Chronic Offenders - Assignment Example

Chronic Offenders Question Chronic offenders can be rehabilitated, but in rare cases. Majority of these chronic offenders are hardcore criminals who perceive crime as a tradition and lifestyle (Martinson). Nevertheless, these offenders can be rehabilitated using appropriate correctional models design to give them other ways of living. In contrast to Martinson’s suggestion in 1974 in the ‘Nothing Works doctrine’, research has shown that psychotherapy and education, if employed tactfully to the chronic offenders, may overcome or even significantly reduce the tendency of these offenders to continue with criminal behaviors.

A group of North American researchers, including Don Andrews, Paul Gendreau, Robert Ross and Ted Palmer were reanalyzing data in 1975, same time as Martinson was announcing that only a few things had effect on recidivism, and found out that many things worked in contrast to the report that Martinson was basis his theory on. The re-analysis of the facts proved that the ‘Nothing works doctrine’ was wrong, a claim which was further boosted by Martinson’s proclamation of the same in his paper in 1979, acknowledging the errors in the earlier reviews.

Since then, a number of meta-analytical study results verify the efficacy of some of the correctional approaches to chronic offenders. Instances include review of twelve meta-analyses on correctional treatment by Losel, which estimated the effects sizes of these treatment ranges between r=+.05 and r=+.36, with a mean of r=+.10 in all the cases analyzed. McGuire followed suite in 2000 with analysis of six other meta-analyses, obtaining a reduction rate on recidivism of between 5% and 10%. His conclusion was that some methods of correction were more effective and consistent than other, but rehabilitation definitely worked on chronic offenders.

Question 2Punishment-oriented correctional measures are not effective. Personally, I perceive these punishments as crime cultivators; enhancing the growth of what they claim to root out. The intimidation of the offenders by punishment-oriented measures does not lower the risk of these offenders engaging in crime, rather, it increases it. Recidivism increases with each punishment. These sentiments are consistent with the recent research carried out by RAND Corporation on adult inmates of state prisons in America (Franklin, Pratt & Gau, 2011).

Inmates subjected to punishments had a tendency to commit more crimes than those subjected to rehabilitation measures. According to Robert Ross and Gendreau, claims of effective rehabilitation of chronic offenders outweigh the ideology of deterrence or punishment. From these facts, the criminal justice should put major focus on the best method for rehabilitation, not punishment. Question 3The central role of the police system is to safeguard the safety of innocent civilians from criminals. Over the years, police officers have been receiving credit in their roles in the protection role so much that the root of these crimes left unattended.

They should engage in understanding the criminal mind of the offenders and try to find alternatives other than arresting and prosecution of criminals. The fact that no human was born a criminal attests to this proposal. Protection of civilians from criminals is a good measure, even better, but the best measure would be to prevent the occurrence of such crimes. This is attainable by rehabilitation of criminals on their first convictions. Techniques like cognitive problem solving, supported independent living, training in inter-personal skills, behavior contracting, job training, negotiation skills, and an intense residential treatment for violent criminals (Siegel, 2008).

Nonetheless, both protection and prevention of crime should be part of the police officers’ training programs. ReferencesFranklin, T. W., Pratt, T. C., & Gau, J. M. (2011). Key Ideas in Criminology and CriminalJustice. California: Sage Publications, Inc. Martinson, R. What Works? Questions and Answers on Prison Reforms. Web. Retrieved on November 8, 2011, from http://www.nationalaffairs.com/public_interest/detail/what-worksquestions-and-answers-about-prison-reformSiegel, L. J. (2008). Introduction to Criminal Justice.

Belmont, California: Cengage Learning.