APPROACH TO RECIDIVISM

• NCJ Number: 49938
• Journal: Bulletin of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1974) Pages: 111-114
• Author(s): W BROMBERG; B BERRIAN
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 4 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Pittsburgh
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: DELIVERED AT THE 1973 MEETING OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PSYCHIATRY AND THE LAW, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, OCTOBER 19, 1973

Annotation

LEGAL, SOCIAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS AFFECTING RECIDIVISM ARE EXAMINED, AND A CRIMINAL DIAGNOSTIC PLAN TO ATTACK THE PROBLEM IS PROPOSED. THE PLAN USES A MARATHON APPROACH BASED ON CONFRONTATION THERAPY.

Abstract

RECIDIVISM IS REFERRED TO AS A PRODUCT OF TRADITIONAL COURT PROCEDURES, INVOLVING THE ENTIRE SPECTRUM OF THE COURTS, THE SUBCULTURES FROM WHICH CRIME ARISES, AND THE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS WHICH PROMOTE IT. TRADITIONAL PROGRAMS TO COUNTERACT RECIDIVISM, CENTERED IN PENAL INSTITUTIONS, HAVE PROVED INEFFECTIVE; 70 PERCENT OF ALL OFFENDERS ARE REARRESTED FOR SUBSEQUENT CRIMES WITHIN 3 YEARS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE TRULY DISTURBED OFFENDER IS SELDOM HELPED BECAUSE JUDGES, LAWYERS, AND PROBATION OFFICERS LACK THE TIME AND THE RESOURCES TO THOROUGHLY EXAMINE AN OFFENDER. TRADITIONAL PRISON PROGRAMS WHICH RELY ON COUNSELING ARE INADEQUATE, AND A THOROUGH PROGRAM TO RESOCIALIZE PRISONERS IS NOT FEASIBLE UNDER THE PRESENT SYSTEM. OFTEN OFFENDERS HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF TREATMENT METHODOLOGIES AND RESIST THEM, INSISTING ON THEIR RIGHT TO RESIST INTERFERENCE WITH THEIR LIVES. PUNISHMENTS ARE NO LONGER SEEN AS HARSH. MANY JUVENILE REPEATERS VIEW REPROBATION AS A PATERNALISM TO BE TOLERATED. THERE HAS BEEN A GENERAL DOWNGRADING OF SOCIETY'S FEELINGS AGAINST LEGAL WRONG DOING, AND THIS CHANGE IN VALUE ORIENTATION IS REFLECTED IN THE ATTITUDES OF DEFENDANTS WHO OFTEN SEE INCARCERATION AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE STUPIDITY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT. TO COUNTERACT THESE SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS, A CRIMINAL DIAGNOSTIC TEAM IS PROPOSED WHICH WOULD USE MARATHON THERAPY TO CONFRONT THE INDIVIDUAL WITH THE RESULTS OF CRIME AND THE POSSIBILITIES OF OTHER LIFE PATTERNS. THE APPROACH USES FILMS, CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION, AND INTENSIVE SMALL GROUP CONFRONTATIONS. A TEAM, SUCH AS THE ONE JUST DESCRIBED, PROCESSED 24 CASES DURING 1971-1973 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. THE RIGHT OF THE OFFENDER TO RESIST SUCH TREATMENT IS CONSIDERED SUBORDINATE TO THE RIGHT OF SOCIETY TO ATTACK THE PROBLEM OF RECIDIVISM. (GLR)