Once a Criminal, Always a Criminal? Rehabilitation Can Work, If Society Takes it Seriously
Should a criminal be punished or rehabilitated? There are sound arguments on both sides of the debate. The problem however has been that our system of justice has tried to rehabilitate prisoners while at the same time trying to punish them. This has been a dismal failure. There is a better alternative. Separate rehabilitation from punishment. Consider the following facts.
More than 50 percent of all crimes are committed by re-offenders, and 40 percent to 60 percent of parolees return to prison.(dailytexanonline) In Texas, half of the juvenile offenders become repeat offenders. (agnews.tamu.edu) According to a 1994 study by the U.S. Department of Justice, more than two-thirds of released prisoners were arrested within three years, with more than half of those returning to prison.(dailytoreador) On June 30, 2006, 2,245,189 prisoners were held in Federal or State prisons or in local jails. (www.ojp.gov) These prisoners will be released after serving less than 50% of their sentences.(www.ojp.usdoj.gov)
Why are the recidivism rates so high? Criminals usually have a poor education. Jobs, after release, are hard to find and usually low paying. Who wants to hire a known thief? Returned to their home, they again associate with the society that bred the criminal activity in the first place. They have no base of support from which to rise above their situation and so return to a life of crime.
Rehabilitation of first time offenders should be possible; however, it must be done outside of the normal prison system. Consider the following true story.
It's 1967; the Vietnam War machine requires recruits. A local man is mean as all get out, fighting, stealing, and overall antisocial behavior is the norm. Arrested, the judge gives him the option; jail or enlist in the military. He joins the marines. Six months after leaving for boot camp he returns home a changed man. From the person who would beat up a little old lady for a couple of bucks, he's now the one who helps little old ladies cross the street.
More than 50 percent of all crimes are committed by re-offenders, and 40 percent to 60 percent of parolees return to prison.(dailytexanonline) In Texas, half of the juvenile offenders become repeat offenders. (agnews.tamu.edu) According to a 1994 study by the U.S. Department of Justice, more than two-thirds of released prisoners were arrested within three years, with more than half of those returning to prison.(dailytoreador) On June 30, 2006, 2,245,189 prisoners were held in Federal or State prisons or in local jails. (www.ojp.gov) These prisoners will be released after serving less than 50% of their sentences.(www.ojp.usdoj.gov)
Why are the recidivism rates so high? Criminals usually have a poor education. Jobs, after release, are hard to find and usually low paying. Who wants to hire a known thief? Returned to their home, they again associate with the society that bred the criminal activity in the first place. They have no base of support from which to rise above their situation and so return to a life of crime.
Rehabilitation of first time offenders should be possible; however, it must be done outside of the normal prison system. Consider the following true story.
It's 1967; the Vietnam War machine requires recruits. A local man is mean as all get out, fighting, stealing, and overall antisocial behavior is the norm. Arrested, the judge gives him the option; jail or enlist in the military. He joins the marines. Six months after leaving for boot camp he returns home a changed man. From the person who would beat up a little old lady for a couple of bucks, he's now the one who helps little old ladies cross the street.
California was ranked the highest, with a 56 percent recidivism rate.
Discharged violent offenders in some States
only serve 34% of the sentence they had received.
Discharged violent offenders in some States
only serve 34% of the sentence they had received.
Comments
nope
(Guest)
(Guest)
10/29/2009
Once a criminal, always a criminal.
Sigh
(Guest)
(Guest)
05/07/2009
well like anonymous said you certainly never know. I have never been to prison, or jail or even commited an assault but even if i did, i would definatly take the rehabilitation. and just because people commit crimes and go to prison doesnt make them lazy or something like that. haha. im just a minor..
Anonymous
(Guest)
(Guest)
02/28/2009
Well you never know, maybe some body might decide that they would rather go to Criminal Rehab instead of jail. If it is going to work there will have to be a lot more people saying that it is better than prison.
Your name
(Guest)
(Guest)
11/23/2008
obvioulsy, you are only working for a check.
This article cracks me up. I work in the prison system and supervise upward of 200 inmates a night. These people don't care about anything, not even themselves. They are lazy , almost universally, and to get them to volunteer to sweep the floor is an impossible task sometimes, much less volunteer to go into an intensive rehab like you believe they should...Well, lets just say, "That'll Happen."
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