Abstract
The Rehabilitation of Prisoners is a widely discussed and argued topic. There are two different methods in which prisoners are rehabilitated. One is a punishment approach to rehabilitation by forcing inmates to tasks such as community service and parole, whereas the other method is by education and psychotherapy. Although there reasons for both of the methods as outlined in this paper, the better and cost effective approach is the second method that includes education and psychotherapy. In this paper I will argue that this is the much better method for the rehabilitation of prisoners.
The rehabilitation of prisoners is a highly talked about debate. The question that arises is whether or not criminal activity is permanent or not. The rehabilitation of prisoners is the theory that prisoners are not criminally inclined by nature, but that they can be restored to a useful life (both to themselves and to society) through education and therapy. Rather than negative reinforcement for bad behavior (such as punishing the criminal while they are incarcerated) , some theorists believe that education and theory can prevent a criminal from repeating his past mistakes. They do this by providing the prisoners with access to education and therapists, so they can rehabilitate their lives and bring them back into being a useful member of society.
There are two main theories of prisoner rehabilitation. The first theory, that of punishment, is that a prisoner can be rehabilitated by inflicting punishment as a means of reforming them and make re-integration into society better. These punishments that are used in this method are community service (Krajick 1982), and various types of guidance or probation. This theory relies heavily on the idea that in order to rehabilitate a prisoner, they prison must do hard earned time and work in the community (being punished) by working or being guided instead of working for wages (Krajick 1982). The other theory of rehabilitation relies onprisoners receiving education and sessions with a therapist. Until the mid-1970s, rehabilitation was a key part of U.S. prison policy. Prisoners were encouraged to develop occupational skills and to resolve psychological problems--such as substance abuse or aggression--that might interfere with their reintegration into society. Indeed, many inmates received court sentences that mandated treatment for such problems (Benson 2003). However, in more recent years that theory has been put on the backburner and prisons are now primary places of incarceration rather than places of rehabilitating criminally inclined individuals.
It has been shown widely in psychology experiments and practices that punishment serves no purpose of guidance in rehabilitation of individuals or animals. Positive reinforcement is a far better method of rehabilitation and learning key societal ideals than negative reinforcement. It is better to reinforce good behavior versus punishing bad behavior. In order for prisoners to become rehabilitated and become productive members of society they must have access to the same resources as non-incarcerated people for education and therapeutic needs. Many inmates are incarcerated for substance abuse or drug related problems. Group sessions and court mandated treatments for these problems would greatly increase the chances of the prisoner being rehabilitated. They need help, and they should have access to it.
Access to education and current technology is also important to help prisoners become productive members of society. While they are in prisons, they may not have access to educational resources such as classes, books, or Internet. It is important to have these resources available for inmates so that they may increase their knowledge and be able to get jobs once out of prison. If they had access to educational materials such as classes and books, they may become productive members of society. This may include vocational classes that teach specific skills that will help prisoners get skill worker jobs once released from prisons.
Although the rehabilitation of prisoners is good on theory, there are certain problems that the rehabilitation process may encounter, and that is resistant individuals and cost. After the 1950’s and 1960’s when people were being swayed away from mental hospitals, crimes were committed and the prison took in the people (Benson 2003). In 2003, about 15-20 percent of people in prisons were mentally ill, according to U.S. Department of Justice estimates Benson 2003). This is a huge problem because the prisoners that are mentally ill are not getting the help that they need. Instead of getting help through mental health clinics and professionals, they spend their time in jail being incarcerated. They become resistant individuals and do not cope well with the strategies in place.
Another problem with rehabilitation programs is the high cost of adding these programs to prison systems. To bring access of educational resources would cost the prison systems teachers, classroom activities, therapists, and books. This may be a high expense, as they would be almost bringing a school to a prison system. However in a study conducted by the Drug Treatment Alternative to Prison, DTAP, “the average cost of placing a participant in DTAP, including the costs of residential treatment, vocational training an support services was $32,974—half the average cost of $64,338 if the participant had been sent to serve the average term of imprisonment for participants, 25 months” (McVay et al 2004). This shows that it is actually cheaper to rehabilitate the prisoner rather than incarcerate them.
Overall these programs will reduce costs at prisons and will reinforce the positive well being of the prisoners. When properly implemented, work programs, education and psychotherapy can ease prisoners' transitions to the free world (Benson 2003.) These programs will work, and access to educational resources and psychotherapy will help the prisoners re-enter and become productive members of society.
References
Benson, Etienne. (July 2003). American Psychology Association. Monitor Staff. Rehabilitate or Punish? Vol 34. No. 7. Pp 46.
Krajick, K. (November 1982). Angolite. Community Service - The Work Ethic Approach to Punishment. Volume:7 Issue:6Pages:70-81.
McVay, Doug; Schiraldi, Vincent; Ziedenber, Jason. (January 2004). Justice Policy Institute. Treatment or Incarceration? Pp 1-23.
