Do Prisons Work

Do Prisons Work? Can Individuals be Reformed or Rehabilitated through Incarceration and Treatment Programs. Critically examine the Current Treatment Programs offered and Subsequent Impact on Recidivism upon Individuals being released globally and WA specifically.

This study will examine the effectiveness of current prison treatment programs in Australia, New Zealand, South East Asia, United States of America in rehabilitating or reforming an individual and coinciding recidivism rates upon a prisoners release. Prison based treatment programs for sex offenders in Western Australia, New South Wales and New Zealand are examined and recidivism rates compared. Treatment programs for offenders with drug and alcohol issues and the various strategies within the criminal justice system such as diversion, education and drug court programs are examined and differences explained. Rehabilitation programs such as education, life skills, employment and cognitive behavioural treatment are explained and research discussed.
Conclusions will be drawn outlining programs with the highest level of recidivism both in Western Australia and globally. The “nothing works” mantra (Martinson) 1974, is seen to be refuted and treatment is seen to be successful when it is matched to the criminogenic needs of the offender (MacKenzie, 2006). Future recommendations are made in regards to the need for correctional staff to assess each offender as an individual with different needs, and to therefore implement programs that will give the offender the best change of reform or rehabilitation (MacKenzie, 2006).
There are many treatment and rehabilitation programs currently used in corrections around the world aimed at reducing recidivism (MacKenzie, 2006). A heuristic approach classifies various strategies into incarceration, treatment programs and rehabilitation (McKenzie, 2006). These interventions represent different strategies for controlling crime in the community, and have

References: Blud, L, (1999). ‘Cognitive skills Programmes’. Issues in Forensic Psychology 1. Leicester: British Psychology Society. Gosnell, K. Reentry: A New Model for Fathers. Sheriff; Nov/Dec 2006; 58, 6; Academic Research Library pg. 12. MacKenzie, D.L., Blumstein, A., & Farrington, D. (2006) What Works in Corrections: Reducing Recidivism. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge. Makkai, T & Payne, J. (2003). Key Findings from the Drug Use Careers of Offenders. Australian Institute of Criminology Trends and Issues, 267 (4). Oh, E., Goh, T.,Tam, K.Y., Heng, A. (2005). The Captains of Lives: Kaki Bukit Centre Prison School in Singapore. Journal of Correctional Education, 56 (4), 308. Emile Austell, Telegram and Gazette Staff. Section: News. Publication Title: Telegram and Gazette. Worcester, Mass: July 31, 1995. Pg. A. 1. Source Newspaper. Tam, Scholfield, R. (2008, April 26). Too many U.S. prisoners. Tribune Business News page ?? EXTRAS NOT SURE WHETHER TO USE OR NOT The program also complements the Inside Parents program currently being piloted at Acacia Prison (Needham, 2009). Inside Parents Program includes the New Parent Infant Network Program and Positive Parenting Program designed to education, support and improve relationships with their families and children (Needham, 2009).