Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation does work to reduce recidivism rates among offenders, it however only works when certain treatments are used. For instance, “This variation in program success has led to a search for those “principles”that distinguish effective treatment interventions from ineffective ones.There is theoretical and empirical support for the conclusion that the rehabilitation programs that achieve the greatest reductions in recidivism use cognitive-behavioral treatments, target known predictors of crime for change, and intervene mainly with high-risk offenders. “Multisystemictreatment” is a concrete example of an effective program that largely conforms to these principles” (Cullen, Gendreau)
Some more evidence that rehabilitation works is “More recently, scholars have undertaken more sophisticated quantitative syntheses of an increasing body of evaluation studies through a technique called “meta-analysis.” These meta-analyses reveal that across evaluation studies, the recidivism rate is, on average, 10 percentage points lower for the treatment group than for the control group However, this research has also suggested that some correctional interventions have no effect on offender criminality (e.g., punishment-oriented programs), while others achieve substantial reductions in recidivism (i.e., approximately 25 percent).This variation in program success has led to a search for those “principles” that distinguish effective treatment interventions from ineffective ones.
There is theoretical and empirical support for the conclusion that the rehabilitation programs that achieve the greatest reductions in recidivism use cognitive-behavioral treatments, target known predictors of crime for change, and intervene mainly with high-risk offenders. “Multisystemic treatment” is a concrete example of an effective program that largely conforms to these principles. In the time ahead, it would appear prudent that correctional policy and practice be “evidence based.” Knowledgeable about the extant research, policymakers would embrace the view that rehabilitation programs, informed by the principles of effective intervention, can “work” to reduce recidivism and thus can help foster public safety. By reaffirming rehabilitation, they would also be pursuing a policy that is consistent with public opinion research showing that Americans continue to believe that offender treatment should be an integral goal of the correctional system.”.(Cullen, Gendreau).
The approach to me that would work with rehabilitating offenders is an approach that takes into account the offender needs while in the penal institution. Remember this, each offender who comes into the system takes a different approach to being rehabilitated whether it be through using a program that deals with mental health issues, educational, or some form of counseling program.
Reference
Cullen, Francis T. and Gendreau, Paul Assessing Correctional
Rehabilitation: Policy, Practice, and Prospects
http://www.ncjrs.gov/criminal_justice2000/vol_3/03d.pdf 10-01-2006
