Abstract
The possibility to achieve successful resocialization of former prisoners back into society is an ongoing public debate, making it challenging for policymakers to implement prisoner rehabilitation programs capable of maintaining the public safety while allocating public funds in the most efficient way. The main aim of this study is to examine what is necessary for an investment in prison system development to be justified. The hypothesis of this study suggests that such investment can be cost-effective by reducing crime and recidivism rates in the long term by ensuring proper rehabilitation of prisoners. Accordingly, this research compares various European countries regarding their imprisonment standards and costs in order to conclude which countries operate in the most effective way and what is crucial to obtain a decrease in the reoffending rates. The key results suggest that it is possible to find a correlation between such variables as the imprisonment costs, incarceration rates and the recidivism rates. It is possible to draw parallels between the amount of money countries spend on one prisoner a year and the recidivism rates of such countries, suggesting that the reoffending rates can be reduced by increasing the amount of resources allocated for the improvement of prisoner’s lives. Furthermore, such an investment should not only take the form of establishment of a proper environment for successful rehabilitation – prisoners should be provided with education and work possibilities to prepare them for life outside the prison walls. Moreover, the study highlights the need for post-release support mechanisms capable of re-integrating former convicts back into society, since such mechanisms could reduce the likelihood of re-offending.
Highlights
European imprisonment practice number of convicts repeatedly incarcerated for property-related offences, the primary purpose of the rehabilitation programs established in the prison facilities of various European countries is to ensure a proper re-socialization of former convicts back into society
Since the reoffending rates of the European countries range from 20% to 70% (Council of Europe, 2014), the aim of this research is to come to a conclusion of what the countries with high recidivism rates are lacking
Hypothesis of this study suggests that the investment in prison system development is cost-effective by reducing crime and recidivism rates in the long term if a proper rehabilitation of prisoners is ensured
Summary
Hypothesis of this study suggests that the investment in prison system development is cost-effective by reducing crime and recidivism rates in the long term if a proper rehabilitation of prisoners is ensured. This article applies two legal research methods – the doctrinal method and the comparative method It looks at the development of the European system regarding the legal framework of the standard imprisonment rules. It compares different punitive systems, finding a correlation between their imprisonment costs and effectiveness in order to determine which countries operate most effectively based on the rate of reoffending. The qualitative research method is used to explain the existing practice and success of three completely different prison systems, namely the practice of Norway, the Netherlands and Latvia, and the quantitative research method is applied to analyze imprisonment conditions and costs, using the regression analysis in order to find out what effect these costs have on incarceration and recidivism rates in the long term
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