When it comes to identifying criminals, Psychologist Terrie Moffitt states that there are really only two types of criminal offenders. “The first are ‘adolescence-limited’...the second are ‘life-course persistent’” (Hartmann, 2013, 193). The terms used to describe the different types of criminals provides a good summation of those who fall under each term.
The adolescence-limited are those whose criminal activity is only limited to their adolescent years. The text continues with a greater description that these individuals start as offenders early in adolescence, but who stop near the end or right after they develop beyond the adolescent stage (Hartmann, 2013, 193). This is an important group to look at because there is the potential that …show more content…
I do believe that sentencing and potential interventions should be change in general for both groups. “Assisting juveniles to grow out of crime...are key policy areas for building safer communities” and this is where the United States needs to start making changes in the criminal sentencing (Richards, 2011, 4). Implementing more rehabilitation methods during this age seems to be the logical course of action rather than imprisoning and punishing this group. “The evidence shows that prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation programs are less costly than incarceration. Over time, intervention and rehabilitation programs pay for themselves by reducing future crime—20 to 30 percent by some reports” (Hodgdon, 2008). Changing how we treat adolescents who commit crimes is extremely important when it comes to long term criminal activity. Intervention and rehabilitation even has the chance to change life-course persistent individuals by showing them better outlets to their urges. Everyone should be treated the same, no matter which group they are part of, but this difference should be looked at in order to properly intervene and attempt rehabilitation in the life-persistence
The adolescence-limited are those whose criminal activity is only limited to their adolescent years. The text continues with a greater description that these individuals start as offenders early in adolescence, but who stop near the end or right after they develop beyond the adolescent stage (Hartmann, 2013, 193). This is an important group to look at because there is the potential that …show more content…
I do believe that sentencing and potential interventions should be change in general for both groups. “Assisting juveniles to grow out of crime...are key policy areas for building safer communities” and this is where the United States needs to start making changes in the criminal sentencing (Richards, 2011, 4). Implementing more rehabilitation methods during this age seems to be the logical course of action rather than imprisoning and punishing this group. “The evidence shows that prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation programs are less costly than incarceration. Over time, intervention and rehabilitation programs pay for themselves by reducing future crime—20 to 30 percent by some reports” (Hodgdon, 2008). Changing how we treat adolescents who commit crimes is extremely important when it comes to long term criminal activity. Intervention and rehabilitation even has the chance to change life-course persistent individuals by showing them better outlets to their urges. Everyone should be treated the same, no matter which group they are part of, but this difference should be looked at in order to properly intervene and attempt rehabilitation in the life-persistence