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Recidivism, And Its Potential Indicators Essay

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Recidivism, and its potential indicators, remains a phenomenon that criminological research is eager to investigate. This comes as no surprise considering approximately 60% of people undergoing a custodial sentence in Australia have already been imprisoned before (AIC 2011), as well as the estimate that crime costs Australia almost $36 billion a year (AIC 2011). Yet despite these staggering statistics, studies on recidivism are far and few between (Payne 2007, p.iii) and thus, more studies ought to be conducted to develop “strategies [that] target reducing offending” (Payne 2007, p.9).
Moreover, of existing research, only an estimated 15% have looked into the relevance of mental health to recidivism (Payne 2007, p.53). This is in despite of the existing research suggesting a positive correlation between mental health issues and recidivism (Payne 2007, pg.97,xiii). Therefore, Professor Doe’s research will provide needed insight into recidivism, as well as its nexus with mental health.
However, as it currently stands, this proposal is riddled with ethical dilemmas. Israel and Hay (2005) identified non-maleficence, confidentiality and informed consent as the primary ethical conundrums researchers face and this is reflected in Doe’s proposal. Notwithstanding the presence of these ethical concerns, this essay will argue that they can be mitigated by altering research procedures. Enacting the alterations would assist the proposal passing an ethics board and allow understanding

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