Forensic Psychology : Dealing With Offending Behaviour & Recidivism

Question 1

What is custodial sentencing?

Answer 1

“Judicial sentence determined by a court, where the offender is punished by serving time in prison or in some other closed therapeutic/educational institution, such as a psychiatric hospital”

Question 2

What is the purpose of custodial sentencing?

Answer 2

• Deterrence
• Incapacitation
• Rehabilitation
• Retribution

Question 3

What is deterrence?

Answer 3

the idea that prisons should be an unpleasant experience, so someone who serves a sentence wouldn’t want to ever go back

Question 4

What is incapacitation?

Answer 4

Taking criminals ‘off the street’ stops them from being able to commit further crimes - keeping society safer

Question 5

What is retribution?

Answer 5

Society is taking revenge on a criminal - making them pay for their crimes by taking their freedom away

Question 6

What is rehabilitation

Answer 6

The idea that prisons can reform criminals through training, education, therapy so they leave prison a better person

Question 7

What is the psychological effects of custodial sentencing

Answer 7

• Depression
• Institutionalisation
• Stress
• Prisonisation

Question 8

Why is stress a psychological effect of custodial sentencing?

Answer 8

• Imprisonment can be brutal, demanding and devastating
• Suicide rates have tended to be 15% higher than in general population
• Most at risk are single men, under the age of 24, in the first 24 hours of custody
• 25% of women and 15% of men have reported symptoms of psychosis
• Custodial sentencing is not effective in rehabilitating the individual, particularly those who are psychologically vulnerable

Question 9

Why is depression a psychological effect of custodial sentencing?

Answer 9

• Abramson et al. (1989) - depression is caused by both helplessness and hopelessness
• These are both feelings that offenders entering prison may initially feel
• In 2008, 10,000 known incidents of self-harm (Howard League for Prison reform)

Question 10

Why is institutionalisation a psychological effect of custodial sentencing?

Answer 10

• Having adapted to the norms of prison life, some find it impossible to then cope with ‘real life’

Question 11

Why is Prisonisation a psychological effect of custodial sentencing?

Answer 11

• Some behaviours that are unacceptable in the outside world are encouraged & rewarded inside prison

Question 12

What is recidivism?

Answer 12

Recidivism is where a person re-offends, even after receiving some form of punishment. This is a concern for society, as it has implications for the aims of custodial sentencing and suggests that current treatment programmes in prison do not necessarily work.

Question 13

Evidence for recidivism?

Answer 13

• 2013 study - 57% of offenders will reoffend within the first year of release
• 2007 study - 70% of offenders will reoffend within the first year of release
• US and UK had the highest recidivism rates
  Norway had the lowest recidivism rates (in Europe)

Question 14

Study for the effectiveness of prisons?

Answer 14

Prison Reform Trust (2007)
● Many prisoners have not reached the levels of literacy and numeracy expected of an average 11 year old
● 50% do not have the skills required by 96% of all jobs
● 50% have been excluded from school

Question 15

Custodial sentencing evaluation Strengths

Answer 15

● It allows prisoners to gain qualifications (education and employment)
● One purpose of prison is deterrence - the evidence suggests that prisoners do not enjoy prison as it increases suicide rates

Question 16

Custodial sentencing evaluation Limitations

Answer 16

● Ignores individual differences
● The psychological effects on prisoners
● Just because a criminal is in prison, doesn’t mean they won’t
commit crimes - contradicts the purpose of ‘incapacitation’
● Cuts to prison budgets means that anger management, training,
education and therapy are not always available
● Inexperienced prisoners can learn from experienced prisoners