The Limits of Rehabilitation and Recidivism Reduction: Rethinking the Evaluation of Arts Programming in Prisons

2020 ◽  
Vol 101 (1) ◽  
pp. 102-122
Author(s):  
Emily van der Meulen ◽  
Jackie Omstead
Keyword(s):  
Women's Prison ◽  
Reducing Recidivism ◽  
Arts Programming

Canadian prison-based arts and other programming are limited at best. Even the country’s Correctional Investigator, or prison-ombudsperson, has critiqued the lack of meaningful options in which prisoners can engage. Those programs that do exist tend to be focused on the logic of penal rehabilitation, with the end goal of reducing recidivism. In this article, we showcase the evaluation of a 9-week arts program in a women’s prison, the aim of which was to build community and foster artistic engagement, thus running counter to normative carceral logics.

A Program for Reducing Recidivism in the Juvenile Justice System

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nichole McWhorter ◽  
Hugo M. Doig ◽  
Teri McHale ◽  
John E. Dobroth ◽  
Henry V. Soper
Keyword(s):  
Juvenile Justice ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Juvenile Justice System ◽  
Reducing Recidivism

scholarly journals The Impact of a Reentry and Aftercare Program on Recidivism

2020 ◽  
pp. 003464462097393
Author(s):  
Colin Cannonier ◽  
Monica Galloway Burke ◽  
Ed Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Sample Selection ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Social Program ◽  
Recidivism Rates ◽  
Criminal Justice Reform ◽  
Heterogeneous Effects ◽  
Need To Evaluate ◽  
Reducing Recidivism ◽  
Aftercare Service ◽  
The Impact

In this article, we explore the impact of a reentry and aftercare service program on the likelihood of returning to prison by ex-offenders. Using administrative data within a difference-in-differences design, we find that this social program is associated with a reduction in recidivism rates. Benchmark estimates show that the program was associated with estimated reductions in the probability of recidivating of 6.0 to 8.7 percentage points. The estimate appears to be economically significant as it implies an estimated treated effect in the 15.8% to 19.2% range. We consider the heterogeneous effects of the program on reducing recidivism according to race, age group, and program type. The program helped to reduce recidivism among Whites but not Blacks; older participants were the main beneficiaries while the effectiveness of the program was observed among older participants. Back-of-the-envelope cost-savings analysis is incorporated to estimate the potential savings to the state arising from the reduction in recidivism rates likely attributable to the program. The findings are robust to sample selection bias, alternative specifications, and estimation techniques. Our results offer some implications for the role of faith-based social programs within the context of criminal justice reform to combat reentry of former inmates. They also provide a cautionary tale about the need to evaluate programs not just based on their overall effect.

A Process Evaluation of San Francisco’s Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion Program

2021 ◽  
pp. 088740342110333
Author(s):  
Erica Jovanna Magaña ◽  
Dina Perrone ◽  
Aili Malm
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
San Francisco ◽  
Program Implementation ◽  
Relationship Building ◽  
Barriers And Facilitators ◽  
Implementation Barriers ◽  
Diversion Program ◽  
Drug Laws ◽  
Point Of Entry ◽  
Reducing Recidivism

In 2016, San Francisco (SF) implemented the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program, a harm reduction–based pre-booking diversion system for people who violate drug laws and/or are engaged in sex work. LEAD is set apart from existing diversion programs, as it uses police as point of entry. Prior LEAD studies indicate some success in reducing recidivism and improving life outcomes. However, less is known about program implementation, including barriers and facilitators. Relying on policy documents, interviews, and focus groups, this study describes the LEAD SF’s development, operations, adaptations, and challenges. It also identifies the unique context of LEAD SF that led to implementation barriers and facilitators. Results show that SF experienced success in collaboration, relationship building, and client connections to services but experienced challenges in securing and maintaining police officer buy-in and keeping clear and open lines of communication regarding LEAD goals, objectives, policies, and procedures. This led to the termination of LEAD SF in 2020.

Reintegration of Ex-Offenders Convicted of Violent Crimes into the Community in the Iranian Context: A Qualitative Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 0306624X2110226
Author(s):  
Mohammad Sabzi Khoshnami ◽  
Fardin Alipour ◽  
Maliheh Arshi ◽  
Hassan Rafiey ◽  
Mohhamad Hossein Javadi
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Violent Crimes ◽  
Institutional Review ◽  
Main Challenge ◽  
Improved Outcomes ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Reducing Recidivism ◽  
Iranian Context

Community reintegration of ex-offenders is a main issue for reducing recidivism. This article aims to explain the process of reintegration into the community based on the experiences of people who have been convicted of violent crimes in Iran. A qualitative study based on grounded theory was conducted in 2020 in Tehran/Iran. Data was collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 26 participants. An institutional review board approved the study. Results indicate that the “worry trap” is the main challenge that those convicted of violent crimes face upon reentry into society. If these individuals are provided with governmental and non-governmental services and support, they can move toward “restoring their lost social capital.” The “redefinition of an independent identity” is a consequence of released individuals’ struggle to restore their lost social capital. Further research exploring the causality of social capital and improved outcomes after release from prison and reentry to community is needed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document