Prisons Essay Research Paper REHABILITATION OF CRIMINALS

Prisons Essay, Research Paper REHABILITATION OF CRIMINALS IN AMERICA Prison inmates, are some of the most maladjustedX people in society. Most of the inmates have had too little discipline or too much, some come from broken homes, and have no self-esteem. They are very insecure and are at war with themselves as well as with societyX (Szumski 20). Most inmates did notlearn moral values or learn to follow everyday norms. Also, when most lawbreakers are labeled as 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 thechances that inmates will become productive citizens upon release. The programs must aim to change thosewho want to change. Those who are taught to produce useful goods and to be productive are |likely todevelop the self-esteem essential to a normal, integrated personalityX (Szumski 21). This kind ofprogram would provide skills and habits and |replace the sense of hopelessnessX 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 thangroup counseling. The aim of group counseling is to develop positive peer pressure that will influenceits 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 fromthe experience of several people with different backgrounds. Also one individuals problem might havealready been solved by another group member and can be suggested. Often if a peer proposes a solution itcarries 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 |undesirableX people who they were forcedto be in association with and that this association |warpsX their thinking and social attitudes. |Group counseling, group interaction, and other kinds of group activities can provide a corrective, positiveexperience that might help to offset the earlier delinquent associationX (Bennett 25). However, it issaid 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 thepeople who have the greatest influence upon them are criminals (Doob 169). Most of today+s correctional institutions lack the ability and programs to rehabilitate thecriminals of America. One can predict that a prisoner held for two, four, eight or ten years, thenreleased , still with no education or vocational skills will likely return to a life of crime. Oftentheir life in crime will resume in weeks after their release. Although the best prisons and programs inthe world will not cure the problem totally, improvements still must be made (Szumski 20). Prison inmates, are some of the most |maladjustedX people in society. Most of the inmates havehad too little discipline or too much, come from broken homes, and have no self-esteem. They are veryinsecure and are |at war with themselves as well as with societyX (Szumski 20). Most inmates did notlearn moral values or learn to follow everyday norms. Also, when most lawbreakers are labeled criminalsthey enter the phase of secondary deviance. They will admit they are criminals or believe it when theyenter the phase of secondary deviance (Doob 171). Next, some believe that if we want to rehabilitate criminals we must do more than just send themto prison. For instance, we could give them a chance to acquire job skills; which will improve thechances that inmates will become productive citizens upon release. The programs must aim to change thosewho want to change. Those who are taught to produce useful goods and to be productive are |likely todevelop the self-esteem essential to a normal, integrated personalityX (Szumski 21). This kind ofprogram would provide skills and habits and |replace the sense of hopelessnessX 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 thangroup counseling. The aim of group counseling is to develop positive peer pressure that will influenceits 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 fromthe experience of several people with different backgrounds. Also one individuals problem might havealready been solved by another group member and can be suggested. Often if a peer proposes a solution itcarries 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 |undesirableX people who they were forcedto be in association with and that this association |warpsX their thinking and social attitudes. |Group counseling, group interaction, and other kinds of group activities can provide a corrective, positiveexperience that might help to offset the earlier delinquent associationX (Bennett 25). However, it issaid 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 thepeople who have the greatest influence upon them are criminals (Doob 169). Most of today+s correctional institutions lack the ability and programs to rehabilitate thecriminals of America. One can predict that a prisoner held for two, four, eight or ten years, thenreleased , still with no educationling, there is disadvantages. For instance, members of the group mightnot be as open or show emotion because they want to appear |tough.X Also the members might not expresstheir opinions openly because the others might see it as |snitching.X For the group to work it takes adedicated counselor (Bennett 22-23). Another type of correctional center used for rehabilitation is halfway houses. Halfway housesare 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 prisonX (Fox 60). The |rationaleX behind halfway houses is that criminal activity originates in the community, sothe community has a responsibility to try to correct it. Also, sending a person who has deviant behaviorand who has been associated with criminal influences, to prison would just make the problem worse (Fox61). |The best place for treatment is in the community; this prevents the breaking of all constructivesocial tiesX (Fox 61). Programs in halfway houses usually involve work release or study release and group sessions fortherapy and counseling. Most programs vary greatly depending on the administrator. Generally, thepurpose is to |reintegrateX 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 inthat it makes sense.X (Fox 73). The compliance model is designed to make good work habits. Theclient-centered model focuses on a high understanding of the person. The credibility model emphasizesmaking decisions and getting back into the community. These programs are made to avoid institutions asmuch 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 nonew prisons needed it would mean the loss of thousands of jobs (Szumski 24-26). Henry Abernathy andinmate in Texas said |just think what a catastrophe it would cause if all cons across the country decidednever to commit another crime.X Richard Cepulonis, an inmate in Massachusetts said just the title|Department of CorrectionsX is a |misnomerX he said |they don+t correct anything.X In conclusion, things need to be done to improve rehabilitation in America. Improvements in jobtraining, 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. Works Cited 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