Criminal Recidivism Research Articles

A DIFICULDADE DE REINSERÇÃO DE EX-DETENTOS NA SOCIEDADE: DESAFIOS E PERSPECTIVAS

The reintegration of former inmates into Brazilian society is a complex and challenging phenomenon involving a convergence of social, economic, and psychological factors that hinder their full integration. The social stigma associated with being an ex-inmate poses a significant barrier, as many face prejudice and discrimination, limiting their employment opportunities and access to support networks. Furthermore, structural barriers, such as a lack of available jobs and professional training, exacerbate the situation. A crucial aspect is the absence of adequate psychological support. The prison experience can leave deep psychological scars, and many former inmates struggle with trauma, anxiety, and adaptation issues, requiring specialized attention. The lack of effective public policies, combined with the precariousness of rehabilitation programs, significantly contributes to criminal recidivism. Many existing initiatives lack resources, continuity, and coordination across different sectors, resulting in a vicious cycle of marginalization. This paper aims to explore these issues in depth, analyzing the effectiveness of initiatives and programs implemented in Brazil in relation to the Penal Execution Law (Law No. 7.210/1984) and other relevant legislation. We propose a reflection on improvement strategies that emphasize the need for a holistic approach considering the various dimensions of reintegration. Promoting a culture of acceptance and inclusion, strengthening intersectoral public policies, and implementing vocational training programs are some alternatives that could provide new perspectives for former inmates. Ultimately, this study seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by former inmates and suggest pathways that could facilitate their reintegration into society, aiming for a significant transformation for both individuals and society as a whole. Social reintegration is not merely a matter of criminal policy, but a moral and social imperative that demands collective commitment to justice and human dignity.

Characterization and perception of incarcerated women regarding social, employment, and educational inclusion: A mixed methods study

Brazil has one of the highest jailed populations globally, second only to the United States and China. The country faces challenges with prison infrastructure and inadequate reintegration, especially for women, who are a minority. The aim of the research was to characterize the profile of incarcerated women in the prison system in a Brazilian city, as well as to describe and analyze perceptions of prison experiences and future expectations. This study employed a mixed-methods approach to provide a detailed description of the topic matter. The quantitative data were collected through structured questionnaires and subjected to double data entry. Descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted to characterize the sample using the statistical software SPSS. For the qualitative data, content analysis was employed to identify recurrent and unique themes, categorize them, and interpret the results. All procedures followed ethical guidelines, including obtaining informed consent and ensuring data confidentiality. The study comprised 83 incarcerated women. The majority of participants were young, self-identified as black, and had low educational attainment. Themes such as family, motherhood, and education were prominent, expressing a desire to reconnect with children and assume significant maternal roles post-incarceration. Participants viewed education as crucial for enhancing their living conditions after incarceration. Moreover, there was a strong emphasis on personal growth, with aspirations to break the criminal cycle and build productive lives. The findings underscore the urgency of public policies that support the social and professional reintegration of women, providing education, employment, and psychosocial support. These initiatives are crucial for reducing criminal recidivism and promoting a more inclusive and promising future.

O SISTEMA PRISIONAL NO BRASIL: UMA ANÁLISE DOS DESAFIOS E PERSPECTIVAS DE REFORMA

The Brazilian prison system is a complex and challenging issue that has raised heated debates over the years. With a growing prison population and precarious conditions in prisons, the reality of penitentiary institutions in the country presents a worrying picture. The purpose of prisons, which should be the rehabilitation of inmates, is often distorted by overcrowding, violence and lack of opportunities for social reintegration. In this context, this work aims to analyze the challenges faced by the Brazilian prison system and explore the reform perspectives that can be adopted to face such problems. It is crucial to understand the historical roots of this system, as well as the contemporary factors that have contributed to its current situation. Throughout this study, a comprehensive bibliographical review will be carried out, gathering data and analyzes from research, government reports and academic studies that focus on the subject. It is essential to emphasize that an effective reform of the prison system does not only imply improving the physical conditions of prisons, but also promoting actions that favor social reintegration and the reduction of criminal recidivism. In addition, civil society participation and dialogue between the various actors involved are crucial elements for building sustainable and humanized solutions.

Machiavellianism as a crucial Dark Tetrad trait for the prediction of life-course criminal behavior

The Dark Tetrad (Machiavellianism, psychopathy, narcissism, and sadism) is a taxonomy of personality dispositions toward immoral, antisocial, and antagonistic behavior; still, its predictive power in the domain of criminal behavior is rarely tested. In the present research, we analyzed the associations between the Dark Tetrad and several indicators of criminal behavior (onset of criminal behavior, juvenile correctional measures, problematic use of psychoactive substances [PUPS], penal recidivism, number of convictions, violent offences, and the risk of future recidivism) in a sample of Serbian prisoners (N = 471). While all dark traits were positively associated with criminal behavior indicators on a zero-order level (except violent offences), regression analyses identified Machiavellianism as the most prominent predictor. Psychopathy positively predicted PUPS, while narcissism had a negative contribution to PUPS and penal recidivism. Interactions with the participants’ sex showed that sadism represents a risk factor for females regarding early offences and PUPS, while Machiavellianism elevates the chance of repeated prison sentences for men. Finally, the structural model showed that juvenile offending mediates the association between Machiavellianism and general criminal recidivism. Findings showed the fruitfulness of assessing the Dark Tetrad traits in order to predict various aspects of criminal behavior.

Social and emotional competencies in Portuguese incarcerated males: psychometric properties of the SEC-Q questionnaire and their relation to health risk behaviors

This study departs from the acknowledged absence of validated measures to assess social and emotional competencies in incarcerated individuals. This is a critical gap given that most available programs aimed at fostering prosocial behavior and reducing antisocial behaviors are theoretically based on enhancing these competencies. This study assessed the psychometric properties of the Social and Emotional Competencies Questionnaire (SEC-Q) in a sample of 219 Portuguese incarcerated males (M age = 37.21 years, SD = 10.61), and to explore the impact of the SEC-Q dimensions on health risk behaviors in this population. The study used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to examine the factor structure of the SEC-Q. The four-factor model fitted well to the data (SB χ2 = 267.75; df = 120; Robust CFI = 0.99; Robust RMSEA = 0.06), and, as expected, it includes four dimensions: self-awareness, self-management and motivation, social awareness and prosocial behavior, and decision-making. The four dimensions showed appropriate internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 74–81; McDonald’s omega = 75–82). Additionally, social and emotional competencies were related to higher self-control (rs=0.45, p <.01) and lower health risk behaviors (rs = − 0.25, p <.01), supporting convergent and divergent validity. Findings from the negative binomial regression suggest that higher social awareness and prosocial behavior is related to less health risk behaviors among incarcerated males. This study is a pivotal step to promote an affordable and valid measure to assess social and emotional competencies among Portuguese justice-involved males. SEC-Q can be an important complementary measure for evaluating the effectiveness of interventions aimed at preventing criminal recidivism.

Retraction: Halfway Out: An Examination of the Effects of Halfway Houses on Criminal Recidivism.

Retraction: Halfway Out: An Examination of the Effects of Halfway Houses on Criminal Recidivism.

“Defendendo a paz social”: entre a naturalização e o racismo em decisões de decretação de prisão preventiva.

This study aimed to analyze the arguments mobilized by judges to justify the issuance of preventive detention orders and to observe the existence of a relationship between these arguments and class and race factors. The methodology used was the documentary analysis of interlocutory decisions converting flagrant arrests into preventive detentions, referring to charges of theft and robbery that occurred between 2015 and 2018 in the metropolitan region of Salvador, Brazil. A total of 322 interlocutory decisions to decree preventive detention were analyzed, retrieved from the case files of Salvador Prison/BA, a unit for temporary detainees. At the end of the research, it was concluded that, among the justifications in force in Article 312 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 100% of the decisions analyzed were based on the category of guaranteeing public order, understood as social harmony offended by the dangerousness of the prisoner. This dangerousness is expressed by the concepts of criminal recidivism and modus operandi. It was also concluded that these arguments reproduce class and race stereotypes, since they use mechanisms to naturalize the group most affected by the net of the criminal justice system (young black men), depriving them of the enjoyment of citizenship and protection of fundamental rights.

Dark and bright personality dimensions as predictors of criminal behavior and recidivism

A growing body of research highlights the continuum between dark and bright personality traits impacting individual prosocial or antisocial tendencies. However, the interplay between personality dimensions and actual criminal behavior and its reoccurrence is not fully elucidated. We aimed to explore the cumulative predictive value of the bright and dark core of personality for criminal history in differentiating a general community sample (N = 282) from a large sample of inmates (N = 296), with (n = 129) or without (n = 167) criminal history while controlling for age, sex and impression management. Predictors of first-time offending were higher levels of Neuroticism, Openness, Dark Factor, Sadism, and Deceitfulness. Criminal recidivism was predicted by high Neuroticism and Deceitfulness. Finally, higher levels of Extraversion were negatively related to criminal behavior and history, highlighting a potential protective effect of displaying assertive and sociable tendencies. The findings highlight the relevance of considering the dark personality core complementary to the typical personality dimensions in the risk assessment, prediction, and reduction of criminal behavior.

Educação em Presídios Brasileiros: Garantia de Direitos e Transformação de Vidas

Education within the Brazilian prison system is a measure of respect for human rights and a strategy to promote social reintegration and reduce criminal recidivism. Despite legislative advancements and promising initiatives such as the National Program for Education in Prisons (PNEP), there are still challenges to be overcome to ensure effective access and quality education for inmates. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of educational policies implemented in Brazilian prisons, focusing on identifying the main obstacles faced and best practices that have the potential to transform the lives of individuals deprived of liberty. The research utilizes a qualitative approach, including literature review, document analysis, and study of educational initiatives in prisons from different regions of the country.

Судебная схема-терапия: теоретические основания подхода

&lt;p style="text-align: justify;"&gt;The article discusses the theoretical model of schema therapy and provides an overview of research on its adaptation for individuals with convictions and those who have committed criminal acts under the influence of a mental illness. The main focus of this article is on research into the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of approaches. Based on the findings of foreign studies, forensic schema therapy has been shown to be effective. Current research directions are proposed, and the possibilities and limitations of the approach are discussed when applied to a sample of Russian-speaking convicts and psychiatric patients. The analysis suggests that forensic schema therapy may be a promising adaptation of the classic theoretical model of schema therapy for individuals who have committed criminal acts under the influence of a mental illness and have been involuntarily hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital. Based on a meta-analysis of the available data, forensic schema therapy has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of criminal recidivism in these populations. The presented review of research in the field of forensic schema therapy in Russian is published for the first time.&lt;/p&gt;

Safety First! Residential Group Climate and Antisocial Behavior: A Multilevel Meta-analysis

A systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis was performed (28 studies and 313 effect sizes) on the relation between residential group climate (i.e., safety, atmosphere, repression, support, growth, structure) and antisocial behavior, including aggression and criminal recidivism. A systematic search was conducted in PsychINFO, ERIC, and OVID Medline up to February 2023. Results showed a small but significant association ( r = .20) between residential group climate and antisocial behavior, equivalent to a 23% reduction of antisocial behavior in all clients receiving care in a residential facility with a therapeutic group climate. Moderator analyses showed that experienced safety was more strongly related to antisocial behavior ( r = .30) than the other dimensions of group climate (.17 &lt; r &lt; .20), while the effect size was somewhat larger for adults ( r = .24) than for youth ( r = .15). We conclude that residential facilities should consider safety as a priority and should involve clients in a positive process of change through the development of a therapeutic environment and delivery of evidence-based treatment, addressing their needs from the perspective of rehabilitation.

Assertive community treatment as an alternative to incarceration for American pretrial detainees

In the United States and elsewhere around the world, people with serious mental illness (SMI) are overrepresented in the criminal justice system. Clinical interventions to divert such individuals out of correctional settings, including Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), have been shown to reduce rates of criminal justice recidivism when modified to allow for the use of court sanctions to encourage treatment adherence. However, these interventions are noted to be underutilized as alternative to incarceration (ATI) programs.This paper summarizes the results of a retrospective cohort study conducted in a New York State forensic psychiatric hospital of 87 pretrial detainees admitted after being found incompetent to stand trial between January 2019 and January 2022. Of these, 49 patients were referred to an ACT team that served as an ATI program. The study outcomes noted that patients referred to this ACT team were 20% less likely to remain in pretrial detention than those that were not. Moreover, patients referred to the ACT program were also 34% more likely to be granted an ATI plea bargain in the community that did not involve serving a prison term. These results suggest that pretrial detainees with SMI are more likely to be granted an ATI program that offers more intensive treatment services such as ACT, due to the capability of such programs to also provide more intensive outreach and community supervision than traditional outpatient mental health service providers.

Examining Trajectories of Change on the Dynamic Risk Assessment for Offender Re-Entry (DRAOR).

Dynamic risk scales have largely been evaluated using singular assessment scores, including those obtained at the start of supervision. While this approach includes assessment of dynamic factors, it ignores changes with reassessment, failing to examine whether an instrument is truly dynamic in nature. This is problematic, as proximal risk assessments have consistently outperformed baseline assessments in the prediction of recidivism. In the current study, we examined the dynamic properties of the Dynamic Risk Assessment for Offender Reentry (DRAOR) in 4,736 adults on community supervision in Iowa, United States (N = 33,965 assessments). As expected, while clients demonstrated statistically significant changes on the DRAOR domains over time, changes were small in magnitude. We also examined the predictive validity of baseline and proximal DRAOR total and domain scores on criminal recidivism and revocation in a larger sample of 11,421 adults in the same jurisdiction. While DRAOR baseline scores did predict both outcomes, prediction did not improve with proximal scores. This conflicted with expected findings from previous research on the DRAOR in New Zealand. The results of both of these research questions indicate there was an overall lack of change reflected in this sample. Potential issues regarding implementation fidelity are discussed. Additional research is needed to examine the dynamic properties of the DRAOR in Iowa given the importance of reassessment data in community corrections.

Mediation for Misdemeanor Assault

ABSTRACT Crime reduction strategies over the past 30 years have greatly expanded the criminalization of a wide variety of minor offenses, especially in communities of color, even as violence continues to damage individuals, families, and communities. Solutions that reduce both violence and over-criminalization are urgently needed. Community-based mediation for diversion of misdemeanor assault cases has been practiced since the 1970s, but little is known about its ability to prevent further violence between participants or reduce assault recidivism. From a state judiciary’s quasi-experimental longitudinal comparison group study of criminal court mediation recidivism, assault cases (n = 162) were isolated and analyzed using bivariate tests and logistic regression with inverse proportion of treatment weighting. Misdemeanor assault cases handled with community-based mediation had a small and statistically non-significant association with return to court at 6 months versus cases handled with usual court processes. Had assaults between couples been excluded, recidivism for mediation cases would have been one-third the rate of those treated as usual. Mediation centers and local prosecutors’ offices could improve screening for intimate partner violence and divert more cases earlier via police and court commissioners. Research with a dependent variable of self-reported violence would be best suited to understanding the ability of community mediation to meet its founding mission of community-created peace.

“Context Is to Data What Water Is to a Dolphin”*: Social-Historical Conditions, Criminal Histories, and Recidivism Across Five Prisoner Cohorts

Understanding offending patterns over the life-course has been a key feature of criminological thought and scholarship since the discipline’s inception. Recent research has brought forth new thinking into how social-historical conditions may influence correlates of crime as well as offending patterns across different eras. Missing from this line of research has been the extent to which rates of recidivism are also affected by social-historical conditions. This paper examines the characteristics and recidivism patterns of five national-level prisoner release cohorts between 1983 and 2012. Results show that criminal histories and recidivism prevalence is very similar across these cohorts spanning over a quarter of a century.

Prison education and its intersections with the reintegration process and regional development in the state of Goiás

This article aims to investigate and comprehend the extent and effectiveness of the prison education program in the state of Goiás, analyzing how this program influences the rehabilitation process of inmates, with a focus on reducing criminal recidivism and improving integration for regional development. It involves a qualitative bibliographical and documentary research that seeks to answer the following question: How does the prison education program in the state of Goiás contribute to the rehabilitation of incarcerated individuals and what are the reflections on regional development? Challenges such as the scarcity of resources, qualified personnel, adequate infrastructure, and insufficient capacity are identified as barriers to the effectiveness of the Goianian penitentiary education program. The study concludes that, despite the challenges, prison education in Goiás plays a crucial role in rehabilitation, reducing recidivism, and contributing to regional development. However, there are still substantial challenges that need to be overcome to maximize the potential of these initiatives for the development of a more just and equal society.

The Effectiveness of Prison Education in Reducing Criminal Recidivism: A Systematic Review

Criminology defines recidivism as the relapse into criminal behavior of individuals with a criminal record. Prisoners are a vulnerable sector of the population which makes reintegration programs vital to facilitate their reinsertion into society after liberation. This study conducts a systematic review of the literature on prison education and recidivism in the last 5 years. PICO eligibility criteria were applied, various sources were used, and 10 studies were selected for the review. The studies address recidivism through qualitative, quantitative, and mixed approaches, revealing the complexity of the issue and the need for comprehensive and tailored approaches. Concerns arise about the ineffectiveness of criminal policies and the need for reforms in prison conditions and education. Studies suggest a weak relationship between participation in educational programs and recidivism prevention, emphasizing the importance of a humanistic and more holistic approach to rehabilitation. Factors such as low enrollment in the programs, overcrowding in prisons, lack of access to post-secondary education influence program effectiveness. The importance of preventive policies, removal of obstacles to reentry, social integration programs, and adapting interventions to specific population needs is emphasized. Findings highlight the urgency of addressing structural issues and the importance of a holistic approach to prison system reform. Lack of resources and adequate support often hinders rehabilitation efforts. Implementing comprehensive preventive and corrective measures is essential to improve outcomes and reduce recidivism.

Supplemental Material for For Whom Are Treatments for Criminal Recidivism Effective? Moderator Effects From a Randomized Controlled Trial of Justice-Involved Veterans

Supplemental Material for For Whom Are Treatments for Criminal Recidivism Effective? Moderator Effects From a Randomized Controlled Trial of Justice-Involved Veterans

The effects of electronic monitoring on offenders and their families

Electronic monitoring (EM) has emerged as a popular tool for curbing the growth of large prison populations. Evidence on the causal effects of EM on criminal recidivism is, however, limited and it is unclear how this alternative to incarceration affects the labor supply of offenders and the outcomes of their family members. We study the countrywide expansion of EM in Sweden in 1997 wherein offenders sentenced to up to three months in prison were granted the option to substitute incarceration with EM. Our difference-in-differences estimates, which compare the change in the prison inflow rate of treated offenders to that of non-treated offenders with slightly longer sentences, show that the reform significantly decreased the number of incarcerations. Our main finding is that EM not only lowers criminal recidivism but also increases labor supply. Additionally, EM improves the educational attainment and early-life earnings of the children whose parents were exposed to the reform. The primary mechanisms through which EM operates appear to involve the preservation of offenders’ ties to the labor market, by reducing the barriers to both finding a job and changing employers. Our calculations suggest that the social benefits stemming from EM are about seven times larger than the fiscal savings associated with reduced prison expenditures, implying that the welfare gains from EM could be much greater than previously acknowledged.

Do the Redundant and Locally Dependent Items of the LS/CMI Contribute in Any Meaningful Way to Its Reliability and Its Potential to Predict Criminal Recidivism?

This article studies the effects of local dependence within the items of the first section of the LS/CMI on its reliability. Analysis were done to identify the dependent items namely through their correlations before and after Rasch modeling. Seven items were thus discarded, deemed dependent and redundant, and Cronbach's alpha was calculated with all 43 items and then with the 36 items deemed independent. Test information and predictive validity were also compared. Removing the seven redundant items did not seem to have major effects on the reliability of the LS/CMI or the psychometric information it provided, and no tangible effects were observed on its predictive validity. The reliability of an instrument should be assessed with items that contribute each in its own way. However, it is hazardous to report the reliability of an instrument known to be multidimensional with means meant to be used with unidimensional instruments.