Crime Prevention Criminal Justice

DISCUSSION 2

Read the recent article "Cost of Locking Up Americans Too High: Pew Study" by Reuters at

http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/03/02/us-usa-prisons-idUSTRE5215TW20090302

YOUR ASSIGNMENT IS TO ANSWER THESE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

How much are Americans spending for corrections?

Based on the amount of crime prisons prevent, is the cost worthwhile?

THIS ASSIGNMENT ABOVE HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE. THE NEXT ASSIGNMENT YOU NEED TO DO IS:

PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON TWO CLASSMATES POSTS. THE LENGTH MUST BE 200 WORDS EACH POST. THERE ARE TWO FEEDBACKS YOU MUST DO. MUST BE POSITIVE FEEDBACK, PROPER GRAMMAR/SENTENCE STRUCTURE, AND ANY OUTSIDE SOURCES YOU USE THAT RELATES TO THE FEEDBACK FROM THE STUDENT MUST BE PROPERLY CITED/SCHOLARY SOURCE.

Respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts. PLEASE ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS BELOW IN THE FEEDBACK YOU PROVIDE TO EACH STUDENT.

With respect to your classmate's initial post, how do the concepts of re-entry and re-integration of prisoners back into society affect your selection of a crime prevention program?

Does society have a responsibility to fund and implement programs like these?

Do these programs have an effect on recidivism?

FIRST DISCUSSION RESPONSE FROM JOANN L.

This is a tough one for me, but I chose restorative justice. My son was a victim of a crime when he was 8 years old. The offender was put into a federal prison for 12 years and was ordered to pay my son $15,000.00 in restitution. Each quarter my son received a check from the U.S. Treasury Dept as partial payment of that $15,000.00. I am not sure that this did my son any good, except he thought he was “rich” for a few days when we would let him spend a small amount on something he wanted. I am sure it didn’t hurt the offender at all; he had to work while in prison, his payments just went to my son instead of to him. That is just one small part of restorative justice.

“To examine the impact of face-to-face restorative justice conference (RJC) meetings led by police officers between crime victims and their offenders on victims’ post-traumatic stress symptoms.” (Angel, et.al. 2014). These type of restorative justice is much more helpful to the victims in my opinion. There needs to be some sort of closure for the victim, and hopefully it would be helpful to the offender to apologize to his or her victims, although I am not sure that the typical criminal mind would even care to do so.

“Studies of restorative programs show they tend to result in more satisfaction among participants than traditional criminal justice approaches . It is also found to be a promising approach to dealing with juvenile delinquency “. (Robinson, M. 2013). I believe this type of justice would be best used in the juvenile system; as there is more hope of reforming the youth than there is in the career criminal.

References:

Angel, C., Sherman, W., Strang, H., Ariel, B., Ipken, I., Keane, A., Richmond, C. (2014). Journal of Experimental Criminology. Short-term effects of restorative justice conferences on post-traumatic stress symptoms among robbery and burglary victims: a randomized controlled trial. Retrieved from:

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11292-014-9200-0

Robinson, M. (2013). Crime Prevention. Bridgeport Education, LLC

SECOND DISCUSSION FROM TONYA W.

In this discussion I will look at restorative justice because I feel there are not many outlet programs for criminals to utilize. Offenders cannot change and learn a new way to live if they are simply given a jail sentence and then no programs to help them educate themselves and change their life style. After a person has been labeled a criminal it then becomes very difficult in finding employment, a relationship, establishing trust, and building credit. I am one to believe that criminals can be rehabilitated. “Common forms of restorative justice include restitution, conferencing, mediation, circles, assistance to victims and offenders, and community service” (Robinson, 2013). In our discussions and reading I have chosen three forms of restorative justice that I think are interesting, prison, re-entry initiatives, and juvenile justice. Each one of these are very important in their own way and for many different reasons.

Recently in a prison in Columbia a restorative justice course was offered and was taken by many voluntarily with 16 graduates and the course was 30 sessions long. This course showed the offenders how their crimes were detrimental to themselves and others. Many of these offenders this program offered them the first time to receive any type of recognition for completing any type of program. You would believe that everyone would realize right from wrong and the consequences of their actions. But many criminals without proper upbringing and education do not realize what can happen. Inmates are allowed to then speak with lawyers, judges, victims, and the families of victims in this course to see all sides of a crime. This program however does not affect the release date of criminals. Prisoners elect to take this program by choice and change because of it. This in turn can help reduce and prevent crime in educating these people and hoping they will not commit crimes in the future, as well as, teaching others what they learned in the process. Restorative justice helps to bring closure to the victims, families of victims, and often the offenders as well. These types of programs are not paid by the taxpayers.

References:

Erickson, D. (n.d) At this prison graduation, the focus is on knowing the effects of their crimes. Retrieved from http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime_and_courts/article_8e99eef6-6204-11df-9f92-001cc4c03286.html

Robinson, M. B. (2013). Crime prevention. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.