There Is Hope for Change for Armed Robbery Offenders - Assignment Example

There is hope for change for armed robbery offenders-Cincinnati Security Prison, Ohio Student’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Course Code & Name: Date of Submission Abstract Prison systems have for a long time been recognized is the most ideal formal method of curtailing the magnitude of deviance in diverse societies. Against this background, there is a generic consensus among the retributivists and deterrent philosophers that a deviant should be subjected to punishment in order to make him ‘pay’ for his actions and to deter him or other from committing crime (Obioha, 2011). Nonetheless, the advent of necessity to rehabilitate the offenders has prompted a paradigm shift in the recent past which has seen the instigation of rehabilitation programs in many prisons. This paper is an effort to justify the paramount role played by these programs in the reformation process of inmates at Cincinnati Security Prison. In addition, it will forward some fundamental recommendations that can be chief in enhancing these programs for them to effectively and efficiently satisfy the purpose for which they were established to serve in the aforementioned facility. Keywords: Rehabilitation, imprisonment, offenders Table of Contents Abstract 2 Table of Contents 3 There is hope for change for armed robbery offenders-Cincinnati Security Prison, Ohio 4 How are behaviors acquired? 5 Why strengthen rehabilitation programs for armed offenders? 6 Conclusion and recommendations 9 References 10 There is hope for change for armed robbery offenders-Cincinnati Security Prison, Ohio Rehabilitation as it is predominant in law can generally be perceived as helping a person (s) who has been released from prison (or is still in prison) to readapt back to society. This definition has had a great impact on the way rehabilitation is understood in international law (Villalba, 2009). The city of Cincinnati in Ohio is characterized by diverse forms of violent crimes ranging from murders, arson, rapes, robberies, assaults, auto-theft, burglary and general theft among others. However, the scope of this analysis is confined to the fundamental importance of rehabilitation to armed offenders. It is imperative to be cognizant of the fact that another submission has been forwarded, proposing recommendations towards the rehabilitation program at Cincinnati Security Prison but the following analysis is vital in raising some of the issues in regard to both my submission and the submission of the other colleague. It is important at this juncture to have a comprehensive understanding on how behaviors are acquired in order to gain some clarity on the context of Cincinnati Security Prison. How are behaviors acquired? There are two rudimentary arguments among psychologists in regard to how behaviors are acquired among individuals and collectives. According to Nevid (2007), genetics play a major role in diverse forms of abnormal behaviors. In this regard, it is evident that some biological aspects based on the genetic formation of an individual are key in informing the forms of behavior. This model also stresses that most behaviors are inherited and thus shaped by genetic factors. The second argument is that behaviors are shaped by the socio-cultural orientation of an individual, and thus informed by the environmental surroundings. Certain behaviors like aggression towards other people and submission to the authority are greatly influenced by the socio-cultural exposure of an individual (Triandis & Suh, 2002). Consequently, it is apparent that interplay between diverse factors play a massive role in shaping the eventual behaviors among the armed robbery offenders at Cincinnati Security Prison. Against this background, the subsequent analysis will explore the imperative role that can be played by rehabilitation programs in the facility in reforming the behaviors of the above category of inmates at Cincinnati Security Prison. Why strengthen rehabilitation programs for armed offenders? Many reasons have been forwarded in profound efforts to justify the instigation and the eventual implementation of rehabilitation programs in prison facilities. Diverse proponents ranging from religious groups, human rights activists and feminists have stressed the importance of robust rehabilitation programs in prisons. However, this analysis will take a holistic approach to rehabilitation aimed at deducing formidable inferences on the role the rehabilitation programs can play in both enhancing the lives of prisoners in terms of elevating their usefulness in the society as well as in prevention of prospective future criminal activities. Garland (1985) noted that individuals in prisons ought to be helped towards ‘competence, character and usefulness’ in the service of the proper collective goals of a secular state-a good citizen rather than merely a good person. This presumption is at the heart of the instigation of a rehabilitation program at Cincinnati Security Prison. In this regard, rehabilitation is viewed as the most ideal mechanism of molding the armed offenders into becoming competent and useful members of the state. This can be perceived in two-folds. Firstly, offering of relevant knowledge and skills to inmates can be imperative in heightening their competence when they get back to the society. This can either be through being exposed to educational knowledge or being impacted with technical skills. In either of the methods, the knowledge and skill level among the armed offenders will be impacted molding them into becoming reliable and self-sufficient members of the society. On the other hand, counseling can play a major role in reshaping the character of the armed offenders. This is against the background the many inmates engage in armed robbery among other vices due to sheer lack of proper guidance and direction. When this is coupled with environmental exposure, it has detrimental impacts in the generation of widespread vices among many members of the Cincinnati population. Against this background, it is apparent that rehabilitation programs can play a pivotal role in achieving both of the above ends. Secondly, rehabilitation has often been perceived as a human right to those inmates who have various forms of illnesses mental, psychological or physical. Raynor and Robinson (2009) determined that treating people who are ill is normally viewed as a proper and desirable activity. This has been a major argument by advocates of rehabilitation which is often perceived as attempts to add legitimacy to their efforts and to assert that the interest of individual’s need lie core to their approach. Nonetheless, despite the nature of intent among proponents, rehabilitation plays a major role in upholding the fundamental human rights of offenders. Based on the fact that some of the inmates committed their respective crimes primarily out of psychological imbalance or under the influence of drugs, rehabilitation programs can be chief in assisting them to regain their virtuous behaviors. On the other hand, rehabilitation programs are principal in helping the inmates to come together and share experiences in regard to various issues like substance abuse and living positively with certain diseases. This can be instrumental in not only heightening the level of awareness among offenders but also in promoting attitude change towards living positively with certain conditions. Another rationale of rehabilitation programs that has been core among religious proponents is based on spiritual welfare. Vanstone (2004) perceived the extension of missionary activities into prisons as an inherent effort to persuade sinners to reform which is both good for the soul as well as minimizing the harm that they would otherwise do to themselves and their families. Despite this justification tracing its roots in religion, it is apparent that rehabilitation is chief in elevating the level of virtues among the armed offenders at Cincinnati Security Prison. In this regard, the inmates will be informed about the merits of a virtuous life as responsible members of their respective families and societies as well minimizing the causal factors of criminal activities, for instance, drug abuse. It is also worth to be cognizant of the fact that there is a probability that some of the armed offenders who are confined in this property are basically innocent and probably victims of false evidence in court or mistaken identity. Other inmates who are also in confinement are waiting for the deliberations on pending appeals or conclusion of the evidence collection process by the law enforcement agencies. Against this background, rehabilitation programs are imperative in helping the ‘presumed’ armed offenders to accept their current situation and heighten their optimism in the pending processes mentioned above. This can be chief in reducing the suicide rates in the facility as well as the prevalence of depression cases among the inmates. Finally, based on the fact that some of the armed offenders at Cincinnati Security Prison engage in the criminal activities due to a general feeling of rejection from the society, Raynor and Robinson (2009) suggested that rehabilitation programs can be restorative aimed at re-establishment of social bonds that will not only offer the offender membership of a community but also strengthen informal controls over his/her behavior. Subsequently, rehabilitation programs are key in establishing a mechanism of social interaction that will reduce the seclusion and the feeling of societal isolation among the offenders. Conclusion and recommendations From the above discourse, it is apparent that the instigation of rehabilitation programs at targeting armed offenders at Cincinnati Security Prison can be beneficial in many ways both to the individual offenders, their overall coexistence in the facility as well as to the wider societies and the state. Various approaches can be used to enhance the process of rehabilitation at the facility. Firstly, the involvement of competent and professional counselors in the process can be chief in the efforts to impact knowledge and skills among the armed offenders. Secondly, the prison ought to set apart some specific time for rehabilitation which will help in ensuring consistency and regularity. Finally, the financial and human capital investment of the state in these programs ought to be elevated in order to increase their efficiency and overall outcome. References Garland, D. (1985) Punishment and Welfare: A History of Penal Strategies. Aldershot: Gower. Nevid, J. S., (2007). Psychology: Concepts and Applications, 2nd ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. Obioha, E.E (2011). Challenges and Reforms in the Nigerian Prisons System. Journal of Social Sciences, 27(2), 95-109. Raynor, P. & Robinson, G., (2009).Why Help Offender? Argument for Rehabilitation as a penal strategy. European Journal of Probation, 1(1), 3-20. Triandis, H.C. & Suh, E.M., (2002). Cultural Influences on Personality. Annual Review of Psychology, 53, 133-160. Vanstone, M. (2004) Supervising Offenders in the Community: A History of Probation Theory and Practice, Aldershot: Ashgate. Villalba, C.S (2009). Rehabilitation as a Form of Reparation under International Law. London: The Redress Trust. Read More

Consequently, it is apparent that interplay between diverse factors play a massive role in shaping the eventual behaviors among the armed robbery offenders at Cincinnati Security Prison. Against this background, the subsequent analysis will explore the imperative role that can be played by rehabilitation programs in the facility in reforming the behaviors of the above category of inmates at Cincinnati Security Prison. Why strengthen rehabilitation programs for armed offenders? Many reasons have been forwarded in profound efforts to justify the instigation and the eventual implementation of rehabilitation programs in prison facilities.

Diverse proponents ranging from religious groups, human rights activists and feminists have stressed the importance of robust rehabilitation programs in prisons. However, this analysis will take a holistic approach to rehabilitation aimed at deducing formidable inferences on the role the rehabilitation programs can play in both enhancing the lives of prisoners in terms of elevating their usefulness in the society as well as in prevention of prospective future criminal activities. Garland (1985) noted that individuals in prisons ought to be helped towards ‘competence, character and usefulness’ in the service of the proper collective goals of a secular state-a good citizen rather than merely a good person.

This presumption is at the heart of the instigation of a rehabilitation program at Cincinnati Security Prison. In this regard, rehabilitation is viewed as the most ideal mechanism of molding the armed offenders into becoming competent and useful members of the state. This can be perceived in two-folds. Firstly, offering of relevant knowledge and skills to inmates can be imperative in heightening their competence when they get back to the society. This can either be through being exposed to educational knowledge or being impacted with technical skills.

In either of the methods, the knowledge and skill level among the armed offenders will be impacted molding them into becoming reliable and self-sufficient members of the society. On the other hand, counseling can play a major role in reshaping the character of the armed offenders. This is against the background the many inmates engage in armed robbery among other vices due to sheer lack of proper guidance and direction. When this is coupled with environmental exposure, it has detrimental impacts in the generation of widespread vices among many members of the Cincinnati population.

Against this background, it is apparent that rehabilitation programs can play a pivotal role in achieving both of the above ends. Secondly, rehabilitation has often been perceived as a human right to those inmates who have various forms of illnesses mental, psychological or physical. Raynor and Robinson (2009) determined that treating people who are ill is normally viewed as a proper and desirable activity. This has been a major argument by advocates of rehabilitation which is often perceived as attempts to add legitimacy to their efforts and to assert that the interest of individual’s need lie core to their approach.

Nonetheless, despite the nature of intent among proponents, rehabilitation plays a major role in upholding the fundamental human rights of offenders. Based on the fact that some of the inmates committed their respective crimes primarily out of psychological imbalance or under the influence of drugs, rehabilitation programs can be chief in assisting them to regain their virtuous behaviors. On the other hand, rehabilitation programs are principal in helping the inmates to come together and share experiences in regard to various issues like substance abuse and living positively with certain diseases.

This can be instrumental in not only heightening the level of awareness among offenders but also in promoting attitude change towards living positively with certain conditions. Another rationale of rehabilitation programs that has been core among religious proponents is based on spiritual welfare.

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