Recidivism Is An Important Part - 1606 Words

Recidivism is an important part and essentially one of the main problems of the criminal justice system. Recidivism occurs anytime an individual reverts to committing illegal activities, after they have endured some form of punishment for a previous (if not the same) crime. Every neighborhood and every community experiences crime. Every community sends its criminals away and once their time is served they are released back into that same community. Under the canopy of recidivism, regardless of the specific type of crime, the issue if not changed will continue to perpetuate crime. While not every criminal reverts, problems within the criminal justice system are facilitating recidivism. To be considered a recidivist, a person that was once†¦show more content†¦The reasoning behind these harsher sentences is that â€Å"putting people in prison for years or even decades should prevent offenders from re-offending by incapacitating them and/or deterring would-be-offenders from committing crimes† (Wright, 6). The theory of deterrence and the aim of incapacitation are well intended but are not concrete. Deterrence theoretically operates by magnifying the certainty that there will be punishment for crimes. In hopes of deterring non offenders from offending taking into account the consequences (usually confinement). â€Å"Research to date generally indicates that increases in the certainty of punishment, as opposed to the severity of punishment, are more likely to produce deterrent benefits† (Wright, 1). The seriousness of the penalty should prompt the possible offenders to think twice or weigh their options prior to carrying out a crime. Half of Stat e inmates and a third of Federal prisoners reported committing their current offense under the influence of alcohol or drugs (Mumola). This works against the deterrence theory because while the individual is under the influence their thought process is dysfunctional. There isn’t a sound thought process in their mind while committing or before deciding whether or not to commit the crime. â€Å"Therefore, it is unlikely that such persons are deterred by either the certainty or severity of punishment because of their temporarily impaired capacity to consider the pros and cons of