Amanda Rogers
English 102
Dr. Sonia Begert
April 22, 2014
English 102
Dr. Sonia Begert
April 22, 2014
Research Proposal:
Reducing the Rate of Criminal Recidivism
Through Proper Inmate Correctional Courses
Through Proper Inmate Correctional Courses
Introduction
The United States of America is home to the highest number of incarcerated criminals in the world. The United States holds just 5% of the world’s population, and a shocking 25% of the world’s incarcerated population. Many factors contribute to this dreadful statistic such as the war on drugs, poverty, gang affiliations, and overall violence. Of course, in order to keep a level of justice in society, reduce crime rate, and discourage others from breaking the law, criminals should endure some sort of punishment for their crimes committed. However, I believe it is greatly important to distinguish between the act of being hard on crime and being hard on criminals. Punishment in prison has, unfortunately, become the main focus of the correctional system in America. When an offender is sent to prison, that offender will have to endure the harsh policies, and troublesome living conditions that are currently in place in our criminal justice system. Many psychologists believe the dreaded confinement conditions, along with a sever lack of criminal rehabilitation programs, make it extremely difficult for inmates to properly adjust to prison life, and in turn, makes it hard for them to ever improve their lives overall. It is believed that these factors lead a large percentage of prisoners to re-offend both inside and outside of prison walls. This project will be to explore the idea of mandatory rehabilitation and correctional courses for those incarcerated in the United States prison system. I will seek to determine the effect proper rehabilitation and correctional techniques would have on prisoners. My project will be specific to both inmates serving life sentences, and those destined for release. Will correctional courses and techniques alleviate the negative psychological effects of those serving long-term sentences? Ultimately, I will research how such courses may better prepare prisoners for reentry into society, and examine the effect that proper correctional courses would have on the rate of criminal recidivism.
The United States of America is home to the highest number of incarcerated criminals in the world. The United States holds just 5% of the world’s population, and a shocking 25% of the world’s incarcerated population. Many factors contribute to this dreadful statistic such as the war on drugs, poverty, gang affiliations, and overall violence. Of course, in order to keep a level of justice in society, reduce crime rate, and discourage others from breaking the law, criminals should endure some sort of punishment for their crimes committed. However, I believe it is greatly important to distinguish between the act of being hard on crime and being hard on criminals. Punishment in prison has, unfortunately, become the main focus of the correctional system in America. When an offender is sent to prison, that offender will have to endure the harsh policies, and troublesome living conditions that are currently in place in our criminal justice system. Many psychologists believe the dreaded confinement conditions, along with a sever lack of criminal rehabilitation programs, make it extremely difficult for inmates to properly adjust to prison life, and in turn, makes it hard for them to ever improve their lives overall. It is believed that these factors lead a large percentage of prisoners to re-offend both inside and outside of prison walls. This project will be to explore the idea of mandatory rehabilitation and correctional courses for those incarcerated in the United States prison system. I will seek to determine the effect proper rehabilitation and correctional techniques would have on prisoners. My project will be specific to both inmates serving life sentences, and those destined for release. Will correctional courses and techniques alleviate the negative psychological effects of those serving long-term sentences? Ultimately, I will research how such courses may better prepare prisoners for reentry into society, and examine the effect that proper correctional courses would have on the rate of criminal recidivism.
Review of Literature
Sources I have referred to so far include “The Psychological Impact of Incarceration: Implications for Post-Prison Adjustment” by Craig Haney. This is a paper written for the “From Prison to Home Project” which was presented at the National Policy Conference at the National Institutes of Health in December, 2001. The author discusses the many psychological changes that prisoners undergo throughout the course of incarceration. He argues that the psychological harms inflicted on prisoners have increased over the past 10 years due to the harsh policies and non-existent rehabilitation programs. Haney discusses how these factors affect the post-prison adjustment process for criminals. On the topic of post-prison adjustment, I have reviewed “Prisoner Reentry: Current Trends, Practices, and Issues” By James Austin, from a July, 2001 issue of the Journal of Crime and Delinquency. The author uses national data, and a survey of eight states to examine to current policy of prison re-entry programs, and their effectiveness. He also provides charts and statistics on prison population, and who is participating in certain prison “prerelease” programs. Additionally, I have referred to “Prisoner Reentry and Crime in America”, a book published by the Cambridge University Press and written by colleagues from respected universities. The authors explore the large number of released prisoners each year, and their criminal activity after prison. The main purpose of this book is to examine information regarding the public safety consequences of prisoners who are released back into society. I have also reviewed “Rehabilitate or Punish?” an article written by Etienne Benson for the online version of the APA Monitor, a periodical of the American Psychological Association. In this article, dated July/August, 2003, the author addresses the issue of mental illness in prison, and how psychologist are working to determine the causes of crime and the psychological effects prisoners endure to help shift the focus from punishment to rehabilitation within prison. In a more recent issue of the same periodical, I have referred to an article titled “Alone in ‘The Hole’” written by Kristen Weir. This article, dated May, 2012, addresses the controversial issue of long-term solitary confinement within prisons. The psychological impacts among those in so-called “supermax” prisons are discussed. Another article I have reviewed is from an October 2005 issue of the American Journal of Public Health, and is titled “Behavioral Health Problems, Ex-Offender Reentry Policies, and the ‘Second Chance Act’” This article addresses the significant challenges convicts face once they are released from prison including trouble finding work, housing, and psychological help. The article discusses the “Second Chance Act” which calls for prisoners to have easier access to services such as public assistance, housing, health and mental health services, education, and job training. On the same subject of facing hardships after release from prison, I have referred to “Incarceration in Fragile Families” written by Christopher Wildeman and Bruce Western. This article was featured in the Fall, 2010 issue of “The Future of Children”, a peer-reviewed, biannual publication of The Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University and The Brookings Institution. The article discusses the consequences family’s face of those whose loved ones have been released from prison. The authors argue that imprisonment severely diminishes the earnings of adult men which compromises their health and decreases the amount of available family resources. The authors discuss how this can ultimately lead to broken, poverty-stricken families, which may In turn pave the way to delinquent lifestyles for the children of these offenders. On the same topic of families and loved ones affected by the prison system, I have referred to a book titled “The Effects of Imprisonment” which is a publication of the Cambridge Criminal Justice Series. Specifically, I have referenced Chapter 17, titled “The Effects of Imprisonment on Families and Children of Prisoners” written by Joseph Murray. Murray addresses the difficulties faced by the partners of those who are incarcerated such as loss of income, social isolation, trouble with child-care, and difficulties maintaining the relationship. More in-depth research is reviewed on the impact that having an incarcerated parent has on the children of offenders. Another article I have reviewed is tilted “Correctional Education as Democratic Citizenship Education” by Dustin Cantrell from a January, 2013 issue of The Journal of Correctional Education. The author discusses the education programs offered in prison, and the effect they have on prisoners. Cantrell focuses this article around interviews he conducted with educators who have been teaching in prisons for 4-17 years. The educators express the importance of seeking to transform their students into active, aware, engaged citizens which can greatly benefit them post-release. An important source I have included in my research so far is titled “State of Recidivism: The Revolving Door of America’s Prisons” which is written for the Public Safety Performance Project, Published by The PEW Center on the States. This study, dated April, 2011, addresses a broad range of issues relating to the controversial process of mass incarceration. The high cost of prison associated with the recent growth in prison population is addressed. The authors of this study emphasize the “revolving door” effect of criminal recidivism, and how it is adding to the overall cost of prisons. Therefore, this study focuses on criminal re-offending statistics, and what can be done to reduce the rate of criminal recidivism to keep the cost of prison at a minimum.
Sources I have referred to so far include “The Psychological Impact of Incarceration: Implications for Post-Prison Adjustment” by Craig Haney. This is a paper written for the “From Prison to Home Project” which was presented at the National Policy Conference at the National Institutes of Health in December, 2001. The author discusses the many psychological changes that prisoners undergo throughout the course of incarceration. He argues that the psychological harms inflicted on prisoners have increased over the past 10 years due to the harsh policies and non-existent rehabilitation programs. Haney discusses how these factors affect the post-prison adjustment process for criminals. On the topic of post-prison adjustment, I have reviewed “Prisoner Reentry: Current Trends, Practices, and Issues” By James Austin, from a July, 2001 issue of the Journal of Crime and Delinquency. The author uses national data, and a survey of eight states to examine to current policy of prison re-entry programs, and their effectiveness. He also provides charts and statistics on prison population, and who is participating in certain prison “prerelease” programs. Additionally, I have referred to “Prisoner Reentry and Crime in America”, a book published by the Cambridge University Press and written by colleagues from respected universities. The authors explore the large number of released prisoners each year, and their criminal activity after prison. The main purpose of this book is to examine information regarding the public safety consequences of prisoners who are released back into society. I have also reviewed “Rehabilitate or Punish?” an article written by Etienne Benson for the online version of the APA Monitor, a periodical of the American Psychological Association. In this article, dated July/August, 2003, the author addresses the issue of mental illness in prison, and how psychologist are working to determine the causes of crime and the psychological effects prisoners endure to help shift the focus from punishment to rehabilitation within prison. In a more recent issue of the same periodical, I have referred to an article titled “Alone in ‘The Hole’” written by Kristen Weir. This article, dated May, 2012, addresses the controversial issue of long-term solitary confinement within prisons. The psychological impacts among those in so-called “supermax” prisons are discussed. Another article I have reviewed is from an October 2005 issue of the American Journal of Public Health, and is titled “Behavioral Health Problems, Ex-Offender Reentry Policies, and the ‘Second Chance Act’” This article addresses the significant challenges convicts face once they are released from prison including trouble finding work, housing, and psychological help. The article discusses the “Second Chance Act” which calls for prisoners to have easier access to services such as public assistance, housing, health and mental health services, education, and job training. On the same subject of facing hardships after release from prison, I have referred to “Incarceration in Fragile Families” written by Christopher Wildeman and Bruce Western. This article was featured in the Fall, 2010 issue of “The Future of Children”, a peer-reviewed, biannual publication of The Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University and The Brookings Institution. The article discusses the consequences family’s face of those whose loved ones have been released from prison. The authors argue that imprisonment severely diminishes the earnings of adult men which compromises their health and decreases the amount of available family resources. The authors discuss how this can ultimately lead to broken, poverty-stricken families, which may In turn pave the way to delinquent lifestyles for the children of these offenders. On the same topic of families and loved ones affected by the prison system, I have referred to a book titled “The Effects of Imprisonment” which is a publication of the Cambridge Criminal Justice Series. Specifically, I have referenced Chapter 17, titled “The Effects of Imprisonment on Families and Children of Prisoners” written by Joseph Murray. Murray addresses the difficulties faced by the partners of those who are incarcerated such as loss of income, social isolation, trouble with child-care, and difficulties maintaining the relationship. More in-depth research is reviewed on the impact that having an incarcerated parent has on the children of offenders. Another article I have reviewed is tilted “Correctional Education as Democratic Citizenship Education” by Dustin Cantrell from a January, 2013 issue of The Journal of Correctional Education. The author discusses the education programs offered in prison, and the effect they have on prisoners. Cantrell focuses this article around interviews he conducted with educators who have been teaching in prisons for 4-17 years. The educators express the importance of seeking to transform their students into active, aware, engaged citizens which can greatly benefit them post-release. An important source I have included in my research so far is titled “State of Recidivism: The Revolving Door of America’s Prisons” which is written for the Public Safety Performance Project, Published by The PEW Center on the States. This study, dated April, 2011, addresses a broad range of issues relating to the controversial process of mass incarceration. The high cost of prison associated with the recent growth in prison population is addressed. The authors of this study emphasize the “revolving door” effect of criminal recidivism, and how it is adding to the overall cost of prisons. Therefore, this study focuses on criminal re-offending statistics, and what can be done to reduce the rate of criminal recidivism to keep the cost of prison at a minimum.
Research Plan
In addition to the sources I have compiled so far, I would like to continue to find a few more sources from peer-reviewed journals to ensure I have a hold of the most respected literature out there. So far, most of my sources are web-based. I plan to locate several titles from the Kitsap Regional Library and the Seattle Public Library so that I have physical books and journals to re-reference as needed. Charts and statistics are an important part of the criminal justice systems and therefore I will continue to search for the most recent studies on statistics relating to criminal activity. Since the topic of prisoner rehabilitation and corrections is best told by those directly affected by it, I plan to do extensive field research for my project. I plan to seek interviews with Wardens and Assistant Wardens from local prisons, as well as prisons around the country. I am specifically interested in finding out what policies are in place for prison re-entry programs, and what stand-points prison officials have on the topic. An inmate in Louisiana State Penitentiary has already agreed to an interview regarding the academic achievements he has reached from within prison walls. He is the only prisoner in the state of Louisiana to receive a master’s degree while incarcerated, making him a highly credible, relevant source. I also plan to send a list of interview questions to a few other inmates in Louisiana State Penitentiary, as that prison, in particular, has a unique approach to inmate rehabilitation and I would like to hear personal accounts from the inmates who have benefited from the correctional techniques used there. In addition, I would like to interview prisoners who have taken part in re-entry programs within the justice system to see how, and if it has been to there benefit. Moreover, I would like to get the opinions of those prisoners on how they would like to see such correctional programs improved. I will set up interviews with parole officers to discuss the issue of criminal re-offending after release, and what exactly they do to try to prevent it. Further, I am hoping to interview ex-prisoners themselves to gain insight on how there criminal offence and prison stay has affected their lives as a free-man.
In addition to the sources I have compiled so far, I would like to continue to find a few more sources from peer-reviewed journals to ensure I have a hold of the most respected literature out there. So far, most of my sources are web-based. I plan to locate several titles from the Kitsap Regional Library and the Seattle Public Library so that I have physical books and journals to re-reference as needed. Charts and statistics are an important part of the criminal justice systems and therefore I will continue to search for the most recent studies on statistics relating to criminal activity. Since the topic of prisoner rehabilitation and corrections is best told by those directly affected by it, I plan to do extensive field research for my project. I plan to seek interviews with Wardens and Assistant Wardens from local prisons, as well as prisons around the country. I am specifically interested in finding out what policies are in place for prison re-entry programs, and what stand-points prison officials have on the topic. An inmate in Louisiana State Penitentiary has already agreed to an interview regarding the academic achievements he has reached from within prison walls. He is the only prisoner in the state of Louisiana to receive a master’s degree while incarcerated, making him a highly credible, relevant source. I also plan to send a list of interview questions to a few other inmates in Louisiana State Penitentiary, as that prison, in particular, has a unique approach to inmate rehabilitation and I would like to hear personal accounts from the inmates who have benefited from the correctional techniques used there. In addition, I would like to interview prisoners who have taken part in re-entry programs within the justice system to see how, and if it has been to there benefit. Moreover, I would like to get the opinions of those prisoners on how they would like to see such correctional programs improved. I will set up interviews with parole officers to discuss the issue of criminal re-offending after release, and what exactly they do to try to prevent it. Further, I am hoping to interview ex-prisoners themselves to gain insight on how there criminal offence and prison stay has affected their lives as a free-man.
Project Timeline
I have until Friday June 6th, 2014 to complete my final research paper, however, a complete draft must be turned in on Tuesday May 20th, 2014 which gives me just less than one month to fully complete my research project. The first thing I will do in the upcoming week is compose a list of interview questions to send to prisoners in Louisiana State Penitentiary. I want to send those out as soon as possible to ensure a timely response. I will also look into getting in contact with locals prison personnel to see about possibly setting up live interviews with inmates and prison officials. Additionally, I will spend time in the library to gather books and set up any inter-library loans. I am anticipating having all of my sources gathered by the end of this week. In the meantime, I will begin writing my annotated bibliography. Throughout the week, I will make time to note the most significant chapters and passages from my sources and have them ready to annotate. I will have my annotated bibliography completed and ready to turn in on Tuesday May 6th, 2014. The following week, I will begin writing my review of literature which I will complete by Tuesday May 13th, 2014. This will give me a good foundation of familiarity with my topic and sources. I will begin drafting my final paper the week of May 13th, 2014, and will have a complete draft ready on May 20th. The following week I will continue refining my draft, adding any relevant information I may come across last minute. I will have a polished final paper ready to turn in on June 6th, 2014.
I have until Friday June 6th, 2014 to complete my final research paper, however, a complete draft must be turned in on Tuesday May 20th, 2014 which gives me just less than one month to fully complete my research project. The first thing I will do in the upcoming week is compose a list of interview questions to send to prisoners in Louisiana State Penitentiary. I want to send those out as soon as possible to ensure a timely response. I will also look into getting in contact with locals prison personnel to see about possibly setting up live interviews with inmates and prison officials. Additionally, I will spend time in the library to gather books and set up any inter-library loans. I am anticipating having all of my sources gathered by the end of this week. In the meantime, I will begin writing my annotated bibliography. Throughout the week, I will make time to note the most significant chapters and passages from my sources and have them ready to annotate. I will have my annotated bibliography completed and ready to turn in on Tuesday May 6th, 2014. The following week, I will begin writing my review of literature which I will complete by Tuesday May 13th, 2014. This will give me a good foundation of familiarity with my topic and sources. I will begin drafting my final paper the week of May 13th, 2014, and will have a complete draft ready on May 20th. The following week I will continue refining my draft, adding any relevant information I may come across last minute. I will have a polished final paper ready to turn in on June 6th, 2014.
Working Bibliography
Austin,
James. “Prisoner Reentry: Current Trends, Practices, and Issues” Crime and Delinquency 47.3 (2001):
314-334. Web. 24 Apr. 2014.
Benson,
Etienne. “Rehabilitate Or Punish?” Monitor
on Psychology July/August 2003: 46. American Psychological Association.
Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
Cantrell,
Dustin. “Correctional Education as Democratic Citizenship Education”. The Journal of Correctional Education 63.2
(2012): 27-36. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
Crawford,
Nicole. “Helping Inmates Cope With Prison Life” Monitor on Psychology July/August 2003: 62. American Psychological Association. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
Green,
Hank. “Mass Incarceration in the US” YouTube.
YouTube. 4 Apr, 2014. Web. 22 Apr, 2014.
Henry,
Stuart. “On the Effectiveness of Prison as Punishment” Conference:
Incarceration Nation: The Warehousing of America’s Poor. 24 Oct, 2003. Ivy Tech
State College, South Bend, Indiana. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.
Mauro,
Marisa. “My Work as a Psychologist in Prison” Take All Prisoners. Psychology
Today. 15 Apr. 2009. Web. 19 Apr. 2014.
Meares,
Tracey L. “Mass Incarceration: Who Pays the Price for Criminal Offending?”
January 1st, 2004. Faculty Scholarship Series. Web. 19. Apr. 2014.
Murray,
Iain. “Making Rehabilitation Work: American Experience of Rehabilitating
Prisoners.” 4 December, 2002. Web. 19 Apr. 2014
Murray,
Joseph. “The Effects of Imprisonment on Families and Children Of Prisoners.” The Effects Of Imprisonment. Ed. Alison Liebling,
Maruna Shadd. Cambridge Criminal Justice Series. Institute of Criminology,
University of Cambridge. Willian Publishing. 1 Sept. 2006. 442. Web. 20 Apr.
2014.
Pogorzelski,
Wendy, et al. “Behavioral Health Problems, Ex-Offender Reentry Policies, and
the ‘Second Chance Act’” American Journal
of Public Health 95.10 (2005): 1718–1724. Web. 24 Apr.
2014
Public
Safety Performance Project. “State of Recidivism: The Revolving Door of
America’s Prisons” Pew Center on the
States. Apr. 2011. Web. 22 Apr. 2011.
Solomon,
Amy L. Johnson, et al. “From Prison to Work: The Employment Dimensions of
Prisoner Reentry: A Report of the
Reentry Roundtable” Urban Institute. Oct. 2004. Web. 20 Apr. 2014
Stanford
Prison Experiment. Philip G. Zimbardo. 1999-2014. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.
Travis,
Jeremy. “But They All Come Back: Facing the Challenges of Prisoner Reentry.” The Urban Institute Press. Google Books.
2005. Web. 20 Apr. 2014
Travis,
Jeremy, Christy Visher. “Prisoner Reentry and Crime in America.” Cambridge University Press. Google Books. 2005. Web. 19 Apr. 2014
United
States. Bureau of Justice Statistics. “Reentry Trends in the United States” Hughes,
Timothy. Wilson, Doris James. Bureau of Justice Statistics. 14 Apr. 2004. Web.
22 Apr. 2014.
United
States Department of Health and Human Services. “The Psychological Impact of
Incarceration: Implications for Post-Prison Adjustment.” Haney, Craig.
December, 2001. National Policy Conference. January 30-31, 2002. National
Institutes of Health. Bethesda, MD.
Van
Den Haag, Ernest. “Could Successful Rehabilitation Reduce the Crime Rate.” The Journal of Criminal Law and
Criminology 73.3 (1982): 1022-1035. Web. 19 Apr. 2014
Weir,
Kirsten. “Alone, In ‘The Hole’: Psychologists probe the mental health effects
of solitary confinement.” Monitor on Psychology.
May 2012: 54. American Psychological Association. Web. 21 Apr. 2014
Wildeman,
Christopher, Bruce Western. “Incarceration in Fragile Families” Future of Children 20.2 (2010): 157-177.
Web. 24 Apr. 2014
