Recidivism prevention: Setting inmates on the right track

I’ve worked with inmates for a very long time and know all too well of the challenges faced by parolees rebuilding their lives. I’ve assisted many people and they as well as I know exactly how arduous the process of reintegration is. 

Image source: correctionsone.com

“Had to be a prison to become a crook” is painfully true for most people. There have been many heartbreaking stories of people who were wrongfully convicted, imprisoned, and released who had later turned to crime, and ex-convicts being criminals is a sad and overplayed cliché. 

One of the main problems faced by many prisons today is that their environments often heavily promote hostile behaviors among their inmates while suppressing pacifistic or compassionate ones. Combatting this very environment should be a crucial step in stemming the development of unhealthy habits and curbing violent behaviors. 

Many of these behaviors are rooted in behavioral disorders; targeting these individuals and giving them the assistance they need—be it treatment or counseling—can help prevent relapses of criminal behaviors. 

Many comprehensive prison reform programs often include these and other solutions as part of their strategy, but this is only half of the equation. Many former inmates face immense difficulties in reintegrating back into law-abiding society. They face employment difficulties due to the stigma they encounter employers. They may also lack adequate housing and healthcare opportunities, all of which can drive them to destitution and once again prone to petty crime. 

Best practices in overcoming these barriers would include providing former inmates and parolees with housing assistance and better access to physical and mental health care. Also, reform programs may consist of education and skill training while in prison, which not only provide prisoners with a constructive outlet for their energies but also give them with a means to build a livelihood after prison. 

Image source: livestrong.com

I’m Wayne Imber, a retired developmental psychologist and advocate of better rehabilitation for former convicts. For more on my thoughts and musings, follow me on Twitter.

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