In a narrative format of 750 or more words, identify:
The research problem (what the authors were studying), the researchers in this particular study are attempting to make a determination of whether offenders that graduate from rehabilitation based boot camps have a lower recidivism rate than those that would have graduated from a boot camp that was more traditionally based. The boot camps that are question here can be best described as traditional, more disincline based in nature, while the rehabilitation would place more factors on education and helping the offender return and become successful in society (Kempinen & Kurlychek, 2003).
Research design, the particular design of this problem is experimental, our text lists three (3) separate types of these: Experimental designs, Quasi-experimental designs, and Preexperimental designs (Hagan, 2010), the An Outcome Evaluation of Pennsylvania’s Boot Camp: Does Rehabilitative Programming within a Disciplinary Setting Reduce
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Recidivism would be a Quasi-experimental design there is no random selection from the boot camp nor prison in this study (Kempinen & Kurlychek, 2003). Data-gathering strategy, the data sample that was use within this particular study involves a total of one thousand and forty (1040) offenders that are divided among the following groups: The Pennsylvania’s Motivational Boot Camp Program for those that attended during the period on 1996 through 1997 in equivalent to five hundred and eight (508) participants.
The group in which the boot camp program would be compared with would be offenders that were released from the state prison system during that same time frame and would be equivalent to five hundred thirty two (532) participants. The article made the following note, which I think would be very important to the validity of the group. The comparison group consisted of offenders that were eligible for the program but did not attend for one reason or another, such as was not recommended by the judge, were not accepted by the Department of Corrections or just didn’t volunteer for the program itself (Kempinen & Kurlychek,
2003). Any hypotheses, Pennsylvania’s Boot Camp by using a multidimensional approach to its rehabilitation program should be more effective in reducing the recidivism rate as compared to boot camps using a more disincline based program (Kempinen & Kurlychek, 2003). Dependent variable(s), the dependent variable (Y) within the study An Outcome Evaluation of Pennsylvania’s Boot Camp: Does Rehabilitative Programming within a Disciplinary Setting Reduce Recidivism, is simple the Recidivism rate (Kempinen & Kurlychek, 2003). Independent variable(s), Pennsylvania’s Boot Camp uses a multidimensional approach, involving education, life skills, and cognitive behavioral therapy to address things such as drug abuse, alcohol abuse and antisocial behaviors (Kempinen & Kurlychek, 2003). How key dependent and independent variables were operationalized (defined and measured). Three recidivism measures where use in this study to define and measure the dependent variable. (1) Arrest. (2) Return to prison for a new crime. (3) Return to prison for a technical violation. The offenders were tracked for a period of twelve (12) months in Florida, Illinois, New York and South Carolina; and for twenty four (24) months in Georgia, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. Measures used in this study to define and measure the independent variable(s) were noted by the length of respected rehabilitate programs in other states, dismissal rates and offenders that were bound for prison rather than probation (Kempinen & Kurlychek, 2003). Overall, the hypotheses, Pennsylvania’s Boot Camp by using a multidimensional approach to its rehabilitation program should be more effective in reducing the recidivism rate as compared to boot camps using a more disincline based program (Kempinen & Kurlychek, 2003) seems to have been proven. However it doesn’t seem to be proven by a overwhelming amount of evidence. There does appear to be significant evidence to support the theory that boot camp graduates are less like to recidivate than their counterparts as well as being arrested for any new crimes. However interesting it finds that boot camp graduates are more likely to recidivate on technical violations than their counterparts. In conclusion the study did find that camps that use a multidimensional approach, involving education, life skills, and cognitive behavioral therapy to address things such as drug abuse, alcohol abuse and antisocial behaviors show more success than those only focusing on the military aspect of the camp (Kempinen & Kurlychek, 2003).
The RNR model was established in 1990 in an article written and published by Andrews, Bonta and Hoge, this article outlined three principles that made up an effective form of offender rehabilitation (Andrews, Bonta, & Wormith, 2011). These theoretical principles stated in the article include: The Risk principle of which states the matching of an offender and their risk to the level of the program (high risk = high intensity); The need principle- this refers to targeting criminogenic needs to reduce the risk of recidivism; The responsivity principle- this states to matching the style of program techniques to the offender and their learning style/ability of which include general responsivity (cognitive social learning) and specific responsivity (Andrews, Bonta, & Wormith, 2011). By following these rules, it shows that programs that follow the RNR model match the intensity of the program with the risk level of the offenders whilst also delivering services
The Panacea Phenomenon project has consequences, that’s can cause problems depending on the young adult, because they may have a different way of learning speeds and behaviors, the comprehension levels are all different. Harsh discipline replaces anger and confusion among teenagers and their behavior. Parents have a big role to play in their teenager’s life, as some parent’s work all day leaving the kids being raised on their own, with nanny’s or other after care programs where kids can learn from negative influences from other kids. As studies have shown, television also has a negative influence on a teenager’s life by influencing their outlook on life with crime programs and violence. Many people have question if boot camp should be a short term program or a life style for juvenile delinquents; many have agreed that boot camp can help give them some type of structure, will help them later on life. In the United States (U.S.), the General Accounting Office (1993) reported that 26 states were operating 57 boot camps for young adults in the spring of 1992. Boot camps could hold up to a total of 8,800 recruits. The American Institute for Research (1993), appraised boot camps and found that the goal of juvenile boot camps where not made to punish offenders, but to rehabilitate them,
Wormith, J. S., Althouse, R., Simpson, M., Reitzel, L. R., Fagan, T. J., & Morgan, R. D. (2007). The rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders: The current landscape and some future directions for correctional psychology. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 34(7), 879-892.
Esperian, John H. "The Effect of Prison Education Programs on Recidivism." Journal of Correctional Education 61.4 (2010): 316-334. ProQuest. Web. 2 Nov. 2013.
The. Pearson, F. S., Lipton, D. S., Clel, D. S. (2002). The effects of behavioral/cognitive-behavioral programs on recidivism. Crime & Delinquency, 48 (3), pp. 113-117.
Nally, J., Lockwood, S., Knutson, K., & Ho, T. (2012). An evaluation of the effect of correctional education programs on post-release recidivism and employment: An empirical study in Indiana. Journal of Correctional Education, 63(1), 69-88.
My research concluded that incarceration is not the solution that we need in order to help criminal offenders gain back entry into their communities. The solution is to lay out strategies that focus on rehabilitation and re-engagement in prosocial activities. Give
Since their beginning in 1983 in Georgia, boot camps have spread to half the States and have gained wide popular appeal for their "get tough" policies. Proponents of boot camps cite their potential for rehabilitating offenders and curbing future criminal behavior. Opponents caution that more information is needed on a variety of issues including costs and the potential for abuse of power. Research into boot camps began with a 1988 study of Louisiana's boot camp program and continued with a multi-site evaluation in 1989 (Cowels, 1995). Fueled primarily by growth in the number of offenders incarcerated during the past decade and changing views of the role of punishment and treatment in the correctional system. Shock incarceration programs, or "boot camps" as they have been more recently called, have emerged as an increasingly popular alternative sanction for nonviolent crimes.
Recidivism is an essential concept within the criminal justice system. It is the tendency of a previously convicted offender to reoffend. Thus, it is important to study the rates and causes of recidivism in order to recognize certain patterns. The patterns of reoffending can help law enforcement officials and policy makers implement strategies to lower the rates. On a humanitarian basis, studying the patterns can help with the difficult transition from prison to society for those recently released.
Rehabilitation is firmly entrenched in the history of corrections in the United States. Penitentiaries, for example were formed in 1820 with the belief that offenders could be morally reformed (Cullen, & Jonson, 2012, pp. 27-28). In 1870). The National Congress on Penitentiary and Reformatory Discipline documented the merits of rehabilitation (Wines, 1871, p. 457). However, by the end of the 1960s, the United States had experienced several years of discontent within its prison systems which resulted in a national call for prison reform and the development of a disillusionment with rehabilitation (Martinson, 1974, p. 22). In 1966, Robert Martinson was hired to evaluate the effectiveness of rehabilitation, the result of which was his infamous “What Works?” paper, in which he posits that empirical evidence does not support rehabilitation (p. 23). By the mid-1970s, correctional policy shifted from one emphasizing rehabilitation to one emphasizing just desserts/retribution, deterrence and incapacitation (Cullen, & Jonson, 2012, p. 22). The result of these “get-tough” policies, which sought to control crime through strict laws and lengthy sentences, was unprecedented growth in our custodial population, which we can no longer support, either financially or spatially (p. 1).
Randomized Controlled Trials can be used to in several types of evaluations, including new therapies (i.e. Cognitive behavioral therapy versus emotionally focused therapy when treating couples), community interventions, and diagnostic techniques (O'Brien, 2013). The RCT study design randomly assigns participants into an experimental group or a control group. As the study is conducted, the only expected difference between the control and experimental groups is the outcome variable being studied (O'Brien, 2013).
Esperian, J. H. (2010). The effect of prison education programs on recidivism. Journal of Correctional Education, 61(4), 316-334. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/871418247?accountid=38223
The programs, whether in the prison or out, are effective in saving the nation a huge amount in providing public safety and taxes (Pollock, 2004). Thesis statement Rehabilitation programs aimed at reducing recidivism are beneficial to the individual and the government. Research question: What are the roles played by rehabilitation programs in helping reduce recidivism? Different programs have diverse impact in reducing the rates of recidivism. Effective programs that help in reducing the rates of recidivism concentrate on three main problems that affect offenders in prison and after their release.
Such an assumption does not refute that some criminals make their own personal choices to break the law but rather it argues that these personal choices are usually caused by certain factors which contribute to criminal behavior. Rehabilitation programs are therefore based on such perspectives where the various correctional programs are designed to deal with criminal enforcing behavior. For example counseling programs could focus on the behavior that led to the criminal offender committing the offense while educational programs could focus on how to change negative behavior to positive behavior. Correctional programs in prison facilities are therefore important in reducing the recurrence of criminal behavior as well as reducing recidivism among probationers and parolees (Barkan & Bryjak, 2009).
Yet, rehabilitation gives criminals the opportunity to return to society as upright citizens and to end recidivism. While threats of punishment deter crime and punishment are effective, there should still be rehabilitation to fix the underlining issues to end recidivism. Rehabilitation has taken a back seat to the concept “get tough on crime,” for a couple years, and only result increases in prison population with little effect on crime rates (Benson, 2003). Rehabilitation is more expensive and there is limited funds for rehabilitating