Abstract
Recidivism of criminal offenders has become a national problem in the United States. New criminal activity along with technical violations of conditions of probation or parole are the results of deficiencies in cognitive behaviorisms. Numerous studies have revealed that weaknesses in cognitive behavior are a common denominator among offenders. These studies have led to the development and implementation of treatment strategies that, when administered to criminal offenders, have proven to be effective in reducing recidivism. Therapeutic programs grounded in evidence-based practices are widely used throughout correctional facilities and probation-parole departments. However, this evidence-based approach in reducing recidivism is moot if correctional leadership is not supportive of rehabilitative programs for offenders. The efficacy and success of these programs are dependent on effective leadership along with professionals and paraprofessionals that are specifically credentialed or licensed and have the qualities and skillsets to provide these types of rehabilitative measures.
TopIntroduction
Reducing and preventing criminal recidivism has been and continues to be the overarching goal of the criminal justice system. The correctional ideology that epitomized the benefits of rehabilitation was prevalent in the United States before the 1970s when mainstream society demanded that local, state, and federal governments implement stronger and harsher punishments regardless of crime classification. These demands shifted the correctional pendulum back to punishment and retribution for criminal convictions while eliminating rehabilitation through treatment and vocational training. As a result of societal change, state and federal statutory authorities implemented strategies designed to harshly punish those who committed misdemeanor or felony crimes, thereby ensuring societal retribution for criminal behavior. The federal Truth in Sentencing Act of 1994, which provided states with the financial means to build more prisons, enabled states to enact harsher sentences using convictions requiring incarceration. To qualify for federal funds, states enacted statutes requiring mandatory minimum sentences for a broad spectrum of violent and non-violent criminal acts. Many states also passed some variation of a “three strikes” rule, which mandated increased prison time or life without the opportunity for parole for three instances of criminal activity in the same crime category. The harsh punitive legislative and judicial actions satisfied mainstream society while causing the prison population to explode, thereby facilitating severe prison overcrowding. This overcrowding led to a plethora of problems that are slowly being addressed by the affected states. Prison overcrowding also led to the advent of private prisons run by corporations contracted by various states (Eisenberg, 2016; Blumstein, 2012; Ayre, 1995).
Late in the 20th century, mental health professionals began to utilize cognitive behavior therapies to mitigate behavioral issues of those individuals that had been diagnosed with mental health issues that affected their cognitive behaviors. These therapies were implemented in residential facilities and non-residential outpatient programs (Feucht & Holt, 2016). Given the success of the cognitive-behavioral intervention programs and treatments in the mental health field, criminal justice professionals adopted, adapted, and implemented these program ideations to promote positive change in offender populations. As a result, these cognitive-behavioral programs implemented by correctional facilities and community corrections providers are a way to reduce recidivism among juvenile and adult offenders. They have replaced ineffective programs that did nothing to mitigate recidivism.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Rehabilitation: The process of changing an offender's thought processes and behavior in a way that allows for positive decision-making.
Leader: Any person in a supervisory role who demonstrates the qualities of respect, courage, integrity, commitment, and the ability to influence others while administering their job duties.
Corrections: Any period of incarceration or supervision under the authority of a federal or state corrections department.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies: Programs designed to help clients discover and change the thought processes that lead to maladaptive behavior by emphasizing personal accountability.
Facilitator: Any person with the training and desire to work together to understand common objectives in the rehabilitation of offenders.
Licensure: A certification granted through a professional governing board based on an individual's knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Recidivism: The rate at which an offender re-offends immediately following his/her release from the custody of a local or state correctional program.
RNR (Risk, Needs, Responsivity): Assessment tools used to evaluate criminogenic needs of offenders to assist in the placement of the appropriate rehabilitative programming.
Behavior: The physical or mental reactions of an individual because of an internal or external stimulus.
Offender: Any person convicted of a misdemeanor or felony offense currently incarcerated in a state or federal institution or placed on parole or probation.