Ways of Dealing with Offending Behaviour/Reducing Recidivism Flashcards
(11 cards)
Define recidivism.
Recidivism refers to the rate of re-offending. High recidivism rates mean offenders are likely to commit crimes again after being punished.
Identify 4 ways of dealing with offending behaviour/reducing recidivism.
- Custodial sentencing
- Behaviour modification in custody
- Anger management
- Restorative justice programmes
Outline custodial sentencing as a way of dealing with offending behaviour/reducing recidivism.
Custodial sentencing involves sending offenders to prison, young offenders institutions, or psychiatric hospitals depending on circumstances. It aims to reduce recidivism by:
- Deterrence: Punishing offenders so they are less likely to commit crimes again.
- Rehabilitation: Providing educational programmes to increase employability after release, reducing the need to reoffend.
Evaluate custodial sentencing as a way of dealing with offending behaviour/reducing recidivism.
X A limitation is that custodial sentencing may be ineffective. It can cause institutionalisation where prisoners become dependent on prison life and reoffend to return. Also, brutalisation may reinforce criminal attitudes and skills, increasing reoffending rates. For example, mixing low-risk and high-risk offenders increases recidivism. This questions the effectiveness of custodial sentencing.
X Another limitation is implementation difficulties due to overcrowded, underfunded prisons with high staff turnover, leading to poor behaviour management and more violence inside prisons. This makes reducing recidivism harder in practice.
X A final limitation is that custodial sentencing is not cost-effective. Prisons require high running costs, but may not reduce reoffending enough to justify the expense. Many believe prisons mainly serve to satisfy victims rather than effectively reduce crime.
Outline behaviour modification as a way of dealing with offending behaviour/reducing recidivism.
Behaviour modification uses operant conditioning to encourage desirable behaviour in custody. Prison staff reward offenders with tokens for good behaviour (e.g., following rules, keeping cells tidy), which can be exchanged for privileges like extra TV time. The aim is to reduce reoffending by reinforcing positive behaviours and discouraging criminal acts.
Evaluate behaviour modification as a way of dealing with offending behaviour/reducing recidivism.
✔ A strength is that behaviour modification is effective in prison settings because it is tailored to individuals and rewards are personally motivating, leading to better behaviour and potentially less reoffending.
X A limitation is offenders may fake compliance to earn rewards without true behavioural change, reverting to crime when rewards stop, especially since law-abiding behaviour may not be reinforced outside prison.
X Another limitation is implementation issues like understaffing and lack of training causing inconsistent programme delivery, reducing offender engagement and effectiveness.
✔ Nevertheless, it is cost-effective, as it can be applied broadly by existing staff without expensive specialists, making it feasible for underfunded prisons.
Outline anger management as a way of dealing with offending behaviour/reducing recidivism.
Anger management teaches offenders to recognise and control anger, which may trigger aggressive criminal acts. It involves:
- Cognitive preparation: Identifying anger triggers.
- Skills acquisition: Learning calming techniques like deep breathing.
- Application practice: Role-playing anger-inducing scenarios to apply skills.
The goal is to reduce recidivism by helping offenders manage anger and avoid violent crimes.
Evaluate anger management as a way of dealing with offending behaviour/reducing recidivism.
✔ A strength is the skills acquisition stage, providing offenders with long-term anger management tools useful after release, potentially lowering reoffending.
X A limitation is role-play may not replicate real-life intensity, so skills may not transfer well outside therapy. Also, not all crimes are anger-driven, limiting the method’s overall effectiveness.
X Another limitation is difficult implementation, as it is often done with individuals or small groups, limiting reach compared to broader programmes like behaviour modification.
✔ However, it is still cost-effective relative to other treatments, and has more rehabilitative value, which may lead to longer-lasting reductions in recidivism.
Outline restorative justice programmes as a way of dealing with offending behaviour/reducing recidivism.
Restorative justice is an alternative to custody, especially for minor or youth offenders. A trained mediator facilitates a meeting between the offender and victim, either face-to-face or indirectly. The offender hears about the harm caused, and the victim can express their experience and suggest reparations. This aims to reduce recidivism by fostering offender understanding and remorse.
Evaluate restorative justice programmes as a way of dealing with offending behaviour/reducing recidivism.
✔ A strength is that restorative justice avoids prison-related negative effects like institutionalisation and brutalisation, thus potentially reducing reoffending.
X A limitation is some offenders may participate to avoid prison or get reduced sentences, lacking genuine remorse, reducing effectiveness.
X Another limitation is emotional difficulties in victim-offender meetings can cause high dropout rates, meaning offenders miss the opportunity to understand harm caused.
X Additionally, restorative justice is not cost-effective because mediators are expensive and in high demand, and combined with dropouts and fake remorse, it may not be the best use of resources compared to custodial sentencing.
