Rehabilitation of Offenders

Question 1

What does general research show about assessing the effectiveness of punishment, the effect of deterrence and how effective capital punishment is?

Answer 1

1) research that assesses effectiveness is very difficult (publication bias, bad operational definitions of recidivism, research designs are inadequate)

2) no relationship between serious crime and capital punishment

3) studies on deterrence, show that it has little effect on recidivism

Question 2

When are punishment-based techniques likely to work?

Answer 2

They’re unavoidable
There are alternative behaviours for reaching their goal

Question 3

What are known as ineffective approaches?

Answer 3

Vocational training
No good prospect for real jobs

Question 4

What are known as scared-straight programs?

Answer 4

Wilderness/outdoor challenges program

Question 5

What treatments are effective? Why?

Answer 5

High intensity, well designed community based programs are effective.
Implementation is important.
Cognitive behavioural programs are effective for criminal recidivism

These programs involve interpersonal skills training, behavioural techniques such as modelling, role-playing, cognitive skills training, problem solving training and structured individual counselling

Question 6

What is CBT (cognitive behavioural treatment)?

Answer 6

Assumes offenders are shaped and influences by their environment
Failed to learn cognitive and behavioural skills for proper functioning in society
Involves problem solving training, social skills training, and pro-social modelling
Focusing on behavioural is important for recidivism
Approaches which combine CBT are most effective

Question 7

How does CBT use modelling to improve offending behaviour?

Answer 7

Increase offenders’ insights into their actions
Model new ways of thinking and acting, such as techniques for self assessment, practise new behaviours through role play as well as recognizing what events can trigger specific emotions

Question 8

What is the evidence for CBT being effective?

Answer 8

CBT based anger management: 23% risk reduction of general recidivism and a risk reduction of 28% for violent recidivism
Treatment completion reduced risks in general recidivism to 42% and for violent recidivism this risk reduced to 56%
Anger management therefore is the most effective at reducing risk, particularly for violent recidivism

Question 9

Why do we treat offenders?

Answer 9

1) safeguard prisoners’ health and dignity
2) reduce long-term detrimental effects on society
3) provide further perceptions of justice, not every crime deserves a punishment

Question 10

Does anger management work on it’s own?

Answer 10

Tends to reduce aggression but only in the short term
Violent offenders are resistant to change
Combined with CBT, it’s effective
More research is needed about the effectiveness of anger management on it’s own

Question 11

Why isn’t rehabilitation effective?

Answer 11

Meta analyses show that rehabilitation works
But the literature is written for researchers and not practitioners
Workshops and meetings don’t involve active-directive learning

Question 12

What is the rehabilitation theory?

Answer 12

Specify the aims of therapy
Justify the aims based on assumptions about cause and related factors (etiology)
Identify clinical targets
Outline treatment based on etiology and goals
Specify most suitable type of treatment, address motivation and educate therapist about best attitudes to have

Question 13

What is the Good Lives Comprehensive Model (GLCM)?

Answer 13

Rehabilitate offenders

3 levels/components:
1) set of general principles/assumptions which specify values regarding rehabilitation and the overall aims to strive for

2) implications of assumptions for understanding and explaining offending and its functions

3) treatment implications of focusing on goals/good, self-regulation strategies, and ecological factors

Question 14

What is the general principle? How does this relate to offending behaviour?

Answer 14

Humans have goals to seek goods which increased psychological wellbeing.
These primary goods can be food, happiness, knowledge, life, friendships

Second goods can provide means of securing primary goods, such as money or work

Sexual offending can be seen as a socially unacceptable way of obtaining primary goods

Question 15

What are etiological assumptions? How does this lead to offending behaviour?

Answer 15

Sexual abuse occurs from the interaction of various causal variables such as biological (brain development, inheritance) and ecological niche (contextual situation, social, cultural)

Biological and ecological niche factors impact the neuropsychological systems. Such as the motivations/emotions which impact perception/memory these impact the action selection/control systems to produce abuse.

These lead to various issues that can facilitate abuse:
Empathy deficits, emotional problems, cognitive distortions, deviant sexual arousal, social difficulties

Question 16

What are the implications of the GLCM?

Answer 16

Providing offenders with skills, values, attitudes and resources to have a meaningful life with primary goods

Therapists should adopt a humanistic approach towards the offender, with respect for the offenders capacity to change. This is difficult to do, particularly with the worst offenders

Question 17

Do offenders have access to these goods? Are the goods obtained in moral ways?

Answer 17

Humans pursue these goods whether they’re ethical or unethical, they may not be morally good outcomes but they increase wellbeing in the offender

Psychological well being is important, primary goods need to be accessible. The conditions to require these goods should be nurtured

Question 18

Why is rehabilitation important?

Answer 18

Rehabilitation includes what is best for the offender and what is best for society

Personal identity: offenders should develop a sense of who they are and what it means to have a good life, and have the opportunity to exercise these in order to have a more meaningful life

Question 19

What does the GLCM suggest about offenders obtaining these goods?

Answer 19

Criminogenic needs are obstacles that block offenders from obtaining primary goods
It is the behaviours for obtaining these goods which are problematic not the primary goods themselves