Prisons in crisis : William L. Selke Indiana University Press (601 North Morton Street, Bloomington, Indiana 47404), 1993, 156 pp., hardcover—$25.00, softcover— $9.95

Abstract

In thinking about the area of correctional treatment and rehabilitation, one must understand the context from which the discipline emerged. Not long ago, in the 1970s, most criminal justice scholars felt that rehabilitation was a fruitless effort that had no impact on offender behavior. This sentiment was the result of several sociopolitical factors, but one was particularly potent when several research studies failed to find “treatment” interventions (many of which would never be called “treatment” by today’s standards) successful with offender populations.However, with advances in cognitive and behavioral psychology, as well as statistical innovations in the use of meta-analytic techniques, a wealth of evidence now exists that supports the idea that antisocial offenders can change for the better, and that treatment interventions increase public safety. Indeed, over 1000 research studies demonstrate that significant reductions in recidivism occur when optimal conditions are in place. These conditions are referred to as the principles of effective intervention, and have been invaluable to correctional staff who now have a guide for understanding which offenders should receive the most intensive treatment (moderate- to high-risk offenders; this is called the risk principle), which offender problems to target (criminogenic needs; this is called the need principle), and what modalities to use in targeting criminogenic needs (cognitive–behavioral approaches; this is the general responsivity principle). Several additional conditions should also be present, and these are detailed in Chapter 15.The principles of effective intervention essentially represent a paradigm shift in the field of criminal justice because of their implications toward policies for increasing public safety. Indeed, public safety cannot be achieved with deterrence and incapacitation strategies alone—in fact, public safety is most enhanced when prevention and rehabilitation strategies are adopted. So-called “punishing smarter” programs do not work, no matter how much sense they might make to scare offenders straight.