RESEARCH PAPER 1
Research Paper: Final Assignment
Christina Becerra
Liberty University
CJUS 650
Dr. Williamson
December 15, 2021
RESEARCH PAPER 2
Abstract
New and widely used rehabilitative programs are being utilized throughout the world. It is
important to examine and consider these different programs in order fully understand the
effectiveness they have on rehabilitation. Therapeutic communities (TC), restorative justice, and
educational and vocational programs are analyzed throughout this paper. The effectiveness of
each type of program is provided as well as a Christian worldview on rehabilitation inside
corrections. This is followed by a conclusion.
Keywords: Rehabilitation, therapeutic communities, restorative justice, educational,
vocational
RESEARCH PAPER 3
Research Paper: Final Assignment
Rehabilitation programs play a crucial role in determining the success of an inmate’s
reentry back into society. As prison and jail populations begin to increase dramatically, it is
important to examine and consider different treatment programs and their effectiveness on
rehabilitation and lower recidivism rates. There are many programs that have been widely
accepted and continue to be used as well as more recent programs that are being utilized in the
area of rehabilitation and treatment in the criminal justice system. Many scholars have found
that prison is not an appropriate place for rehabilitation or preparation for a successful release,
and is solely based on incapacitation and punishment (Gideon & Sung, 2011). The purpose of the
research is to analyze data in order to develop and use evidence-based practices for
rehabilitation. Some current practices that are being utilized are therapeutic communities,
restorative justice, and educational and vocational training programs. Rehabilitation programs
within corrections will provide offenders with a second chance in society and minimize the rates
of recidivism as a whole.
Interactive Treatment Programs
Released prisoners often return to the communities from which they came, many of
which are often characterized by poverty, social decay, and scarce employment opportunities
(Gideon & Sung, 2011). There are a wide variety of programs that provide rehabilitation for
offenders in a way that allows them to interact with other individuals who may share the same
story as them. Two fairly new treatment programs that are being utilized are therapeutic
communities (TC) and restorative justice. Each of these treatment programs bring an opportunity
for offenders to engage with the community and receive rehabilitation in a different way.
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Therapeutic Communities
Therapeutic communities have been increasing throughout prisons across the world. TCs
are implemented in a residential setting to help inmates adjust to the idea of a community
working together towards a common goal (Campbell et al., 2019). This type of treatment is
targeted towards those with long-term mental illness, personality disorders, and drug addiction.
The inmates or offenders will typically live with the therapists or be put into a residential-like
setting throughout the day. Inside these TCs, offenders are given the opportunity to participate in
various amounts of rehabilitative activities and be provided with a more structured format that
will prepare them for a successful release and reentry (Campbell et al., 2019). The philosophy
behind TCs is that the criminal behavior or drug abuse takes a toll on the person entirely and
must be treated with an approach targeted towards the person’s entire environment, not just their
addiction or behavior. An entire lifestyle malfunctions when an individual develops a negative
identity, resulting in psychological, social, legal, and economic harms (Gideon & Sung, 2011).
TCs provide an opportunity for offenders to take responsibility for their actions and seek
assistance in terminating the negative identity that criminal behavior and drug addiction has
caused.
TCs were also created with the idea of communal living being a tool in the rehabilitative
process. Learning the right way to live requires practice in the real community. TCs provide an
around-the-clock setting in which residents are being monitored in all their routines to ensure
they are being properly prepared for their release. There are typically three phases that TC
treatment comprises. The first phase is known as induction and early treatment. During this
phase offenders are introduced to their new setting and are taught the rules of the subculture,
nurture trust with the counselors and peers, begin the evaluation of need, and acknowledge the
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problems of their behavior and work on readiness for change (Gideon & Sung, 2011). The
second phase is the main treatment stage. During this stage, residents have an increase in levels
of achievement and responsibility. They are also provided with extra services that will help them
with their release. The last phase is the phase of reentry. During this phase, residents are
provided aid with their departure and their return to the community (Gideon & Sung, 2011).
Oftentimes, post-release programs are made available for the offender and their family.
Restorative Justice
Restorative justice is a form of rehabilitation that enables offenders and victims to
communicate with each other to address harm that was caused by the crime committed
(Mainwaring et al., 2019). The process of restorative justice first began in the 1970s in an effort
to address the needs and concerns of victims. Typically, restorative justice sessions are conducted
through a conference in person with both the victim and offender present, as well as a mediator
who is trained in this specific treatment. Although restorative justice was first developed in order
to support victims, it has now become a way for the offender to get a better understanding of how
their decision impacted someone else. For example, if an offender broke into a store to steal
money to feed their family, they are more than likely not going to realize the harm they have
created on the store owner and the community. Restorative justice provides the offender with an
overall perspective of the break in and not just from their own viewpoint. Some studies have
shown that offenders who commit petty crimes like this often do not realize the larger effect they
have on the community until they are given the opportunity to take part in a restorative justice
meeting (Mainwaring et al., 2019).
Restorative justice also provides an opportunity for the offender and victim to come to an
agreement for punishment, thus resulting in lower recidivism rates and lower incarceration rates.
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Oftentimes, victims do not want to press charges against a person and just want to feel heard.
When victims and offenders are able to come to an agreement, such as restitution or community
service, they are both able to move past the criminal act and feel like they have both been treated
fairly (Mainwaring et al., 2019). If the victim or offender does not want to talk in person, they
are given the opportunity to address the issues through written communication. This method still
requires a mediator in order to keep a peaceful communication. Of course, this type of
rehabilitative treatment is fully optional on both sides.
Individual Treatment Programs
Interacting with the community is an essential tool to a successful reentry for offenders.
In addition to this, it is important that offenders are also provided with individual treatment
programs to assist in successful reintegration. Specifically, educational and vocational programs
are important for offenders to engage in. People who are incarcerated not only suffer from
academic deficiencies, but also lack vocational skills needed to obtain and perform adequately in
the workplace and in society (Gideon & Sung, 2011). Educational and vocational programs have
been a common form of rehabilitation within prisons and jails. These types of programs are
currently being utilized throughout the world.
Educational Programs
Education is an important aspect to offenders being successful once released back into
society. Educational programs have been part of the American corrections system since 1798
(Gideon & Sung, 2011). The most common type of education provided inside jails and prisons is
the adult basic education or GED programs. Many inmates do not have their highschool
diplomas and take classes while incarcerated to obtain their GED certificate. More recently,
prisons and jails have begun to offer higher education programs such as college courses towards
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a college degree. In modern day society, jobs have become more competitive and typically
require a college degree for a decent paying job (Jolley, 2018). Because of this, the criminal
justice system has realized that only providing a GED program does not fully benefit the inmate
once they are released. Fortunately, inmates are given the opportunity to apply for grants through
colleges in order to take the courses. By offering this, inmates are provided with a larger amount
of opportunities when they are released.
Providing college courses and degrees while incarcerated allows inmates to compete for
higher-paying jobs and reduces the frustration of having to compete in a society that requires
college degrees for almost any job. There are three methods of providing college education to
inmates. The three methods include distance education, on-site education, and on-campus
education (Gideon & Sung, 2011). Distance education is a method in which learning can be done
through live video courses and online courses which utilize the internet. The benefit of this is
that it can be done with no hassle and can be done based on the inmate’s schedule. The second
method is on-site education. This type of method is when a professor or teacher comes into the
jails and prisons and teaches the inmates in a regular classroom setting (Gideon & Sung, 2011).
This method is by far the most preferred and popular when teaching college courses. This
provides inmates with a sense of normalcy and also allows the professors to get to know their
students personally, as they would at a college. The third method is on-campus education. This
type of education is the least used due to the complications that come with it. In this method,
inmates are transported to a college campus to take their classes in person with a professor as a
regular college student (Gideon & Sung, 2011). Each of these methods provide inmates with the
opportunity to take college classes and better prepare themselves for their release.
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Vocational Programs
In addition to educational programs, it is important for inmates to participate in
vocational programs as well. Developing everyday life skills is an important aspect to the
journey of reentry for an offender (Jolley, 2018). There are a variety of vocational programs that
are offered in jails and prisons across the world. Since vocational programs have been utilized
for many decades, there has been an increase in specific programs and activities that inmates can
participate in. Vocational programs allow inmates to learn a trade or job skills under real work
conditions while supervised by officers or other highly skilled inmates (Gideon & Sung, 2011).
Vocational programs provide specialized and nonspecialized assignments. Nonspecialized
assignments include work such as preparing meals for the jail, washing dishes, or doing laundry
inside the jails (Gideon & Sung, 2011). The nonspecialized assignments are day-to-day duties
that provide inmates with a sense of self-worth and work management skills. These types of jobs
are typically provided with a small amount of income for the inmate. This could be money
towards phone calls or money towards food. Specialized assignments are job tasks that typically
require more skills and knowledge in the specific area. Specialized assignments can include
plumbing, carpentry, painting, air-conditioning repair, and any job that needs to be done by a
specifically skilled individual (Gideon & Sung, 2011). These two types of assignments are
typically utilized inside a facility and are given to inmates who provide great performance and no
disciplinary actions.
In addition to jobs inside facilities, inmates are also able to work jobs that require them to
go off-site. This can include litter pick-up along freeways and parks as well as working in
factories that manufacture personal goods such as furniture or clothing. The job aspect of
vocational programs can be beneficial. There are also opportunities for inmates to seek
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vocational training in areas such as money management. These types of programs provide
inmates with knowledge on everyday skills that must be utilized when released back into society.
Providing knowledge on life management is an important skill that inmates must get used to in
order to be successful in their personal lives, for both them and their families (Jolley, 2018).
There are many opportunities that inmates can take advantage of that will increase their
knowledge in necessary vocational skills.
Recommendations
Prison rehabilitative programs are a humane way to successfully rehabilitate offenders
and lower the chances of recidivism (Bosma et al., 2016). As various types of rehabilitative
programs continue to be utilized, new and common, it is important to research into the
effectiveness of each in order to operate with the highest level of achievement. Each type of
treatment and program offers its own set of benefits. In addition to this, it is important to
understand these programs through a Christan worldview and through the eyes of God. By doing
this, the criminal justice system will be able to meet the needs of offenders and the Bible.
Effectiveness
After discussing therapeutic communities, restorative justice, and educational and
vocational programs, it is important to analyze the effectiveness of each of them. Therapeutic
communities have shown to be successful especially in a correctional institution because they are
structured as total treatment environments, meaning they isolate participants from the rest of the
prison and its negativity such as violence and other aspects of prison life that minimize effective
rehabilitation (Gideon & Sung, 2011). Many TCs also offer aftercare treatment that enables the
offender to stay on track and stay successful once they have completed the program. It is shown
that TCs that offer aftercare treatment have a lower recidivism rate compared to the TC programs
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that do not offer aftercare treatment (Campbell et al., 2019). However, TCs with aftercare
treatment are typically more effective for those who are not battling a drug addiction. The reason
for this is because substance abusers are the most criminally involved and most socially
dysfunctional, meaning that positive changes are done in increments and not long periods of time
(Gideon & Sung, 2011). With this being said, it is recommended that TCs are utilized for all
offenders, but that substance abuse offenders are not provided with TC aftercare treatment and
are given another form of rehabilitation after they are released.
Restorative justice has also been shown as effective, but has been less researched and
utilized than other programs. The small amount of research that has been completed on this type
of treatment suggests that restorative justice can reduce future criminal activity and provide
greater satisfaction for the victim (Mainwaring et al., 2019). The effectiveness of this program is
more aimed towards the victim instead of the offender. Although it has been shown to reduce
recidivism rates, more research must be done on the long term effects it has on re-offending
patterns instead of the effectiveness it has on the victim. Educational and vocational programs
have been shown as extremely effective and continue to be utilized throughout the world.
Educational and vocational programs are one of the most effective ways to provide offenders a
chance at successful reentry (Bosma et al., 2016). The reason for this is because there is much
more opportunity for the offender. Through these types of programs, offenders are able to expand
their options and gain skills that they are interested in and can use in their everyday lives. Being
able to choose their vocational skills and education courses gives inmates more motivation to
better themselves and rehabilitate (Bosma et al., 2016). In addition to this, these programs
provide inmates with structure that they will continue to use once they are released.
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Christian Worldview
From a Christian worldview, it is important to provide inmates with a chance to change
themselves and live in society as a law-abiding citizen. 1 John 1:9 states, “If we confess our sins,
he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (The
Holy Bible, 2011). God vocalizes the importance of forgiving one for their sins and helping them
in bettering themselves. As Christians, it is important to not judge offenders for their sins and
forgive them when they are looking for a second chance. God notes that the criminal justice
system was made to serve justice and provide for the poor. Psalm 106:3 states, “ Blessed are they
who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times” (The Holy Bible, 2011). Even though an
offender has sin, it is the duty of the system and society to provide them with justice and a
second chance once they have served their time incarcerated. It is unethical to continue
punishing offenders once they are released back into society. In order to do this, rehabilitative
programs must be offered to assist offenders in reentry back into society as a law-abiding citizen.
Conclusion
Using evidence-based practices and interventions reduces crime and recidivism rates as a
whole (Fox et al., 2016). Therapeutic communities, restorative justice, and educational and
vocational programs are specific treatment programs that are offered to offenders in order to
assist them in having a successful reentry back into society. Each of these programs offers a
unique style of rehabilitation that is targeted towards specific goals and overall life skills for an
offender. Th erapeutic communities and educational and vocational programs have shown to be
the most effective in successful reentry for inmates. Restorative justice has also shown to be
effective, but needs to be analyzed more in depth from the offender’s viewpoint and the
effectiveness it has on long-term recidivism rates. From a Christian worldview, it is important
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that different programs are offered to offenders in an effort to help them successfully reintegrate
back into society. Their sins must be forgiven and they must be able to live in society with the
rest of the community. Rehabilitation programs within corrections will provide offenders with a
second chance in society and minimize the rates of recidivism as a whole.
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References
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rehabilitation: Predictors of offender treatment participation and treatment completion.
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Campbell, B. W., Cranmer, S., Doogan, N., & Warren, K. (2019). Relationship between network
clustering in a therapeutic community and reincarceration following discharge. Journal of
Substance Abuse Treatment, 97 , 14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2018.10.008
Fox, C., Bannister, J., & Miszczak, P. (2016). The 2010-2015 coalition and criminal justice:
Continuities and contradictions. Safer Communities, 15 (2), 110-120.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/SC-11-2015-0039
Gideon, L., & Sung, H. (2011). Rethinking corrections: Rehabilitation, reentry, and
reintegration. Sage Publications, Inc.
Jolley, M. (2018). Rehabilitating prisoners: The place of basic life skills programmes. Safer
Communities, 17 (1), 1-10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/SC-02-2017-0009
Mainwaring, C. J., Bardi, A., & Meek, R. (2019). A glimpse into the role of personal values
within the restorative justice process: A qualitative study with restorative justice
facilitators. Contemporary Justice Review, 22 (1), 60-85.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10282580.2019.1576131
The Holy Bible. (2011). New International Version NIV Online. https://bible.com
