Effect of Imprisonment

Question 1

What are the two main purposes of prison?

Answer 1

To punish and rehabilitate criminals.

Question 2

What is prison life like?

Answer 2

-Controlled, restricted, away from home, closely monitored etc.

Question 3

What are two reasons that prison is an effective punishment for criminals?

Answer 3

• Ensures that the criminals in prison are not out on the streets committing crime
• Takes away rights and privileges, and the offender ends up ‘paying’ for what they have done, which is seen as justice

Question 4

What is one problem with prison?

Answer 4

Can have a negative impact on prisoners:

• psychological effects can include depression and anxiety
• mental health of prisoners leads them vulnerable to suicide

Question 5

How is operant conditioning used in terms of prison and re-offence?

Answer 5

If the prisoner has an unpleasant experience in prison, they will associate this unpleasant experience with crime and therefore will be less likely to commit a crime.

Question 6

What are prisoners more likely to have been subjected to in their childhood?

Answer 6

• More likely to have been in care
• More likely to have truanted from school regularly
• More likely to be poorly educated and have poor literacy and numeracy skills

Question 7

Why is a job important for the rehabilitation of a prisoner?

Answer 7

As it provides them with a structure for their day, financial security and keeps them away from the activities (and perhaps people) that might encourage them to re-offend.

Question 8

What was the aim of Gillis and Nafekh’s study?

Answer 8

To see if placing offenders on employment schemes for when they are released has an effect on re-offending rates.

Question 9

What was the sample used in Gillis and Nafekh’s study?

Answer 9

23535 individuals released between Jan ‘98 and Jan ‘05.

Question 10

What was the research method for Gillis and Nafekh’s study?

Answer 10

Quasi-experiment (naturally occurring IV).

Question 11

What was the procedure of Gillis and Nafekh’s study?

Answer 11

They conducted a content analysis of data produced by Canada’s Offender Management System.

Question 12

What was the main result of Gillis and Nafekh’s study?

Answer 12

Those in employment scheme group were more likely to stay on conditioned release and less likely to re-offend.

Question 13

What percentage of the employed group remained out of prison?

Answer 13

70%

Question 14

What percentage of the unemployed group remained out of prison?

Answer 14

55%

Question 15

What are the main conclusions of Gillis and Nafekh’s study?

Answer 15

-Having a planned programme in place after release can reduce re-offending rates