Recidivism

Recidivism is the act of a person repeating an undesirable behavior after they have either experienced negative consequences of that behavior, or have been treated or trained to extinguish that behavior. It is also used to refer to the percentage of former prisoners who are rearrested for a similar offense.

The term is frequently used in conjunction with criminal behavior and substance abuse. (Recidivism is a synonym for "relapse", which is more commonly used in medicine and in the disease model of addiction.)

Causes

There are many reasons why a person may commit crimes, but recidivism is connected to a person’s psychological issues and the social environment that person is in. Many argue that the prison system and criminal justice system in the United States do not do enough to address the underlying issues that lead to recidivism rates and instead focus on punishment.

Statistics

Recidivism rates vary greatly depending on the country and the type of crime. In the United States, the National Institute of Justice found that within three years of release, about two-thirds (67.8 percent) of released prisoners were rearrested. Within five years of release, about three-quarters (76.6 percent) of released prisoners were rearrested.

Prevention

Preventing recidivism requires a combination of strategies, including psychological treatment, social counseling, vocational training, supervised release programs, and community support services. Many believe that more needs to be done to provide these services to individuals in prison and upon release.

See also

• Criminal justice
• Substance abuse
• Relapse prevention

Recidivism Resources
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