Rehabilitation Programs
Rehabilitation: Does it Work?
The idea that more effort should be made to reform offenders is a theme that that been persistent throughout the history of American corrections. Rehabilitative ideals have helped lead the way in the renovation of the correctional system. Implementations of intermediate sentencing, parole, probation, and a separate juvenile justice system were all part of the process. While the rehabilitation process seems like the perfect plan to transform the incarcerated, can prisoners truly be rehabilitated, or should punishment merely be retributive in nature? Looking at Robert Matinson 's theories in What Works? Questions and Answers About Prison Reform while comparing it to other scholars with help to answer this pertinent question. A factor that plays a significant role in the potential success of a rehabilitation program is that the offender must comply with the guidelines of the program and be open to making a change in their life. Most offenders feel that the rules do not apply to them otherwise they might not be incarcerated. This means they have to shed their typically tough exterior in order to become receptive to the change. “An old riddle among clinical psychologists illuminates the issue: 'How many therapists does it take to change a light bulb? ' 'One- but the light bulb must be willing to change '” (Welch, 2011). Some still argue that even if the offender is willing to fully participate in a rehabilitation program the effects of the program still come up short and are not long term. This is argued because a majority of the offenders in these programs will find themselves in the not so favorable conditions they were in before becoming incarcerated. Many offenders will more than likely be back around the crimes that got them incarcerated in the first place. Not to mention they will face disenfranchisement in several areas of social life from the inability to get a job to the disqualification of public benefits. While they do
The idea that more effort should be made to reform offenders is a theme that that been persistent throughout the history of American corrections. Rehabilitative ideals have helped lead the way in the renovation of the correctional system. Implementations of intermediate sentencing, parole, probation, and a separate juvenile justice system were all part of the process. While the rehabilitation process seems like the perfect plan to transform the incarcerated, can prisoners truly be rehabilitated, or should punishment merely be retributive in nature? Looking at Robert Matinson 's theories in What Works? Questions and Answers About Prison Reform while comparing it to other scholars with help to answer this pertinent question. A factor that plays a significant role in the potential success of a rehabilitation program is that the offender must comply with the guidelines of the program and be open to making a change in their life. Most offenders feel that the rules do not apply to them otherwise they might not be incarcerated. This means they have to shed their typically tough exterior in order to become receptive to the change. “An old riddle among clinical psychologists illuminates the issue: 'How many therapists does it take to change a light bulb? ' 'One- but the light bulb must be willing to change '” (Welch, 2011). Some still argue that even if the offender is willing to fully participate in a rehabilitation program the effects of the program still come up short and are not long term. This is argued because a majority of the offenders in these programs will find themselves in the not so favorable conditions they were in before becoming incarcerated. Many offenders will more than likely be back around the crimes that got them incarcerated in the first place. Not to mention they will face disenfranchisement in several areas of social life from the inability to get a job to the disqualification of public benefits. While they do