Rehabilitation or Punishment in Criminal Justice Outline
Introduction
The criminal justice system comprises several stages, from arrest to sentencing. Correctional facilities, one of the stages in criminal justice, house a wide array of convicted offenders. An increase in crime rates causes an increase in the number of those incarcerated, creating a need for reforms. Reducing recidivism is one way by which incarceration rates can be reduced through several approaches. These approaches are punishment and rehabilitation. On the one hand, punishment is the most predominantly used approach in criminal justice, focusing on punitive measures from community service to sentencing. On the other hand, rehabilitation focuses on altering the offender’s behavior. The application of rehabilitation or punishment in the criminal justice system raises questions on the most effective approach, and considering the offenders in the criminal justice system, the efficacy of rehabilitation over punishment presents great benefits for the offenders and society at large because rehabilitative programs ease offenders’ entry back into society, reform offenders in society thereby reducing crimes, and are also cost-effective.
Rehabilitative Programs Ease Offenders’ Reintegration
- Topic Sentence: Rehabilitation through rehabilitative programs eases offenders’ entry back into society.
Supporting Detail 1: Rehabilitative programs ease reintegration by equipping offenders with skills and strengths that guarantee success in society (Edwards, 2021). In the article “Prisoners’ Perspectives on Limited Rehabilitative Program Opportunities,” Edwards (2021) analyzes rehabilitation from the perspective of offenders. This resource will support the thesis from its research, which concluded that many offenders found that rehabilitative programs changed their life trajectories. This change in their life trajectories stems from the skills they gain through rehabilitative programs that favor reintegration in areas including education, employment and mental health, among many more.
Supporting Detail 2: Rehabilitation identifies potential risk factors that may set back offenders’ reintegration (Yesberg & Polaschek, 2019). In their article, Yesberg and Polaschek (2019) position that treatments provided during rehabilitation help with reentry as risk factors are identified and targeted during treatment. Consistently, this resource will support the thesis from its argument that risk factors are altered through rehabilitation in a way that they no longer hinder offenders. It is also established that with the treatment of potential risk factors, recidivism rates are reduced.
Rehabilitative Programs Reform Offenders
- Topic Sentence: Further, rehabilitative programs reform offenders in society, thereby reducing crimes.
Supporting Detail 1: Rehabilitation reforms offenders based on their treatment plans for various risk factors (Yesberg & Polaschek, 2019). The Bible calls for reformation and change by not conforming to the ways of the world but by renewing the mind as is God’s will (New International Version, 1978/1983, Romans 12:1-2). Rehabilitative programs renew the mind through treatment programs that target the risk behaviors of offenders reforming them. Therefore, renewed minds yield reformed offenders.
Supporting Detail 2: Reformed offenders following rehabilitation show deterrence from crime through avoidance of recidivism (Butler et al., 2020). In the article, Butler et al. (2020) position that factors such as substance addiction and homelessness promote recidivism. Subsequently, this resource will support the thesis from its stipulation on risk factors that are addressed in rehabilitative programs, thereby promoting deterrence. Deterrence then reduces crimes in society, promoting safety in society.
Rehabilitative Programs Are Cost-Effective
- Topic Sentence: Rehabilitative programs are cost-effective.
Supporting Detail 1: High incarceration rates increase the cost to society, and rehabilitation presents a solution (Bernard et al., 2020). Bernard et al. (2020) stipulate that rehabilitation programs in diversion programs for low-level offenders prevent incarceration, saving costs. This resource will support the thesis by arguing for rehabilitation as a diversion program that is cost-effective by reducing incarceration rates. Saving costs for the criminal justice system saves costs for society.
Supporting Detail 2: Rehabilitation reduces recidivism and crime rates, thereby being cost-effective (Krūze & Priede, 2020). Krūze and Priede (2020) argue that in the long run, rehabilitation saves on cost by transforming offenders, thereby reducing crime. This article will support the thesis by supporting the position that rehabilitation is cost-effective in the long term. Consistently, the reduction of crime rates by previous offenders reduces incarceration, saving on costs.
Opinion and Conclusion
- Transition: In conclusion, rehabilitation is the preferable resort for offenders rather than punishment as there are more advantages to the programs, befitting the offenders, the criminal justice system, and society.
References
Bernard, C. L., Rao, I. J., Robison, K. K., & Brandeau, M. L. (2020). Health outcomes and cost-effectiveness of diversion programs for low-level drug offenders: A model-based analysis. PLOS Medicine, 17(10), e1003239. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003239
Butler, L. C., Cullen, F. T., Burton, A. L., Thielo, A. J., & Velmer S. Burton, Jr. (2020). Redemption at a correctional turning point: Public support for rehabilitation ceremonies. DigitalCommons@UNO. https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/criminaljusticefacpub/281
Edwards, K. (2021). Prisoners’ perspectives on limited rehabilitative program opportunities. The Qualitative Report. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2021.4495
Krūze, E., & Priede, J. (2020). Cost-effectiveness of prison system development – comparison of the European countries. European Integration Studies, 1(14), 69–79. https://doi.org/10.5755/j01.eis.1.14.26384
The Holy Bible: New International Version. (1983). Hodder and Stoughton. (Original work published 1978)
Yesberg, J. A., & Polaschek, D. L. L. (2019). How does offender rehabilitation actually work? Exploring mechanisms of change in high-risk treated parolees. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 63(15–16), 2672–2692. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624×19856221
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Question 
The second step of the Research Paper Assignment is for you to write the Research Paper:
Annotated Outline Assignment. The annotated outline is a tool used by criminal justice professionals to provide an outline of a research paper while incorporating annotations of the research used to support the thesis.
Rehabilitation or Punishment in Criminal Justice Outline
INSTRUCTIONS
After selecting a criminal justice topic for the Research Paper: Final Assignment and submitting your Research Paper: Thesis Assignment on the topic you chose, you will prepare the Research Paper: Annotated Outline Assignment of your Research Paper Assignment.
Your annotated outline must fully support each facet of your thesis.
The Research Paper: Annotated Outline Assignment must provide a detailed blueprint of the Research Paper: Final Assignment in the current APA format and contain the following components:
1. Thesis
2. Three Main Headings
3. Two Subpoints Per Main Heading (at least)
a. An APA citation in each subpoint.
b. 3–5 sentences for each subpoint. These sentences must explain the academic resource and how it will be used to support your thesis.
4. A Reference Page.