forensic psychology: ways of dealing with offenders -prison Flashcards
what is meant by custodial sentencing?
.sudcial sentence determined by court, where the offender is punished by serving time in prison or in a closed therapeutic/educational institution
what is meant by recidivism?
.re-offending
.tendency to relapse into previous condition or mode of behaviour
how many aims are there to custodial sentencing?
4
what are the 4 aims to custodial sentencing?
.deterrence
.retribution
.rehabilitation
.incapacitation
what is meant by deterrence?
.unpleasant prison experience is designed to put off the individual from engaging in offending behaviour (done by operant condition)
what is meant by retribution?
.society wants revenge for the crime by naming the offender suffer
what is retribution based on?
.eye for an eye
what is meant by rehabilitation?
.aim to reform prisoners
.upon release offenders should leave prison better adjusted and ready to take their place back in society
what is meant by incapacitation?
.offender is taken out of society to prevent them re-offending as a means to protect the public
what are the 3 problems with prison?
.psychological effects
.institutionalisation
.mental illness evidence
why is psychology effects a problem with prison?
.stress and depression:
-the stress of the prison experience increases the risk of psychological disturbance following release?
who conducted evidence to support the psychological effects with prison?
.bartol 1995
what did bartol 1995 find?
.suicide rates 15x higher for inmates than general population
.young single males most at risk
why is institutionalisation a problem with prison?
.because the prisoners adapt to the norms and routines of prison, inmates may become so accustomed to these that they are no longer able to function on the outside
why is mental health a problem in prison?
.prison triggers psychosis I’m vulnerable individuals so prison is therefore not effective on those who are psychologically vulnerable
who conducted the evidence to support why mental health is a problem with prisons?
.prison reform trust 2014
what did the prison reform trust 2014 say?
.25% women and 15% men show signs of psychosis
what is the supporting evidence for this way of dealing with offenders?
.zimbardo prison experiment
how does zimbardos prison experiment support this way of dealing with offenders?
.demonstrates how quickly ‘prisoners’ conformed to the role they had been assigned:
-the prisoners became helpless
-both prisoners and guards have experiences de-individualisation, loss of identity as the experimental role took over
