The Debate Of Rehabilitation Vs. Reparation

The United States prison system is considered today to be one of the most flawed and corrupt systems of the modern world. Given this fact, it is unsurprising that one of the most talked about issues in the US today is prison reform. Prison reform is a phrase which refers to the attempt to improve conditions inside prisons, establishing a more effective penal system, or implementing alternatives to incarceration. The US has spent the past twenty years gradually working to improve its prisons, and even recently strives to better the federal and state prison system as a whole. One of the main goals of prison reform is reducing recidivism, which is the chance of an incarcerated person re-offending. One of the main ways to do this is to give inmates ways to spend their time that will better them and prepare them to re-enter society as a fully productive, rehabilitated citizen. This facet of prison reform is the basis for the Prison Reform and Redemption Act of 2017. This bill, which was to be reviewed on Wednesday, April 25 but is

Restitution as a means of rehabilitating offenders tries to give the offenders a better understanding of what they have done, and the effects they have caused due to their actions. Punishing them with jail time does not seem to be enough to get offenders to understand the magnitude of their crime. If they have the ability to pay back the victims it will give them a sense of accomplishment and will allow them to feel as if they are doing good and correcting their mistakes. Restitution as a means of reconciling offender and their victims give the ideology that if they fully paid the person they hurt that they can both put their anger behind them and move on from what had happened.

The tension between rehabilitation and punishment has been increasing dramatically. This is because there have been sharp rises in the prison population and repeat offender rates. When one area is over emphasized in relation to the other, there is the possibility that imbalances will occur. Over the course of time, these issues can create challenges that will impact the criminal justice system and society at large. (Gadek, 2010) (Clear, 2011) (Gatotch, 2011)

As the imprisoned population in the United States grows and American culture changes, rehabilitation is becoming popular among these alternatives to a standard prison system. Rehabilitation when referring to criminal justice are programs and methods used to assist prisoners in reforming themselves in order to avoid the habits that placed them in prison in the first place. These programs are becoming more popular due to the high cost of imprisonment and a change in American culture. Each prisoner costs forty thousand dollars each year to keep in prison(Weissmueller). This is money that is coming out of the taxes paid by United States citizens who aren’t even in the prison system. Alongside this, American culture is changing to be supporting of rehabilitation efforts as Americans see the effectiveness of criminal justice systems that include it. This was seen on a trip to Europe by U.S. prison officials; once they had seen the effectiveness of German and Dutch prison rehabilitation, they wanted to bring similar programs to their prisons (“People, not prisoners”). A rehabilitation based criminal justice system in the United States is gaining popularity, and as it does so it is earning the attention it needs and deserves.

As a country, we should care about all of our citizens and work toward bettering them, because we are only as strong as our weakest link. When it concerns the issue of corrections it should not be a discussion of punishment or rehabilitation. Instead, it should be a balance of both that puts the spotlight on rehabilitating offenders that are capable and willing to change their lives for the better. Through rehabilitation a number of issues in the corrections field can be solved from mental health to overcrowding. More importantly, it allows offenders the chance to do and be better once released from prison. This paper analyzes what both rehabilitation and punishment are as well as how they play a part in corrections. It also discusses the current reasons that punishment as the dominant model of corrections is not as effective as rehabilitation. After explaining rehabilitation and punishment, then breaking down the issues with punishment, I will recommend a plan for balance. A plan that will lower incarceration rates and give offenders a second chance.

The article "The Impact of Career and Technical Education Programs on Adult Offenders: Learning Behind Bars" by Howard Gordon and Bracie Weldon (2003) studies of how prisoners receiving educations in prison reduces the recidivism rate. Gordon and Weldon studied the inmates who were participating in the educational programs at the Huttonsville Correctional Center in West Virginia and claimed that inmates who participated in the educational programs were less likely to recidivate once released back into the population as compared to inmates who did not participate in these programs (Gordon & Weldon, 2003). This study provides valuable information as to the effectiveness of educational programs in prison and how they affect prisoner's lives

Did you know in 2014 roughly 2.4 million people were locked up in jail and the number has increased ever since, local jails are run by the local jurisdictions. Prisons or penitentiary are run by the state or federal government. Almost 688,000 people are released from jail each year.

Inmates need to be educated and rehabilitated in order to be released back into society. If prisoners receive a good education they are less likely to commit misconduct in the future. The Three State Recidivism Study

Many programs have been initiated to help the problems of overcrowding and negligence. These include education, rehabilitation programs, work-release programs, and other preventative measures. Numerous education programs are offered to inmates. Some prisons even mandate the completion of a GED if the offender never finished high school. Many colleges in the prison’s community partner together with each other to enable higher learning as a possibility for offenders to obtain college credit. These services help inmates succeed in an inmate’s preparation to reintegrate into society with less chances of being arrested again. Offenders that are more prepared to leave prison are not as likely to commit a crime which improves the safety of the public and also saves money from taxpayers. (Office of Vocational Adult Education, 2009)

Prison reform is a significant issue that the United States government should enforce. It would aid in creating a more organized system of incarceration. Prison reform is an attempt to improve, change, or eliminate certain conditions in prisons. It is believed that it should be enforced due to the cases of overcrowding, lack of proper education, and the lack of rehabilitation that could inform prisoners of societal values. Prison reform would increase the self-esteem that was diminished in the prisoner’s personal history. Prison reform is significantly important as it will heighten the amount of self-worth in the prisoner and cause a decrease in the population of prisoners who return to a life of crime. Recidivism, or chance of recommitting a crime, will therefore be reduced. Prisoner who are released will not have all the negative ideals or influence from the prison that is usually spread until their release. Prison reform will help society if the increase in education and decrease in overcrowding is ensued upon the prison system with this policy.

As the criminal population in prisons continues to rise, it is essential to reexamine the idea of implementing correctional education to detour prisoner recidivism within the criminal justice system. As more states focus on performance based funding, further research is sought into the solutions of more cost effective programs, such as correctional education. One study in particular is called the Three-State Recidivism Study, which describes the positive impact of participation in correctional education, as well as the reduction of inmate recidivism and the higher employment prospects after release. The key findings of the study indicate, that educational programs can become a place of rehabilitation and can furthermore positively transform offenders to become law-abiding citizens. The results suggest that program participants had primarily a reduction of recidivism, also impacted was released offenders committed less serious offenses, complied with post release conditions, and had higher rates of employment. These are all factors, which are not only cost effective, but can benefit society as a whole.

This belief indicated that if offenders could not be rehabilitated then they should be punished and it was time to get tough on crime. Within a relatively short time parole was attacked and the individual approach of indeterminate sentencing, or release by the authority of a parole board was abolished in 16 states (Rhine, Smith, and Jackson, 1991) and some form of determinate sentencing was adopted in all 50 states (Mackenzie, 2000)].

(Cei) The effects of rehabilitation programs are influential to other inmates as well. In “A Pleas For Help” an uneducated inmate realized that the effects would help him to never return to prison. The inmate was quoted saying, “Please give me some education, or a trade, because I don’t want to come back to prison.” (Cei) This show the positive effects of such programs will give this inmate a chance to be productive in society. Correctional facilities use a wide range of programs to effectively rehabilitate inmates. There are two categories for correctional programs, one category is habilitative services, and the other is treatment programs. Habilitative services aim to teach inmates basic skills needed for a productive life in society. These skills include education classes on reading and writing, vocational training, religious programs, and life skill development. Education programs are the most effective in prison because they help reduce recidivism by encouraging self-discipline, and promoting a sense of investment that discourages criminality. Also, recidivism is reduced through academic programs by increasing an offender’s post release earnings and job security. (Quinn 249) All federal prisons, and 91% of states prisons offer educational programs. This is significant because having the ability to read and write and essential for daily tasks in everyday life. If inmates are determined enough to become productive citizens, prisons also offer GED preparation

There is significant variability in the outcome connected with the type of treatment, for example, how well it is put into action, and the personality of the wrongdoer to whom it is applied. Programs used to re-establish offenders to lessen recidivism are effective if they include proven standards and are aimed to the detailed needs of the offenders; this type of rehabilitation treatments are time and again positive and reasonably significant. The specific sources of that variability have not been well explored, but some principles for effective treatment have emerged (Cullen & Lipsey, 2007). Offenders who gain their high school equivalency diploma while incarcerated are prone to get a job after release, researchers reveal. In addition, those who go through vocational training are highly probable to get jobs with better wages and offenders that went through any drug treatment program during incarceration are less probable to go back to using drugs outside of confinement. When effective programs are implemented, offenders that recidivism could be reduced by 15 to 20 percent (Petersilia, 2011). This is not to express that criminology is a challenge that can always be resolved. There is an explanation for why people go to prison and depending on the circumstances there is incredibly little or nothing can be done to alter the options

This paper explores the benefits provided by educational programs in jails and prisons. Included are the reasons inmates need education in order to successfully reenter society once they are released and use the knowledge and skills they have learned to obtain a job in order to support themselves and their families. Also examined in the paper are the financial benefits of incorporating educational programs instead of cutting them, as well as the effect these programs play on the recidivism rate. Lastly is a focus on understanding the importance of education and job training, even though the recipients are criminals.