forensics - dealing with offending behaviour Flashcards
what are the methods of dealing with offenders?
1) custodial sentencing
2) anger management
3) behaviour modification
4)restorative justice
what is custodial sentencing?
A punishment decided by a court whereby the person spends time in ‘custody’. For example, prison or a young offenders institute.
what are reasons for CS?
Deterrence
Incapacitation
Retribution
Rehabilitation
What is deterence?
deter people from committing crime again
what is incapacitation?
Incapacitation – A means of protecting the public and stopping people from committing more crime
what is retribution?
Retribution – revenge for society, offender is ‘paying’ for their actions
what is rehabilitation?
Rehabilitation – a chance to reform before they’re back into the public
Psychological effects
what are the psychological effects of CS?
- Stress and depression
- Institutionalisation
- Prisonisation
how does CS cause stress and depression?
- Stress and depression suicide rates are higher in prison as are self-harm rates.
- conditions of custody can be poor
how doe CS cause institutionalisation?
- Institutionalisation prisoners become so accustomed to prison life they cannot function outside of prison
what is prisonisation?
- Prisonisation prisoners adopt an ‘inmate code’. Through socialisation with prison they may be encouraged to engage in mora criminality that would not be allowed outside.
what is recidivism?
the tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend
what is recidivism rates in uk?
57% of offenders in the UK will reoffend within a year of release. in 2013
This is a lot higher than Norway who emphasise on rehabilitation.
evaluate custodial sentencing
- Suicide rates in prisons have tended to be 15X higher in prisons than in the general population. This suggests custodial sentencing is not effective in the rehabilitation of offenders.
- Prison reform trust found that 25% of women and 15% of men reported symptoms of psychosis - the oppressive prison regime may trigger psychological disorders
- individual differences - whilst it is psychologically challenging for many not all people will react in the same way. It depends on length of sentence, crime committed and [psychological stability when entering prison confinement. There is no one way that apply to every prisoner at every prison. - some may have undiagnosed issues before going in as well
- There are many opportunities in prison such as education and training to be employed when released. Also, programmes for social skills and anger management. Prison may be worth it.
what is the foundation of behaviour modification?
- if behaviour is learned
- we can reinforce desired behaviour and unlearn behaviour we do not want such that it becomes extinct through punishment
- this enforces obedience in prisons
- can be set up using token economys
what is the main reward system used in prisons?
token economy
what is the token economy?
reinforcing good behaviour with a token that can be exchanged for a reward
what kind of rienfrcers are the tokens?
secondary
what was hobbs and holt research?
introduced token economy with young delinquents and observed significant difference in positive behaviour when this programme was enforced.
evaluate behaviour modification
- Its easy to implement. No need for professionals like anger management. Meaning it Is cost effective and has economical implications.
- however field it wrks best when people hve specific, individual tailored programmes but this would cost a lot of money and time to do
- little rehabilitative value - positive change in prison may be lost when outside of prison. It establishes good conduct in prison but is unlikely to last beyond a custodial setting. Law-abiding behaviour is not enforced outside of prison. - Encourages passive learning – doesn’t actually change their disposition unlike anger managment which encourages active learning that can decrease recidivism
- NOT ETHICAL - dehumanising for the people – call loved one for good
what is anger management?
- A therapeutic programme
- identifying the signs that trigger anger
- learning techniques to calm down
- deal with the situation in a positive way
Who put forward anger management?
Novaco
what does novaco think?
cognitive factors trigger the emotional arousal which generally comes before aggressive acts
what type of therapy is anger management?
CBT
SIMPLY what is the process/aim of anger management?
- recognises the cognitive factors that trigger their anger and loss of control.
- then develop techniques to resolve the tigger without turning to violence.
what are the stages anger management?
1) Cognitive prep
2) Skill acquisition
3) Application practice
what does cognitive prep involve?
1) Cognitive prep Offender reflects on past experiences. What triggers anger? And the therapist highlights when their reaction is irrational.
what does skill aquisition involve?
2) Skill acquisition Offender introduced to cognitive, behavioural or physiological techniques to help deal with anger provoking situations more effectively.
Cognitive – positive self-talk to encourage calmness.
Behavioural – Assertiveness training to help communication more effectively.
Physiological – Relaxation training or meditation.
what is application practice?
3) Application practice Offenders are given the opportunity to practice their skills in a controlled environment. Example = role play between offender and therapist.
If the offender deals successfully with the role they are given positive reinforcement by the therapist.
evaluate anger management
- Eclectic approach - involves both cognitive, behaviourist and SLT concepts. Role play, self-management. This multidisciplinary approach recognises complexity of social activity and crime.
- More insight into the cause of their crime rather than superficial. More likely to change behaviour permenantly and reduce recidivism. unlike behaviour modification which is a passive form of dealing with offenders.
- Limited long-term effectiveness - doesnt always reduce recidvism in the long run - maybe because the role play is artifical and in the real world it is harder than that
- not all crime involves anger - so it wouldnt be appropriate for everyone - financial crimes etc are not suaully motivated by anger
- trained professionals - expensive
what is restorative justice?
a system of criminal justice which focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community at large.
what has to be given by both offender and victim before restorative justice can occur?
A Restorative Justice meeting only goes ahead with both parties’ consent, and is mediated by a trained Restorative Justice facilitator.
who has to be present in restorative justice meetin?
trained mediator
where does restoriative justice take place?
- Non-courtroom setting where offenders voluntarily meet with survivors.
- Can be face-to-face meeting or conducted remotely via video link.
what does restorative justice do for the offendor?
- Allows the offender to comprehend the consequences of their actions, including the emotional distress caused.
what does restorative justice offer the survivor?
- The survivor is given the opportunity to confront the offender and explain how the crime affected them.
should restorative justice be passive/active?
- Important that there is an active rather than passive involvement of all parties in the process wherever possible.
who is involved in restorative justice?
victime, offender and mediator
- Other people may have a role in the process, for example, neighbours, friends and family of the survivor.
what is the focus of restorttiave justice?
- Focuses on positive outcomes for both survivor and offender.
cognitive skill in anger managment
Cognitive – positive self-talk to encourage calmness.
behavioural skills in anger managment
Behavioural – Assertiveness training to help communication more effectively.
physiological skills in anger managment
relaxation/ meditation
what is the process of the national anger managment package?
8 two hour sessions
the first seven over a three week period
last two a month later
who studied outcome of the national anger managment package
julia keen - positive - effective outscome - increaed awareness of anger and were able to react more calmly
who putforward the national anger managment package
england and wales prison system
what are the key features of restrative justice?
- focus on acceptance of responsibility
- not restricted to courtrooms
- active rather than passive
- focus on positive outcomes for both parties
Evaluate restorative justice
- offers diverse programmes, this is good because it means it can be tailored to the individual situation and what the people need
- relies on offender showing remorse - offenders my use it to avoid prison instead of actually trying to improve, the victim may also have a motive, this means may not have positive outcomes when participants do not have Good intentions
- expensive - requires a trained meaditor between the criminal and victim and may have large drop out rates due to victim losing their nerve, not always the most cost effective
- not suitable for all cases such as rape - there is a problem with the power imbalance in this situation - it is not appropriate for all crimes - this situation may lead to victim blaming
how to set up token economy
- 1 identify desired behaviour
- 2 break it down
- 3 form a basline measure
- 4 all officers must follow the same regime of selective rienforcement
- it s all overseen by prisn officials
how was crime treated historically?
a criminal offence was a crim towards the state, this hanges te blame so that it is focused on retribution for the victim
