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Labelling theory
The importance of reducing recidivism
Labelling theory
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ABSTRACT: This research paper is focused on released convicts and the struggles they face to become active, progressive members of society. Sadly, these released offenders regularly face discrimination in their job searches, in attempts to secure housing for themselves and their families, and to be accepted by their communities. Without the right support structures in place upon their release, these former prisoners may very well fall back into lives of crime. Without a suitable place to stay, these released offenders may become recidivists, falling back into their familiar roles as law breakers, if only to provide the basic necessities for themselves and their families. Statistically, more than one third of released offenders end up back in jail within a year of their initial release. Through this study, I hoped to shed light on some of the main causes of criminal recidivism using Labeling Theory and Social Learning Theory. INTRODUCTION: More than 600,000 prisoners are released into the main population of the United States every year. Of that 600,000, 30 percent end up back behind bars within six months of their release, and 70 percent end up returning to jail within three years (Reisig, 409). Upon release, many criminals find that life on the outside is harder on them than it was when they were convicted, sentenced, and locked away. People who know them may become just as prejudiced as the interviewers and landlords who deny them the chance to earn a living or a place to stay. Through the continued use of labels like criminal, thug, crook, and felon, many released offenders feel ostracized and isolated. Their friends and families may turn their backs on them, taking away the few things they have left... ... middle of paper ... ... database. MacKenzie, Doris Layton. (2006, May) Aftercare Following A Correctional Bootcamp May Reduce Recidivism. Criminology & Public Policy, 5(2), 359. Retrieved from Criminal Justice Periodicals Database. Visher, Christy A. (2006, May) Effective Reentry Programs. Criminology & Public Policy, 5(2), 299. Retrieved from Criminal Justice Periodicals Database. Listwan, Shelley J., Cullen, Francis T., Latessa, Edward J. (2006, December) How to Prevent Prisoner Re-entry Programs From Failing: Insights From Evidence-Based Corrections. Federal Probation, 70(3), 19. Retrieved from Criminal Justice Periodicals. Leighninger, L., & Popple, Phillip R. (1996). Social Work, Social Welfare, and American Society (3rd. ed.). Allyn and Bacon: Needham Heights, MA. Calhoun, C., Light, D., & Keller, S. (1989). Sociology (5th. ed.). Alfred A. Knopf: New York.
The book titled Beyond Bars: Rejoining Society After Prison offers invaluable lessons of how both men and women may successfully depart prison and return to society. The book was written by Jeffrey Ross and Stephen Richards, both of whom are college professors and criminal justice experts. The population of prisons across the United States has increased dramatically in recent decades despite overall crime rates decreasing during the same time period. Approximately seven million American people are in some form of correctional custody. Between the years1980 and 2000, America’s prison population increased by 500 percent. During the same time period, the number of prisons grew by 300 percent (Ross and Richards, xii). Close to 50 percent of people admitted to confinement have previously served time, exemplifying that the criminal justice system “recycles” inmates through the system again and again (Ross and Richards, xi). Unfortunately, many convicts simply do not remember how to or are ill-equipped to return to society once their sentence ends. Ross and Richards, through their valuable lessons within their book, seek to lessen the problems that ex-prisoners may face when released from prison.
Bureau of Justice Statistics studies have found high rates of recidivism among released prisoners. One study tracked 404,638 prisoners in 30 states after their release from prison in 2005. The researchers found that: Within three years of release, about two-thirds (67.8 percent) of released prisoners were rearrested. Within five years of release, about three-quarters (76.6 percent) of released prisoners were rearrested. Of those prisoners who were rearrested, more than half (56.7 percent) were arrested by the end of the first year. Property offenders were the most likely to be rearrested, with 82.1 percent of released property offenders arrested for a new crime compared with 76.9 percent of drug offenders, 73.6 percent of public order offenders and 71.3 percent of violent offenders. (Durose, April 2014) After being released most ex-cons describe the world as a place where laws have to be followed but you have some extent of freedom. While others feel it is the same inside or outside of jail the only difference is that jail does offer 3 meals and a cot. Most of the time the ex-cons feel this way because after getting out they cannot find a job, place to stay or even get meals; and this results back to their criminal
Education has been proven to reduce recidivism rates and increase the success of an offender’s re-integration into society. In a study conducted in 1994 by the American Bureau of Justice Statistics, nearly half of the 302,309 released offenders surveyed in fifteen different states were convicted of a new crime within three years of their release. This data shows that prison fails to properly rehabilitate offenders, since after prison ex-convicts continue to live in a way th...
Kendall, D. (2012). Sociology in Our Times, 9th Edition [VitalSource Bookshelf version]. Retrieved from http://online.vitalsource.com/books/9781285309682
Based on the statistics, there are nearly 700,000 individuals are released from prisons nationwide annually. Moreover, many of them would continue to engage in criminal behaviour and back to prison which consists two-thirds rearrested and half return to prison within three years of their release. Since they have fewer connections in the community (such as family engagement), and less support on the residence and job-seeking for the prejudice of prisoners, they would less likely to learn to get along with others and losing the abilities to obtain the jobs because of the long-time imprisonment. Therefore, the individuals could be higher risk of recidivism and even have more serious prior
Schaefer, Richard T. Sociology Matters, 6th Ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 01 Jan. 2013. 228-232
It has been hypothesized that a sizable number of released offenders with an ongoing reentry service plan are less likely to recidivate, which is an advantageous element for the criminal justice system (Jones, Brown, & Zamble, 2010). However, the effectiveness of the parole program depends on the recidivism conditions that the parolees face after their release. Some of the unfortunate consequences that the released inmates might face include homelessness, unemployment, and exposure to alcohol and drug abuse (Cole, Smith, & DeJong, 2014). These elements hinder the effectiveness of the utilization of parole programs for inmate reentry to the society after their release from prison. However, it would be essential to implement such a program for the reduction in overcrowding and cost incurred in the nation’s prisons.
The reasons as to why individuals desist from crime can range from genetic, environmental, social, or psychophysiological. One belief focuses on the idea that criminals desist from crime through pro-social development and a worthwhile career path. In a study conducted by Aresti, Eatough and Gordon (2010), five ex-offenders participated in interviews about their lives as offenders, and their new found lives as productive members of society. Results show that four major themes emerged from the five men. First “being stuck” in their offending ways, second “defining moments” or moments of self-change, third “life in transition” or moments in the self-change process, and fourth “a new world” which encompasses the men’s new and reformed lives. The men in the study each had defining moments, typically the realization that they were going to be locked up for many years or losing out on time of their lives acted as this defining moment. This produced angst and made the men question their existence;
We have changed the way we police and prosecute having learned from overpopulating the prisons to the point that it is unsafe and does not serve the purpose of rehabilitation and our exploding probation departments. Recidivism rates for prisons largely suggest that less than half of all inmates are rehabilitated making alternatives to incarceration a necessity as we search to tailor solutions to each offender. Cost effective solutions, true long-term rehabilitation and restoring the community are proving to be better suited to many kinds of offenders than becoming institutionalized.
America has little tolerance for crime or for offender improvement. Most significantly, incarceration increases the likelihood of reoffending and does not prohibit, deter or lessen the possibility of an offender continuing criminality (Cullen, Johnson, & Nagin, 2011). Reducing recidivism is a complex problem that includes sentencing strategies and opportunities in prison that ensure the least probability of return to the criminal justice
Recidivism is the tendency to relapse into criminal behavior no matter if the inmate committed the same or different crime. According by the federal government’s Bureau of Justice Statistics, within five years of being released, 76.6% prisoners were rearrested. Released convicts face many struggles that are difficult to overcome due to the obstacles that inmates encounter to become active members of society. By extension, the released offenders tend to fall back into the criminal behavior because of the lack of involvement in society as they see no purpose to be part of a normal life and become pessimistic and criminals. Since released prisoners are constantly discriminated from opportunities the recidivism rate goes higher. Another cause of
Knowing that released offenders become a high risk for returning to prison, then strategies should be devolved to minimize the risk. Recidivism is over seventy-five percent in many states however there are a few states where rates are as low as twenty percent. The largest indicator is the economy, inmates who can be released from prison and go to work or whose families can burden the economic burden associated with incarceration, have a lower risk rate to offend (Hall, J., Harger, K., & Stansel, D. 2015). Ideally, it would be a great benefit to humanity if offenders left prison better than what they went in. Aside from that aspiration, if offenders left prison and never returned, it would at least add some value to prison. Incarceration provides little assurance for society especially if people leave just to recommit a crime and return.
Massey, Garth. Readings for Sociology Forth Edition, New York, New York. W.W. Norton & Company, 2003. 231-237.
Prisoners are people too. They’re just like everyone else. They may have been at the wrong place during the wrong time or they just didn’t make a very bright decision. Author _________, wrote “Transitioning inmates into society is key”, which was published on September 3, 2015 by the Bismarck Tribune, states that inmates are more likely to commit another crime because they don’t have a support system to help them when they get out. Prisoners have a hard time transitioning back into society once they are released, but in recent years, ministry programs have emerged to help them get back to everyday life.
The United States has a greater percentage of its population incarcerated than any other country in the world. According to the U.K.-based International Center for Prison Studies, the U.S. has the highest incarceration rate in the world at 756 per 100,000, including juveniles in addition to adults (Purposes of Prisons). The number of prisoners continues to increase yet the correctional system’s mission statement is to reform inmates so that when their sentence is completed they can re-enter society as a “new person”. Prisons offer programs like therapy and jobs to prisoners to help them facilitate their skills and channel their emotions, but, if the recidivism rates of ex-convicts returning to prison after release are over 50% and prison populations