NCJ Number
200050
Date Published
January 2003
Length
105 pages
Annotation
This report examines the possible myth behind the punishing of criminals and the obstacles created for both the judicial system and the criminal corrections system through the use of conventional judicial wisdom and the need to move into the 21st century with a better understanding of the criminal mind and the need to change criminal behavior from within the person.
Abstract
An existing barrier for the judicial system is its inability to gamble on the side of rehabilitation when society and voters elect them believing strongly in punishment and retribution. The paradox is that punishment works the best on responsible people who self-correct are easily deterred, use common sense, and are people who pose the least threat to society, and punishment works the least on irresponsible chronic losers who have little common sense or self restraint, fail to see the consequences of their impulsive acts, and who are the greatest threat to society. The criminal justice system is based on punishing criminals. This report focuses on the need to re-examine this idea, knowing what is known about the criminal mind in the 21st century. The report is aimed at the number of criminal offenders that will and must re-enter society and the use of conventional judicial wisdom. There are symptoms that enhance the likelihood of failure, such as poor decisionmaking, that are not addressed in programs such as substance abuse treatment. In an attempt to implement programs that work, sometimes individuals are required to attend and participate in things that do not work. With the vast majority of offenders being released back into their communities, offenders need to participate in programs that change their decisionmaking about right and wrong and how to live an acceptable life. The report begins with an examination of conventional wisdom and why it fails. Policy makers using political conventional wisdom endorse popular punitive programs or rescue programs that fail and make criminals worse. The report continues with an examination of a chronic loser’s faulty belief system and the cognitive intervention to these perceptions. The report concludes with a list of tools necessary for a judge of the 21st century: (1) recognition of character disorder traits; (2) understanding psychological profiles; (3) knowing the inside workings of all correctional institutions; (4) understanding the criminal mind; (5) the science of addiction; (6) alcohol and drug treatment theories; (7) the difference in mental illness and criminality; (8) dangerous and annoying sexual offenders; and (9) knowing public relations and how to get elected without pandering to destructive conventional political wisdom. Appendix