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 o
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