Perspectives on recidivists: the views of detainees, the general public and people working with offenders

Abstract

There is ample evidence on recidivism including its relationships with drug use, addiction, mental illness and security problems; however there has been less research based on direct accounts of detainee experiences and on the experience of people who try to prevent recidivism. The aim of this research was to describe how recidivism is perceived and dealt with by different actors: offenders (recidivists and non-recidivists), pedagogical operators and the public. The wider objective of the study was to identify ways in which various stakeholders can facilitate social reintegration of prisoners. The interviews revealed marked differences in how recidivism is interpreted; these affect both management of recidivism risk and the rehabilitation process, which involves society. The results suggest some ways of reducing recidivism, such as work groups among the actors involved, educational opportunities for offenders and the implementation of reintegration projects according to the laws on alternatives to prison.

Application and coherence of the model of restorative justice in Europe

“…Very often also are such evidences that measure the effectiveness of repair rather than the punitive model, without considering that the two models are not necessarily antagonistic, while moving on very different plans. In most experiments, the restorative perspective does not see in the pain an imitation of violence, neither the mere application of a rule, but the suggestion to 'restore the dialogic dimension, inter-subjective balance in which each subject relates to each other not as an opposed but as a mutual' (Iudici, Alborghett & Ferri, 2017;Iudici, Boccato & Faccio, 2018;Reggio, 2010).Many cases include restorative actions, but it is not clear how they take place, giving the idea that the action is in itself restorative. In other works, the intention to repair or make a reflection on the crime is expressed, in ways that most recall a paternalistic behaviour rather than real change.…”

Can a prison be self-managed? A study of the informal organisation of a bolivian prison

“…External institutions can have a major impact on social reintegration, reducing detention costs and making prison institutions more humane [7]. It is also known that external rehabilitation activities seem to effectively encourage greater prisoner autonomy and a less restrictive prison environment [8,9]. Christian et al [10] pointed out that there are several benefits in allowing the prisoner to maintain family ties during the period of detention and especially after release.…”

Prevention of recidivism: experience and innovations

“…Recidivism was, is and will be the object of close attention from specialists engaged in the study of the causes of crime and the development of a system to counter this negative phenomenon, both domestic and foreign. The article considers, in particular, the state of such crime [1], its types [2], the impact on the recidivism of education and employment [3,4], and other issues related to recidivism [5][6][7].…”