How to reduce offender recidivism

Retribution is “punishment administered for a wrong committed” (American Heritage Dictionary). Rehabilitation means “to restore to useful life, as through therapy and education” (American Heritage Dictionary). What has the best results? So far it seems as if rehabilitation is the better of the two forms of punishments. People expect offenders to come out of prison reformed and to be productive members of society. Retributive justice inflicts pain on the offender. This only teaches the offender to inflict pain onto others. Rehabilitating offenders through education and programming gives them the tools they need to survive when they are released from prison.

Offenders are afforded the opportunity to take advantage of programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, jobs within the prison, religious programs, treatment programs, and educational opportunities. Often times, when an offender enters prison without a high school diploma or a general education diploma, the sentencing judge will require the offender to obtain their GED as part of their sanctions.

Discussion

In former President George W. Bush’s 2004 State of the Union address, he stated, “This year, some 600,000 inmates will be released from prison back into society. We know from long experience that if they can’t find work, or a home, or help, they are much more likely to commit more crimes and return to prison. America is the land of the second chance, and when the gates of the prison open, the path ahead should lead to a better life.” (Justice.gov) Some of the many ways to try to reduce offender recidivism include harsher punishments for crimes, using evidence-based practices, and the use of determinate and indeterminate sentencing. The use of indeterminate ...

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...iscrimination. In fact, it’s like being punished twice for a crime, or what the judicial system calls double jeopardy. Very few occupations should be allowed to do a background check. Some examples of jobs that should be allowed to complete background checks should be public safety occupations, educators, and government jobs. However, if a person is applying for a job such as a mechanic, office assistant, waiter, or a cook, that persons criminal history should not be weighed against them. Because the criminal history box exists on applications, many released offenders find it challenging, if not impossible to find a job. As previously stated, the three most important pieces to the reduction of recidivism are a job, a good support system, and a place to live. Without a job, the offender is unable to provide for themselves or their families without resorting to crime.