Programs Administored by Probation Departments

PROGRAMS ADMINISTORED BY PROBATION DEPARTMENTS

Houghton Mifflin defines recidivism as the phenomenon of a person repeating a lapse of a previous pattern of undesirable behavior (Mifflin 699). The term is most frequently used when referring to substance abuse and criminal behavior. Studies have shown that only one percent of serious crimes are committed by people over sixty, making age the most reliable predictor of recidivism (Welsch 52). Recidivism in broad can be referred to as a new crime convicted by felony inmates and probationers that is measured by rates of re-arrest, reconviction and re-incarceration. Recidivism is basically the public safety failure rate.

In order to understand recidivism, Dr. Beck believes it is important to consider three concepts: what is counted as recidivism, the time frame and the basic for making sense of the information on recidivism. Concept one, depending upon the jurisdiction, various things are taken into consideration in regards to recidivism. In the Florida Department of Corrections, recidivism is when a person returns to prison or receives a new sentence to community supervision because of a new offense. However, if the same person is incarcerated in a county jail for a lesser crime or commit a technical violation such as failure to report to a parole officer at a specified time, these events are not considered as recidivism. In Colorado prison system, recidivism includes technical violation such as failing to report to a parole officer (Beck 1).

The time frame of recidivism is the second concept. Here again, the jurisdiction plays a major role in the time frame of recidivism. Depending on the state prison systems the time frame for recidivism can range from one to 22 years after being released from prison. For example, before 2001, if an ex-convict committed a new offense two years after being released from prison they would not be counted as recidivists in the Massachusetts prison system, but would have been counted in the Oklahoma prison system (Beck 1-2) Making sense of the data is the last concept for understanding recidivism. Dr. Beck concludes that comparisons between similar programs need to be made when interpreting recidivism data. Analyzing data for only a particular program will not yield much information. Example, trying to determine whether a recidivism rate of 30, 40, or 50 percent is good or bad would be hard to do when dealing with one program. A recidivism rate of 30 percent could be bad if related programs are receiving a rate of 15 percent. On the other hand, a recidivism rate of 40 percent could be good if related programs are receiving a rate of 60 percent. Regardless of a program producing a year-to-year data plan, the issue of how that program stands in comparison to related programs remains unanswered (Beck, 2).

PROGRAMS ADMINISTORED BY PROBATION DEPARTMENTS

The rate of recidivism is the percentage of former offenders who return to criminal behavior after release (Etzioni 47-50). The most common rate of recidivism in the United States is that seventy percent of inmates and fifty-eight percent of probationers are re-arrested within three years after their release date. Out of that seventy and fifty-eight percent, less than one quarter of each group returned to prison for a new crime (Welsch 109). These rates of recidivism also vary on the way one counts the event or reason for arrest, the duration of relapse time and the seriousness of the behavior in the new offense. It has also been said that rates vary among categories of offenders, for example, males had significantly higher rates of recidivism, young minority offenders seemed to be re-arrested more often, property offenders tend to commit more new crimes more frequently and are more likely to specialize in their own deviant behavior. Some studies believe that certain characteristics of the offender contribute to the causes of recidivism, these characteristics are age, race and gender. It has also been said that serious drug problems are indicators of re-arrest, however, not for a new drug crime (Elikann 189). The primary offense and sentence length also affect recidivism rates among inmates. Personal causes of recidivism are addictions or career. What is meant by this perception is that, a drug addict can get locked up every day for possession but as soon as he or she is released there is a high chance of them being locked up for possession again. An example of a career personal cause is prostitution. Social causes of recidivism are living in drug infested neighborhoods or growing up in a gang or mob. Social causes of recidivism are sometimes uncontrollable for an individual that has nowhere else to go or call home. Economic causes of recidivism are caused by laziness and greed. Selling drugs would be an example of economic recidivism, it is quick and easy money.

Some risk factors for recidivism have been studied with results indicating that while weak predictors of recidivism include, intellectual functioning, personal distress and social class and origin. The strongest predictors of recidivism are criminal history of anti-social behavior, social achievement, family factors and criminogenic needs (Delgado 19). These risk factors have also been referred to as dynamic factors because they measure the change in the offender and assist in successful prediction of recidivism. There have been several studies on these risk factors dealing with female offenders, aboriginal (Native American) offenders, sex offenders and short-term inmates. In addition to that, attitudes and values, companions and social achievement have been the underlying factor in the characteristics in all of these recidivist offenders (Delgado 198). Already knowing the risk factors of recidivism correctional researchers have began to focus on interventions to prevent recidivism and ways to help offenders remain free from incarceration. There are a

PROGRAMS ADMINISTORED BY PROBATION DEPARTMENTS

variety of interventions available to both federal and state inmates. At the broadest end, incarceration is combined with treatment, programming and reintegration plans. Treatment may be for substance abuse, psychiatric, behavioral or other difficulties. Programming on the other hand may include life skills, academic, employment readiness or other training for re-entry back into the community (Lin 60). Keeping in mind that incarceration alone is ineffective in reducing recidivism places it at the narrowest end of the spectrum. However, each of these interventions is believed to in some way impact an offenders' likelihood of future criminal behavior (Furnham 165). Many departments within Corrections have developed a model of six core programs that address the key criminogenic needs as interventions to prevent recidivism.