It is perceived by some of the public that, when it comes to rehabilitating criminals, that nothing works (Golder et al., 2005). As it turns out, this statement could not be further from the truth. During research, I discovered a number of strategies used to rehabilitate many different criminals. For the purposes of this paper, I will focus on two strategies for which I found the most information. Both of the programs I researched have different rates of reduced recidivism, or the likelihood of an inmate returning to prison (Hall, 2015). First, prison-based therapeutic communities will be discussed. Next, I will talk about correctional education. Finally, I will discuss criminogenic factors that are important for making treatment work. Before
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Prison-based therapeutic communities are “self-contained units within the larger prison; inmates assigned to the TC reside within the TC 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” (Golder et al., 2005). When first reading this, I thought it sounded very much like solitary confinement, but upon further reading I realized that these are not just individuals set apart from the rest of the institution, but rather they are communities that are set apart. Within the TC, inmates can rely on and make use of the community and their peers for support (Golder et al., 2005; Hartmann Ph.D., Wolk D.S.W., Johnston & Colyer, 1997). The amount of time spent in a TC has a large impact on the rate of recidivism, “specifically, the increase in time from 5 months to 11 months, appears to be associated with significant reductions in recidivism” (Golder et al., 2005). TCs are also designed to help the individuals “recognize their destructive patterns and choices” (Hartmann Ph.D., Wolk D.S.W., Johnston & Colyer, 1997). The use of therapeutic communities does not end when an inmate is released from jail or prison, and the TCs are made to recognize that individuals are going to be released and exposed to the environment they were previously in. With this knowledge, the TC sets out …show more content…
It seems the more an offender is educated, the more likely it is for them to get a job upon release, and the less likely it is for them to return to jail or prison. The goals of correctional education are “keeping society protected from offenders, insuring the security of institutions and aimed at creating creating functioning and productive members of society” (Hall, 2015). Some argue that correctional education should not be funded because it is unfair to the people who are not in prison. There are questions as to why offenders should get free education when those who did not commit crimes have to spend money on their education (Hall, 2015). Actually, there is money to be saved if correctional education is implemented into the justice system. For example, according to Hall, in 1997 Ohio spent upwards of $35 million dollars just on inmates who were returning to jail or prison. “It has been reported that for every $962 spent on academic education for inmates the criminal justice system will save $5,306 per inmate” (Hall, 2015). Correctional education can come in many different forms. It can be a general education with no certificate or diploma upon graduation, a GED program in which a high school equivalency diploma is given at the end. There are post-secondary education programs where offenders will receive an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree. Finally, there are vocational programs
Prison-based therapeutic communities are “self-contained units within the larger prison; inmates assigned to the TC reside within the TC 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” (Golder et al., 2005). When first reading this, I thought it sounded very much like solitary confinement, but upon further reading I realized that these are not just individuals set apart from the rest of the institution, but rather they are communities that are set apart. Within the TC, inmates can rely on and make use of the community and their peers for support (Golder et al., 2005; Hartmann Ph.D., Wolk D.S.W., Johnston & Colyer, 1997). The amount of time spent in a TC has a large impact on the rate of recidivism, “specifically, the increase in time from 5 months to 11 months, appears to be associated with significant reductions in recidivism” (Golder et al., 2005). TCs are also designed to help the individuals “recognize their destructive patterns and choices” (Hartmann Ph.D., Wolk D.S.W., Johnston & Colyer, 1997). The use of therapeutic communities does not end when an inmate is released from jail or prison, and the TCs are made to recognize that individuals are going to be released and exposed to the environment they were previously in. With this knowledge, the TC sets out …show more content…
It seems the more an offender is educated, the more likely it is for them to get a job upon release, and the less likely it is for them to return to jail or prison. The goals of correctional education are “keeping society protected from offenders, insuring the security of institutions and aimed at creating creating functioning and productive members of society” (Hall, 2015). Some argue that correctional education should not be funded because it is unfair to the people who are not in prison. There are questions as to why offenders should get free education when those who did not commit crimes have to spend money on their education (Hall, 2015). Actually, there is money to be saved if correctional education is implemented into the justice system. For example, according to Hall, in 1997 Ohio spent upwards of $35 million dollars just on inmates who were returning to jail or prison. “It has been reported that for every $962 spent on academic education for inmates the criminal justice system will save $5,306 per inmate” (Hall, 2015). Correctional education can come in many different forms. It can be a general education with no certificate or diploma upon graduation, a GED program in which a high school equivalency diploma is given at the end. There are post-secondary education programs where offenders will receive an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree. Finally, there are vocational programs