Incarceration Vs Recidivism

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when the national average was 397 per 100,000 (Elliott, 2018). Without consensus, change is a difficult achievement. America may be on the brink of change, and by insisting that every component of our systems considers the best interest of all, then the best possible outcome can be achieved.
Conclusions
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 …show more content…

How can surviving through a rough and dangerous prison make someone a better neighbor after release? It seems odd that American criminal justice systems and many citizens support the obligation of being the ultimate custodian of a person that is found untrustworthy of living freely in society. Yet, following incarceration when the offender leaves prison less able to function in society, there is no compunction from those who support the system. If everyone would agree that people should leave prison better citizens, then perhaps there would be more dedication to positive offender outcomes. Nonetheless, harsh prison conditions do not create individuals who function better once released, they produce individuals whose learned survival skills which make it difficult for them to adjust after discharge (Chen & Shapiro, …show more content…

It is estimated that from the American citizens born in 2001 upwards, 6.6% will go to prison based on current trends (Bonczar, 2003). Considering that offenders have a 49.5 % probability of reincarceration within three years as compared to 6.6% of the total population, there is a probability of the offenders’ rate increasing as high as 650% (Durose, Cooper, & Snyder, 2014). Released offenders face almost impossible odds of being reincarcerated as compared to those who have not been behind bars. Recidivism is over 75% in many states while a few states have rates that are as low as 20%. The most significant indicator of both high or low rates is the economy (Hall et al., 2015). Nonetheless, the economy should not control that when people go to prison, they may leave worse than they entered with a higher chance of returning. Ideally, it would be a great benefit to humanity if offenders left prison with significant improvement. Taxpayers’ dollars would then support a system that benefits everyone. Prisons must have a higher purpose than incapacitation since incarceration provides little assurance for society when offenders are discharged just to recommit a crime and

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