Correction Theories Assignment Essay

In criminology, incarcerated people may rehabilitate or recidivate. This paper enumerates some of the theories that foster change. It also encompasses the important correction concepts and their rationale. Correction Theories Assignment Essay

Correction Theories that demonstrate an increase or Change

Committing a crime is psychological. The best way to mitigate it is by implementing psychological correctional theories. Offenders mostly use the carrot and stick approach to analyze the risk factor of committing a crime. It has been proven severally that if the benefits reaped outweigh the consequences faced, the offender is most likely to commit the crime (Duguid S, 2000). Therefore, imposing strict punishments on crimes inculcates fear thus deterring potential criminals from committing the crimes according to Rational Choice Theory. However, this does not solve the possibility of recidivism.

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On the other hand, Rehabilitation is more result oriented (Department of Corrections, 2001:10). The theory seeks to groom a person’s mens rea. The intent to commit a crime, if not corrected, keeps resurfacing. As a matter of fact, crimes of incapacitation and passion are far out of this bracket. Hitherto, locking up criminals or giving them a deserving punishment does not make them better persons in case they are released. Drug Enforcement Agencies report that religious, anger management, education, and drug treatment programs help offenders reform (Duguid S, 2000).

Important Correction Concepts

Correctional institutions have highly volatile environments. They host volatile, innocent and mentally disturbed incarcerated people. Throughout this course, Criminal rights have come out strongly as one of the main concepts to be observed within a correctional facility. In any institution, the client no matter how bad should be treated as the king. Mastering and following their rights as documented in the 8th and 14th amendment helps the guards to be respectful and assertive while dealing with the inmates. Correction Theories Assignment Essay

Training follows second as the officers need to be safe as the secure the facility. Defense mechanisms and first aid skills are vital for survival. Professionalism comes in third. The guards need to be empowered to have a correctional officer mentality. At the same time, they need to know how to keep the interests of the violators’ first before theirs. Adherence of which boosts their sustainability in the institution.

Conclusion

Ideally, deterrence is preventive whereas rehabilitation helps incarcerated people reform. If both theories could be properly funded and effected they could bear lower crime rates and save financial costs of running prisons in the long run. Similarly, dutifully observing criminal rights, offering consistent training and adopting professionalism further supports the agenda.

References

Department of Corrections, 2001. Annual Report, 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001. Department of Corrections: Wellington.

Duguid S, 2000. Can Prisons Work? The Prisoner as Object and Subject in Modern Corrections. University of Toronto Press: Canada. Correction Theories Assignment Essay