Incarceration and Rehabilitation for Recidivism
The aspects of incarceration and rehabilitation usually play a critical role in attempting to prevent offenders from backsliding back to their old offensive habits. By definition, imprisonment follows the confinement of individuals in prison while rehabilitation seeks to restore the offenders from their practices for the better. In Michigan, there is an increased number of children in prisons, correctional facilities rather than rehabilitation centres. The crowding of the kids in prisons follows the harsh and strict policies imposed on them according to the reports on the Michigan Council on Crime Delinquency. Therefore, there is a need to have an empirical conclusion on whether the incarceration on the children results in recidivism in the city. Michigan follows the assumption that with the kids attaining the age of 17 years old, they are ready to join the criminal system as adults. The treating of the kids as adults sentences them to prisons, attempting to change their violent ways (Bhuller et al, 2020).
In the report on whether incarceration affects recidivism in Michigan proves lower success rate, therein ineffective to the juvenile. Rather than sending the kids into imprisonment, a better strategy in rehabilitating them would have success, reducing recidivism rates. The approach of Michigan in sentencing the kids tends to be misleading and outdated in the contemporary societal needs, therein needs reforms. Therefore, better strategies intending for the juvenile would ensure positive feedback in changing form the old habits, reducing the likelihood of crime repetition. Improvements in the judicial system such as understanding the criminal’s needs and supporting second chance programs would, without a doubt, keep the juvenile from trouble (Burris& Miller, 2017). Encouragement to the inmates to have skills needed in the market economy as well as prioritizing the mental health of the juvenile inmates would have a surety of reduced recidivism.
In Michigan state that has stringent policies on the juvenile concerning the prosecution of the minor should commence in reforming the age limit. The trial of young individuals at an early age rather than trying to change their ways corrupts their thinking. The juveniles in interacting with the elderly inmates in prison shift their thinking, thus having different opinions on going about issues in society. There is no doubt that there is a mark on the children’s innocence in being locked up, therein high possibilities of reoffending upon release. An observable change from their peers arises, with their behaviours changing, with their attempt to try to act tougher with the rapid changes from prison. Therefore, the reformation of age stipulations for the prosecution to prison would impact in giving the kids time to have a change of habits before getting out of hand.
Consequently, the Michigan federation bureau of prisons also sees to strategies to reduce recidivism in the juvenile through the identification of inmates’ needs. The offender’s criminogenic needs are essential in predicting the patterns and nature of their crimes, thus able to control the outcomes. Research has it that the criminogenic factors include the criminal history of the detainee alongside substance abuse and education levels. Upon arrest and before the incarceration period commences, an individualized criminogenic needs assessment should arise. In the evaluation, the correction facility can offset an appropriate service for the induvial throughout their incarceration period.
Moreover, the monitoring of the progress of the inmate results in the delivery of the right services to specific inmates considering different individuals bear different unique needs. In the aftermath, the process will, without a doubt result in a low likelihood of recidivism. The current reports of the outdated reports, however, portray a risk of reoffending with the reduced identification of individual criminogenic needs in Michigan.
To ensure that recidivism cases of the juveniles in Michigan have a consequent reduction, then there should emerge school districts within federal prison systems. There is a need to have a participation in correctional educational programs by the juvenile in incarceration to prevent reoffending after serving their term. The budget and the money spent on the school districts in return see a change in saving costs for reincarceration. The school has the task of providing literacy skills to the inmates that the juveniles have to participate . The school should cater to all the individuals, including those with special needs and learning disabilities. The aspect of evaluation and assessment before incarceration emerges, thus determining the instructions needed at the school while in prison. The skills and the education obtained while in prison should help the individuals upon release to blend in the community, having to share their skills rather than the crime life. Most of the convicts tend to get back to their old criminal habits in having no other skills accepted in society. They lack a purpose and a committing factor to better their lives, therein recidivism arising.
Additionally, reports have it that most of the juveniles upon release realize that their peers have several steps taken in their lives, therein having no chance in the competitive society. Besides the education and skills obtained while in the correctional facilities, they end up lacking jobs to support themselves and their families. With no other way to make a living, the juveniles end up repeating crimes to survive, therein having the incarceration less helpful in Michigan. However, a change in the organization of the correctional facilities to have support programs for second chances appears to strategically induce the juvenile convicts back to society (Burris& Miller, 2017). For success, the successful individuals in incarceration undergo special education besides education from school, receiving grants. In support, grants from universities provide funding that covers the inmate’s tuitions and the resources needed in their preparation for the outside world. The tertiary education supplied offers them opportunities that integrate them with the competitive society, thus blending in well with their peers and societal needs therein reducing reincarceration.
Despite having the juvenile inmates having support programs to aid in their holding up after their release, they also need to have marketable job skills. Michigan records an increased number of recidivism among juvenile inmates upon release since they lack the desired skills in the market. Occupational training is essential wherein the Bureau of Prisons would have great strides in reducing reincarceration upon nurturing individuals with vocational training. Rather than just acquiring the benefits from the support programs, they need the discipline that distinguishes them from having specific areas of interest focused on. The encouragement runs to the extent of industry training, gaining both academic and skill knowledge to employ on release.
There is an evident increase in recidivism rates in Michigan mostly apparent to the juveniles living in poor communities. The poor communities that usually record minority populations attest to race in the increment of the cases of repeating crimes. As compared to the whites, the majority group in the society, the African Americans, and other minority groups tend to have heightened incarceration rates. In response to whether incarceration reduces the rates of repeating crimes, the theme of race and poor community confirms to high probabilities of an increase rather than a decrease. Imperatively, coming from a poor neighbourhood forces the juveniles to seek ways to survive and make it (Chamberlain& Wallace, 2015). Trying out education proves to be impossible considering the lack of resources such as books and funding for tuition.
Moreover, gaining skills required in the markets also receive setbacks with the juveniles’ minority status playing a role, where the available opportunities end up on the majority groups. From the correctional facilities, the kids get back to their poverty-stricken lives that drove them to commit crimes that sent them to incarceration. In an attempt to have a reduction of the crime rates in Michigan, then the juveniles coming from poor communities increase the incarceration rates.
In an attempt to further have a realization on whether incarceration on juveniles reduces recidivism, reports confirm a consistent rate rather than a change. In Michigan, as well as most correctional facilities, the goal tends to be on a treatment basis instead of providing rehabilitation services. After their release, the juvenile inmates tend to have no difference as compared to when they were joining the facilities. In that case, the results prove that the facilities do not treat the problem, thus high chances of recurrence. Moreover, lack of proper rehabilitation results in mental illness to the juveniles after release, increasing their instability in the society therein incarceration proving to be inefficient.
Before incarceration, the juveniles need to have a series of therapies instead of a lock-up. Most cases in Michigan, however, forgo the assessment, therein having the inmates develop more serious mental illnesses while in prison. Upon release, the inmates should also attempt to have guidance to ensure their mental situation is in perfect condition. The evaluation is necessary since the juveniles’ record desperation and depression while in prison, therein increasing the chances of the issues spreading after release. The depression heightens with social stigma from the kid’s peers, drawing them further into deeper states of desperation. To have control over depression attempts to get antidepressants such as drugs and finances to have them engage in criminal activities leading to reincarceration (Weatherby, 2016).
Long sentences served by the juveniles in the correctional facilities also have an impact on increasing the chances of recidivism as observed in Michigan. In their release, they face the society in an overwhelmed state despite having an improved experience to have their lives settled in the outside world. The effects of incarceration to the kids include developing a routine as stipulated by the facility daily, having the monotony tiresome, denying freedom of choice. Therefore, the inmates having lengthened sentences results in being cumbersome and filled with anxiety from freedom, usually accompanied by substance abuse to cope with the new routine. Substance abuse by juveniles after release to help in the overwhelming ambience results in addiction and crimes for funding.
The social circle that an individual associate themselves with have a tremendous influence on the juvenile inmates upon release. In most instances, the crimes committed usually follow a social circle’s control, therefore, having incarceration distancing them from the negative influence. The conditions in Michigan that have the juveniles reunite with their negative impact after their release proves a consequent return to the old habits despite the rehabilitation received. In this case, finding a new support group reduces the chances of recidivism, associating with a group of individuals with a positive influence. In contemporary society, making new friends as well as finding a new group to associate with proves to be a hard task. Differences in likes and desire categorize individuals, with similar cases evident in Michigan.
Finally, the attitudes of the society towards juvenile offenders after leaving the correctional facilities also determine the rate of recidivism. The response that they receive determines whether they revert to their criminal activities or have the maintenance of being productive individuals in society. Among juveniles, the cases of re-integration back to the culture tends to be harder as compared to the adults, therein having the aspect of age arising as well. It is relatively more comfortable among the adults with their maturity and sense of responsibilities to have a limited time to judge and stigmatize the released offenders. However, it is different on the juveniles, resulting in cyberbullying and face to face stigmatization. The response received in most cases among the youths turns out sour, increasing the chances of the offender to engage in more criminal activities.
In conclusion, criminal activities have repercussions that end up in incarceration, in attempting to rehabilitate individuals. However, rehabilitation and incarceration among juveniles in Michigan have different results, therein need to know whether recidivism rates increase or reduce arises. From the reports in Michigan, the youth behind bars attest to tightened policies on young offenders such as the prosecuting of 17-year old individuals as adults. An age-appropriate rehabilitation service lacks, therein increasing incarceration of the youth. To determine the impacts of prosecution as to whether there is a reduction in recidivism upon the imprisonment, the reports had confirmation of outdated approaches. Michigan appeared to have a little consideration in rehabilitating their youth, having their unfair policies have a recurring effect without a reduction.
To reduce the crisis of recidivism, Michigan ought to implement strategies such as the identification of criminogenic needs lacking in their facilities. Besides the strategic identification, the building of educational facilities alongside support programs to juveniles and prioritizing mental health fitness would prove efficient in reduction. In summary, lack of employment in Michigan and the quality of life to the youths attest to the increment rather than the decrease in recidivism. Besides, the law keepers should understand that incarceration has little to do with treating the problems of the juveniles and should instead rehabilitate them to cut the puzzle. Depression and the society overwhelming the offenders upon release also contributes to the heightened reincarceration, alongside the not changing lifestyle of the offenders after release. Their peers have a lot to do with their changing their old habits, thus a contributing factor.
As a recommendation, education tends to be the best strategy to have a prevention and reduced recidivism cases in Michigan. Stress on education while being in prison prepares the juveniles for the world waiting for them. Outreach assistance, as well as the elimination of criminal justice debt, proves efficient as well. The education imposed while under incarceration provides the necessary skills required to survive softer release. The outreach assistance backs the knowledge in providing links to secure jobs and integrate perfectly with the society should the offenders maintain rehabilitation trends and avoiding crimes.
References
Bhuller, M., Dahl, G. B., Løken, K. V., & Mogstad, M. (2020). Incarceration, recidivism, and employment. Journal of Political Economy, 128(4), 1269-1324. https://doi.org/10.1086/705330
Burris, S. W., & Miller, J. M. (2017). Second Chance Act, the. The Encyclopedia of Juvenile Delinquency and Justice, 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118524275.ejdj0148
Chamberlain, A. W., & Wallace, D. (2015). Mass reentry, neighbourhood context, and recidivism: Examining how the distribution of parolees within and across neighbourhoods impacts recidivism. Justice Quarterly, 33(5), 912-941. https://doi.org/10.1080/07418825.2015.1012095
Weatherby, G. A. (2016). White-collar crime: Recidivism, deterrence, and social impact. Forensic Research & Criminology International Journal, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.15406/frcij.2016.02.00039