Group project dynamics and collaboration

Recidivism

GROUP PROJECT

Recidivism is a common yet disturbing issue. Some of the state prisons with best rehabilitation programs have failed to control recidivism. In our research, we found that there are some critical causes of recidivism such as lack of therapeutic programs, inability of prison programs to prepare the person for outside world and the discriminatory behavior of employers towards people with criminal history. Edward Zamble and Vernon L. Quinsey conducted the most important research in this connection. Quinsey et al. research is considered to be the most reliable study ever conducted in this field. They also brought forth the astonishing revelation that it was absolutely unwise to think that tough programs would lead to lesser rate of recidivism. On the contrary it was found that those who were subjected to strict corrections programs recidivated more than those who were treated to a less sterner program.

The assumption that if criminals were subjected to a very stern Corrections program, they would think twice before re-offending has also been proved wrong. This was based on the theory that when man knows that punishments is far worse than any benefits he could get from the crime, he might stay away from recidivating. But Quinsey et al. rejected this assumption as they found that the 311 subjects they studied during their research, "had not experienced even the first thought of an offense until they were virtually involved in the crime -- or at least within 15 minutes of its occurrence" (Quinsey et al. 1997: p. 62).

In our project From Light to Darkness, we plan to develop questionnaires first to find out what are the real causes of recidivism in the eyes of the inmates. We have already discovered a few and would like to get a better insight into the causes. Secondly we also need to study more popular researches and their findings in order to discover how this problem can be solved.

We plan to prepare brochures and pamphlets for various groups of people. One would address the inmates only where we would like to draw their attention to ways through which they can minimize their chances of re-entering the criminal world. The other brochure would be addressed to the prison counselors. These would contain research findings and the actual causes of recidivism. The third brochure would be distributed to relevant agencies like the state prison department. This brochure would contain facts on recidivism and urge the department to target the main sources of recidivism directly. We would like to draw their attention towards psychological aspect of recidivism. According to Quinsey study in which 311 inmates who had returned to prison were closely studied, the researchers found that static risk predictors are of little help to the agencies ho need accurate results to build a sound Corrections program. They brought forth some dynamic factors which include such things as choice mechanism, genetic and parental factors and in short all psychological reasons that can lead to relapse. In this way Quinsey study is the first research to discuss the psychological aspect of recidivism and they maintain that if the psychological responses of offenders were studied in detail, we would come to understand what exactly motivates them to re-offend. They also offer instructions for the parole officers. It is found that instead of focusing on insignificant things like offender's failures to meet appointments it is more important that parole officers "focus on some of the mundane events in offenders' lives, especially the problems they encounter, how they manage these problems, and their moods or emotional reactions" (p.149).