Rehabilitation Of Criminals In America Essay, Research Paper

Prison inmates, are some of the most ?maladjusted? people in society. Most of the inmates have

had too little discipline or too much, come from broken homes, and have no self-esteem. They are very

insecure and are ?at war with themselves as well as with society? (Szumski 20). Most inmates did not

learn moral values or learn to follow everyday norms. Also, when most lawbreakers are labeled criminals

they enter the phase of secondary deviance. They will admit they are criminals or believe it when they

enter the phase of secondary deviance (Doob 171).

Next, some believe that if we want to rehabilitate criminals we must do more than just send them

to prison. For instance, we could give them a chance to acquire job skills; which will improve the

chances that inmates will become productive citizens upon release. The programs must aim to change those

who want to change. Those who are taught to produce useful goods and to be productive are ?likely to

develop the self-esteem essential to a normal, integrated personality? (Szumski 21). This kind of

program would provide skills and habits and ?replace the sense of hopelessness? that many inmates have

(Szumski 21).

Moreover, another technique used to rehabilitate criminals is counseling. There is two types of

counseling in general, individual and group counseling. Individual counseling is much more costly than

group counseling. The aim of group counseling is to develop positive peer pressure that will influence

its members. One idea in many sociology text is that group problem-solving has definite advantages over

individual problem-solving. The idea is that a wider variety of solutions can be derived by drawing from

the experience of several people with different backgrounds. Also one individuals problem might have

already been solved by another group member and can be suggested. Often if a peer proposes a solution it

carries more weight than if the counselor were to suggest it (Bennett 20-24).

Further, in sociology, one of the major theories of delinquency is differential association

(Cressey 1955). This means some people learned their ways from ?undesirable? people who they were forced

to be in association with and that this association ?warps? their thinking and social attitudes. ?Group

counseling, group interaction, and other kinds of group activities can provide a corrective, positive

experience that might help to offset the earlier delinquent association? (Bennett 25). However, it is

said that group counseling can do little to destroy the power of labeling (Bennett 26). The

differential-association theory emphasizes that a person is more likely to become a criminal if the

people who have the greatest influence upon them are criminals (Doob 169).

Most of today?s correctional institutions lack the ability and programs to rehabilitate the

criminals of America. One can predict that a prisoner held for two, four, eight or ten years, then

released , still with no education or vocational skills will likely return to a life of crime. Often

their life in crime will resume in weeks after their release. Although the best prisons and programs in

the world will not cure the problem totally, improvements still must be made (Szumski 20).

Prison inmates, are some of the most ?maladjusted? people in society. Most of the inmates have

had too little discipline or too much, come from broken homes, and have no self-esteem. They are very

insecure and are ?at war with themselves as well as with society? (Szumski 20). Most inmates did not

learn moral values or learn to follow everyday norms. Also, when most lawbreakers are labeled criminals

they enter the phase of secondary deviance. They will admit they are criminals or believe it when they

enter the phase of secondary deviance (Doob 171).

Next, some believe that if we want to rehabilitate criminals we must do more than just send them

to prison. For instance, we could give them a chance to acquire job skills; which will improve the

chances that inmates will become productive citizens upon release. The programs must aim to change those

who want to change. Those who are taught to produce useful goods and to be productive are ?likely to

develop the self-esteem essential to a normal, integrated personality? (Szumski 21). This kind of

program would provide skills and habits and ?replace the sense of hopelessness? that many inmates have

(Szumski 21).

Moreover, another technique used to rehabilitate criminals is counseling. There is two types of

counseling in general, individual and group counseling. Individual counseling is much more costly than

group counseling. The aim of group counseling is to develop positive peer pressure that will influence

its members. One idea in many sociology text is that group problem-solving has definite advantages over

individual problem-solving. The idea is that a wider variety of solutions can be derived by drawing from

the experience of several people with different backgrounds. Also one individuals problem might have

already been solved by another group member and can be suggested. Often if a peer proposes a solution it

carries more weight than if the counselor were to suggest it (Bennett 20-24).

Further, in sociology, one of the major theories of delinquency is differential association

(Cressey 1955). This means some people learned their ways from ?undesirable? people who they were forced

to be in association with and that this association ?warps? their thinking and social attitudes. ?Group

counseling, group interaction, and other kinds of group activities can provide a corrective, positive

experience that might help to offset the earlier delinquent association? (Bennett 25). However, it is

said that group counseling can do little to destroy the power of labeling (Bennett 26). The

differential-association theory emphasizes that a person is more likely to become a criminal if the

people who have the greatest influence upon them are criminals (Doob 169).

Most of today?s correctional institutions lack the ability and programs to rehabilitate the

criminals of America. One can predict that a prisoner held for two, four, eight or ten years, then

released , still with no educationling, there is disadvantages. For instance, members of the group might

not be as open or show emotion because they want to appear ?tough.? Also the members might not express

their opinions openly because the others might see it as ?snitching.? For the group to work it takes a

dedicated counselor (Bennett 22-23).

Another type of correctional center used for rehabilitation is halfway houses. Halfway houses

are usually located in residential communities and are aimed to keep offenders in the community. The

name comes from the fact that they are ?halfway between the community and the prison? (Fox 60).

The ?rationale? behind halfway houses is that criminal activity originates in the community, so

the community has a responsibility to try to correct it. Also, sending a person who has deviant behavior

and who has been associated with criminal influences, to prison would just make the problem worse (Fox

61). ?The best place for treatment is in the community; this prevents the breaking of all constructive

social ties? (Fox 61).

Programs in halfway houses usually involve work release or study release and group sessions for

therapy and counseling. Most programs vary greatly depending on the administrator. Generally, the

purpose is to ?reintegrate? members back into the community. There are three systems generally used in

programs and in the process: ?change by compliance, client-centered change, and change by credibility in

that it Œmakes sense.? (Fox 73). The compliance model is designed to make good work habits. The

client-centered model focuses on a high understanding of the person. The credibility model emphasizes

making decisions and getting back into the community. These programs are made to avoid institutions as

much as possible (Fox 73).

On the other hand, many inmates think the government does not want to rehabilitate criminals.

The reason behind this thinking is that prisons supply thousands of jobs to the economy. Also the

construction of new prisons brings millions of dollars into the economy each year and if there were no

new prisons needed it would mean the loss of thousands of jobs (Szumski 24-26). Henry Abernathy and

inmate in Texas said ?just think what a catastrophe it would cause if all cons across the country decided

never to commit another crime.? Richard Cepulonis, an inmate in Massachusetts said just the title

?Department of Corrections? is a ?misnomer? he said ?they don?t correct anything.?

In conclusion, things need to be done to improve rehabilitation in America. Improvements in job

training, counseling, and halfway houses for rehabilitation must be brought to the forefront by citizens.

If we do not get involved and try to make changes, our crime problem could worsen beyond control.

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Bibliography

Szumski, Bonnie. America?s Prisons Opposing Viewpoints.

Greenhaven Press, Inc.: 1985

Doob, Christopher. Sociology: An Introduction. Harcourt Brace & Company, United States: 1994

Bennett, Lawrence. Counseling in Correctional Environments.

New York: New York, 1978

Fox, Vernon. Community-Based Corrections.

Englewood Cliffs: New Jersey, 1977.