An offender may be led to such actions by mental illness, poor social integration skills, factors of unemployment, drug or substance abuse, and the lack of intimate relationships. Depression is also another factor that may lead a person to commit an offence (Evans, 1998). Criminal treatment programmes may be risky especially if there is a motivation factor. This is because offenders may not be willing to change, but may participate for other reasons such as lenience from the society. Offenders confined respond well than those in community corrections to psychological treatment. Participation of offenders in the programme does not mean that they are remorseful about their actions. Motivating the offenders to participate in the programmes may lead to their release without necessarily getting reformed (Bukten, et al., 2011). The offenders, therefore, may be dangerous if released to the society. In the example of sex offenders, psychological treatment has not proved to be effective. This is because some of the factors that may lead them to reoffending are not treated. This includes poor control of emotions, unusual sexual arousal, and weakness to shun reoffending among other social related skills. Emotional loneliness is also not taken into consideration, thus leading to modest positive results of success in the treatment. The programme is effective especially in young offenders that they reform, and the chances of reoffending decrease. Some, however, may not reform even after the programmes, and may reoffend after release. More interventions like cognitive therapy are developed for people who do not reform through treatment. Recent research shows that the rates of recidivism for offenders treated decreased significantly compared to those not treated. In sex offenders, topical research shows that recidivism rates were 17.3% for those offenders not treated while in prison. Among those who underwent treatment, the recidivism was 9.9%. Psychologists have challenges in persuading the law enforcers to give credit to treatment. This is because the society’s stand on their offences especially sex offenders, disapproves treatment. The differences of recidivism rates between treated and untreated offenders may not be large. This is because offenders commit crime for different reasons. The programmes stipulated, therefore, cannot cover all the reasons for offence. Recidivism can also happen due to a number of reasons. In sexual offences, the number of times the offence is committed is a contributing factor to recidivism. Insufficient intimacy, sexual obsession, and age also increase the chances of the offender relapsing into sex offences. The young offenders benefit immensely from psychological treatment making it essential for reforming. (Lievore, 2004). However, this treatment does not guarantee that the offender cannot fall back once released. This is because the courts largely depend on the prison psychologists report on the progress of the offender. This becomes difficult because the offenders may not give all the information required to determine their progress reports. This is caused by the reason that reporting crimes committed other than those the offenders are convicted of leads to supplementary prosecution or extended sentences. Offenders, therefore, may withhold information from their psychologists for these reasons. This consequently may lead to biased reports hence increasing the rate of recidivism upon release of the offender. References Bukten, A. et al., 2011, ‘The influence of programme differences on crime reduction in opioid maintenance treatment, An analysis of regional patterns in Norway’.. Norsk Epidemiologi, vol. 21 no.1, pp. 99-106. Donohoe, M, 2012, Public Health and Social Justice. John Wiley & Sons, New York. EVANS, R J, 1998, Tales from the German: Underworld Narratives of Crime and Punishment in the Nineteenth Century. New York Times, p. 1. Lievore, D, 2004. Recidivism of Sexual Assault Offenders: Rates, Risk Factors and Treatment Efficacy. [Online] Available at: http://aic.gov.au/documents/C/7/5/%7BC75FBED3-38E3-4FB2-AA62-5E94CE775717%7D2003-06-recidivism.pdf [Accessed 11 December 2012]. Read More