AC3.3 Flashcards
Recidivism rates
- Social control measures are not always effective
- for those released form prison, the re-offending rates for 2017 rises to 37.5% for all prisoners
- Prisons who served less than 12 months: 64.1%
- 40% of juvenile offenders reoffend
Rising prison population
- Double what it was in 1993
- Longer sentences are more responsible than reoffending
- In 2018, indictable offences were 26 months longer than they had been 10 years before
- Average minimum sentence for murder increased from 12.5 - 21.3 years (2003-2016)
Who Reoffends
- More previous convictions -> more likely to reoffend (49.3%)
- Prison sentences more than any other sentence
- Males are more likely than females
- Offenders who lack money, education or accommodation, or who have drug/alcohol dependencies
Theories
Right realist
Marxist
Right realist
- Argue that prison works
- Offenders are rational actors, prison sets fear
- High reoffending rates prove this wrong
Marxist
- Unemployed offenders are more likely to reoffend
- Social inequality based
- Little chance of meeting their needs, need to commit crimes to help
Legal barriers
Human rights abuse: Police states force their powers onto citizens leaving them with little rights
Civil liberties: basic rights and freedoms that every individual should be given (freedom of speech, assembly, right to privacy etc)
Access to resources and support
Offenders need resources and support to help them to rehabilitate
Failure of rehabilitation in prisons
- short sentences do not give enough time to do the work
- Inadequate resources for education and training
- A 15% cut in prison officers
- Release on temporary license
Failure of resources in the community
- Lack of money
- Lack of a job
- Homelessness
‘End Friday Releases’ Campaign
- Releases on Friday can mean there is a rush to find accommodation, food, medication, money etc before Sunday
- This can lead to people reoffending due to trying to get money or a place to stay
Community sentences
Community sentences are more successful than prisons in reducing recidivism
Reasons why they may not:
* Inadequate support for complex needs
* Inadequate supervision by probation services
* Failures by the privatised community rehabilitation companies
Finance
Without adequate finance, agencies are unable to achieve effective social control.
Finance: Police
Between 2010 and 2018, the overall budget was cut by 19%.
Police are dropping investigations into crimes such as sexual offences as they take more police materials and time to investigate.
Finance: CPS
*CPS’s budget was cut by a quarter (2010-2018).
* CPS have also been accused of downgrading charges as it is dealt with much quicker and cheaper in the Magistrates court
