Introduction
Through the years, debates have risen over the efficiency of incarceration in stopping and preventing a recurrence of criminal behavior in the society. Many doubt if it is a significant response to crimes, and does little in preventing the increase of recidivism. In some cases, the incarcerated criminals return to the society worse than they were; they engage in more serious and even violent crimes. It results in their return to prison; this depicts the justice system’s failure in helping the former inmates’ reform and fit back into the society. An increase in the number of people who commit more crimes after release costs many states financially.
The states and even federal governments focus on efforts to curb the rate of recidivism. It occurs through the emergence of alternative programs deemed beneficial to the inmates. Due to incarceration’s inability to meet long-term criminal justice objectives and the expenditure associated with sanctions, various policy makers seek appropriate and alternative programs. The alternatives are believed to address crimes in an efficient and cost effective manner. This research study focuses on the extensive analysis of available corrective programs used by the criminal justice system as alternatives to incarceration. It provides information on their efficiency and advantages in dealing with the problem of crime (Patchin & Keveles, 2).
Recidivism
In the criminal justice system, recidivism involves a person’s reversion to criminal activities after conviction for an offence, sentencing and correction. For instance, many criminals return to their criminal activities after release from prison. The situation often results from failure of; the person to meet society’s expectations, the society to help the person adjust to new life, the person to avoid trouble, criminal activities, arrest and conviction. Incarcerated persons should take advantage of the corrective programs in order to rehabilitate and return to the community as productive members.
How alternative programs reduce recidivism
The rate of former prisoners’ return to prison depicts the poor degree to which they were rehabilitated and reintegrated into the society. There are new programs implemented in reducing recidivism; they significantly aid in reducing the number of former inmates committing crime and returning to prison (Warren, 10). The alternative programs focus on three main areas, these include; education, substance abuse treatment and employment. For instance, substance abuse is a major problem among prisoners (McKean, 4). If not efficiently rehabilitated, this is a barrier to the acquisition of stable employment, thus criminal activities and recidivism. Alternative programs are significant in the reduction of recidivism; their contributions are discussed below.
- Treatment programs
There is a significant link between substance abuse and criminal behavior. The treatment programs provide a wide variety of modalities in addressing the challenges. The offenders engage in formal and informal discussions with their peers, also recovering from drug addiction. There are more complex programs depending on the gravity of the situation; these are long-term and structured therapeutic programs. They have helped in the treatment of high risk and hard core drug abusers. The substance abuse treatment approach focuses on; coordination of treatment and criminal justice, using legal incentives and sanctions to enter and remain in treatment, monitoring offenders with drug testing, matching offenders to relevant treatment services and apprising justice officials for offenders’ performance (Warren, 61). According to Patchin and Keveles (9), some of the successful practices include Therapeutic Communities and Treatment Alternatives to Street Crime; they result in low re-arrest rates.
There is also treatment of mental illnesses; a common problem among inmates. Mental illness is also a barrier to the acquisition and retention of employment opportunities; this increases recidivism (McKean, 15). The treatment caters for disorders such as; schizophrenia, major depression, psychosis, post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder. The program involves adequate treatment and screening of inmates; the treatment helps them in coping with challenges and successfully returning to the community (McKean, 16).
- Educational programs
Lack of educational skills and qualifications prevent ex-inmates from acquiring employment positions. Lack of employment thus results in a return to criminal activities and eventually prison. The provision of educational programs provides prisoners with basic employment skills; it imparts in them a sense of self-efficacy and accomplishment. Education is the most basic rehabilitation program; many prisons provide these programs from coursework to vocational training. The prisoners get high school degrees and even higher qualifications (McKean, 19).
- Employment programs
In prison, people get access to work programs; they prepare the inmates for employment once they are released. They may earn revenue and acquire relevant employment skills. Once employed, they acquire basic income to help them sustain themselves. Employment also prevents recidivism through a variety of ways. It gives the person a stabilizing routine; thus he/she is occupied during the time he/she would have spent in criminal activities. He/she can meet the employer’s demands and avoid social stigmatization. High wages also prevent ex-prisoners from desiring criminal activities; many are attracted by criminal activities which provide easy and quick money. The federal government also supports employment programs for former prisoners through the Manpower Demonstration and Training Act of 1962. The Comprehensive Employment and Training Act of 1973 also helps released prisoners acquire employment. There are also several programs under the Department of Labor aimed at aiding former prisoners in the acquisition and retention of jobs (McKean, 20).
- Parole programs
The use of parole programs is also efficient in the reduction of recidivism; the aid the released inmates in returning to the society. Inmates are released on parole when they show progress and good behavior in prison. The policies, agencies and practices involved in the supervision of parolees determine the efficiency of the program in preventing a repetition of the crime and return to jail.
Through supervision, they can be monitored and helped in preventing a relapse into criminal activities. The monitoring process focuses on; curfews, controlled substance use, personal contacts, and employment. Case managers should be assigned an appropriate number of parolees; too many parolees make it difficult for their progress to be monitored. Few parolees will ensure they have regular meetings with the case manager. The supervision of the program’s progress occurs through a focus on employment, treatment and the educational progress.
The efficiency of the parole program can be improved for better outcomes. It can occur through an increase in the allocation of case managers and resources provided in parole programs. The managers and parole officers should also be accountable for the recidivism rates of clients. Various states embrace adjustments and improvement in the parole system; they record a decrease in the recidivism rates. Illinois, for instance, adopted the Operation Spotlight; it focuses on increasing the resources available for parolee services and supervision. It focuses on doubling the number of parole agents in order to reduce their work load and increase efficiency. A focus on community re-entry, parole officers’ accountability and job placement focuses on reducing both crime and recidivism (McKean, 20).
- Other programs
Recidivism can also be reduced through alternative programs that prevent incarceration. The use of programs avoiding prison sentences reduces the risk of offenders going or returning to prisons. For instance, community service programs focus on making offenders do good deeds and earn money in the society; their earnings go towards restitution and fines. Research shows that community service positively associates with recidivism reduction; participation in such activities encourage them to positively contribute towards the community, and reduces the risk of criminal behavior (Patchin & Keveles, 5). It is also connected with parole programs.
Day reporting centers can also be used in monitoring offenders’ activities and progress; they are nonresidential facilities where offenders receive services and undergo supervision. The supervision occurs through curfews, community service, random drug tests, and employment analyses. Subsequently, there is the electronic monitoring program. The offenders are required to wear devices; these allow the active and passive monitoring of their location. The program focuses on; punishment and deterrence, treatment and reintegration. Some offenders can be subject to home detention; the program requires them to remain confined within their homes at defined times. Though it is expensive, it reduces the chances of engaging in subsequent criminal activities which could result in jail terms (Patchin & Keveles, 8). The programs have significant benefits in reducing recidivism. However, they also have challenges that need to be addressed.
Conclusion
The rate of crime increases rapidly; this elevates the number of criminals incarcerated in prisons worldwide. Despite the efforts to reduce crime rate, recidivism presents a major challenge. The number of people who return to crime after release from prison is alarming. It shows the weakness and inefficiency of the justice system’s use of incarceration. Alternative programs are being implemented in a bid to handle the recidivism challenge. Some of the programs include; treatment, education and employment strategies. There are also programs on; community justice and restorative justice, community service, day reporting centers, electronic monitoring, home detention, and work release program. None of the programs is efficient on its own; a combination of the multiple approaches is likely to increase the efficiency of alternative programs reducing recidivism (Patchin & Keveles, 10).
Works Cited
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McKean, Lisa. Current Strategies for Reducing Recidivism. Developing Justice Coalition. Center for Impact Research. (2004): Print. [Accessed April 3, 2014]
Patchin, Justin, W. and Keveles, Gary, N. Alternatives to Incarceration: An evidence-based research review. Northwest Wisconsin Criminal Justice Management Conference (2004): Print. [Accessed April 3, 2014]
Warren, Roger, K. Evidence-Based Practice to Reduce Recidivism: Implication for state judiciaries. Crime and Justice Institute and National Institute of Corrections (2007): Web. [Accessed April 3, 2014]
