Recent studies suggest that the bulk of ex-prisoners reoffend after being released. This essay will first outline the underlying causes of this phenomenon, before proposing some measures to hinder recidivism.
The continued perpetration can be attributed to two main factors. One of these is the difficulties involved in social reintegration that former convicts face. Specifically, those with criminal records are often rejected when applying for a job since many recruiters perceive them as dangerous elements, therefore choose not to hire them. This social stigma extends beyond the workplace, with ex-prisoners usually being criticized for their criminal activities by people around, which makes the reintegration process even more challenging. Unemployment, coupled with ostracism, in turn, results in resentment among them, which easily becomes a breeding ground for recidivism. Additionally, the punishments most ex-criminals, if not all, received might not have been severe enough, rendering them unaware of the consequences of committing crimes. This, thus, fails to deter against reoffending.
To counter the aforementioned problems, the following steps should be taken. First, it is imperative that the government introduce initiatives aimed at assisting ex-prisoners in resocialization. A practical example of this is the Reintegration Guarantee program in Norway, which emphasizes former convicts’ access to basic needs such as healthcare or job opportunities. The program, thereby, has reduced their financial burdens, as well as addressed many ex-criminals’ mental issues, resulting in decreasing recidivism rates within the country. Such a measure should be implemented in tandem with imposing more stringent punishments on criminal activities. This is because only when an offender receives a sufficiently severe penalty for his action, can he realize the dire repercussions of it, therefore repent for committing the crime. This, thus, can avoid the phenomenon of reoffending.
In summary, many ex-criminals reoffend mostly because of the challenges associated with reentering society and lenient punishments. For these reasons, a strategy that embraces both stricter criminal sentences and reintegration programs would offer a more promising path toward reducing recidivism rates.