Recidivism

• What is it ?

  when A person relapses into criminal behaviour even after experiencing a punishment
• What are the 3 reasons recidivism occurs. ?

  1. institutionalisation
  2. ineffective punishment
  3. mental health + substance abuse
• institutionalisation ?


  Life in prison is better than outside life

  • become a custom
• Ineffective punishment ?


  Long delay between commission + being admitted to a prison
• Mental health + substance abuse ?

  Issues aren’t treated in prison so when they get out they do the same thing
• What occurred in 2023 ?

  25% reoffended following release - shows rehabilitation isn’t effective
• What does reoffending effect. ?

  Economy

  • they have to pay for the prisoners
  • 47k each
• Why do prisoners become institutionalised ?

  • basic needs are met in prison creating a sense of belonging with people in a similar situation
  • cost of living is unsustainable for newly released
• What doe 20-30% do ?

  Have no accommodation upon release
• Evaluation ?

  1. Recidivism rates are unreliable
  2. norway has the lowest rates in Europe
  3. alternatives to prison could be better
• Recidivism rates are unreliable


  based on crimes that have gone through the court system- many are unknown

  • varies in age and type of crime
  • burgarly is 2x more likely to reoffend than sex abuse
• Norway is lowest ?


  Institutes are open and focus on skill development

  • some say this is too soft
• Alternatives ?

  Probabtion/electronic monitoring

  • avoids institutionalisation + prison culture