Responding to Crime Part 4- Recidivism and What Works for Youth, Offenders, and Victims

Question 1

What is Recidivism

Answer 1

the tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend.

Question 2

How is Recidivism calculated

Answer 2

Rate calculated by counting the # of offenders released from correctional institutions that re-offend and subsequently return to confinement.

Question 3

“Some argue that we need a rehabilitation-reintegration approach rather than simply focusing on a custodial model”

Explain this argument

Answer 3

A custodial environment focuses on making a horrible environment to the point offenders wouldn’t want to reoffend. A rehabilitation-reintegration approach would focus on helping offenders face the challenges after release (stigma, no support, not aware of trends) which is argued to be more effective.

Question 4

What works for youths according to Welsh and Farrington’s (2005) research to not reoffend

Answer 4

-social skills training programs for youth 13+ years
-programs utilizing the cognitive behavioural approach.

Question 5

Interventions for older youth and serious/violent offenders require a “________” approach

Answer 5

Interventions for older youth and serious/violent offenders require a “multi-modal” approach

Question 6

What could be an example of social skills training programs for youth 13+ years

Answer 6

1. impulse control
2. anger management

Question 7

What could be an example of programs utilizing the cognitive behavioural approach

Answer 7

• forms of psycho therapy (ex. modifying triggers)

Question 8

What is a “multi-modal” approach for older youth/ violent offenders

Answer 8

• Combination of programs:

1. Anger management
2. school
3. child welfare

Question 9

What works for offenders?

Answer 9

1. Cognitive behaviour approach (cbt).
2. Drug-treatment programs for incarcerated inmates.
3. Sex offender treatment programs in prison (some success)

Question 10

What works for high-crime areas?

Answer 10

1. Hot spot problem-oriented policing.
2. Electronic video surveillance.

Question 11

What works for victims

Answer 11

1. Court-mandated intervention programs for domestic violence batterers.
2. Upgrades in security for victims of residential burglaries.
3. Participating in restorative justice programs.

Question 12

Three key ideas that lie behind restorative justice:

Answer 12

1. Victim and community have been harmed by the actions of an offender and some sort of restoration is needed.
2. The offending person has an obligation both to the victim and to the community to make up or compensate them.
3. Healing occurs for the victim and offender’s needs and competencies also need to be addressed.

Question 13

What is restorative justice?

Answer 13

Both victims & offenders need to take part

*Ideas of left-realism

Question 14

What is Harm Reduction

Answer 14

to help various social problem connected with criminality (ex. prostitution)

Question 15

How are some harm reduction approaches?

Answer 15

• Public-Health approach

-Recognition that abstinence from all forms of risky behaviour is an untenable goal for society.

-Designed to reduce the harm associated with risky behaviours

Question 16

Decriminalization in harm reduction

Answer 16

Decriminalization: Reduce or end criminal penalties for certain acts. Acts may still be subject to regulation.

Question 17

Legalization in harm reduction

Answer 17

Legalization: Drug use legal under certain conditions