Rehabilitation
What is rehabilitation in the legal context? Research three types of rehabilitation and describe how and why each is used. Which of the three has been demonstrated to be the most effective? Explain.
Criminal rehabilitation can be termed as the process of assisting prisoners to change and grow, as well as improve the previous mentality, which made them commit the crime they are imprisoned for. Criminal rehabilitation is the primary goal of the correctional system and aims at turning criminals to worthy people who can live crime-free even after they are released from prison. Rehabilitation is the process of educating prisoners with literacy skills and technical skills, which will help them be re-incorporated into society.
There are three types of rehabilitation programs, namely, parole, treatment, and in-prison rehabilitation. Such rehabilitations are designed to help people become better members of society and to reform from their wrong ways. When one is given parole, one is released before completing their sentence and is required to meet certain conditions such as staying away from drugs, getting employed, and avoiding the use of alcohol. One is also expected to report regularly to a parole officer who checks whether the parolee adheres to their conditions of release. Parole is used to make the transition from imprisonment to freedom easier for individuals. Treatment involves programs meant to rehabilitate drug addicts who have been incarcerated for committing a crime. Treatment is designed to assist individuals in overcoming their problems of addiction, helping them become better members of society. In-prison rehabilitation involves programs offered to inmates inside the prison to help them acquire work skills, overcome addictions, as well as know how to deal with life challenges. In-prison rehabilitations are designed to help inmates adjust easily to conditions outside prison after their release.
References
Antonowicz, D. H., & Ross, R. R. (1994). Essential components of successful rehabilitation programs for offenders. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 38(2), 97-104.
Cullen, F. T., & Jonson, C. L. (2011). Rehabilitation and treatment programs. Crime and public policy, 293-344.
Ward, T. (2002). Good lives and the rehabilitation of offenders: Promises and problems. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 7(5), 513-528.