Honors Thesis Archive
| Author | Joshua Tarrance |
|---|---|
| Title | The United States and Recidivism |
| Department | Sociology |
| Advisor | Nona Moskowitz |
| Year | 2023 |
| Honors | University Honors |
| Full Text | View Thesis (367 KB) |
| Abstract | Recidivism, or the tendency of individuals to re-offend after release from incarceration, is a complex and multifaceted issue that has significant implications for the criminal justice system, the communities affected by crime, and the individuals who are justice-impacted. Each day, a substantial number of individuals in the United States are released from correctional facilities. Despite efforts to prevent their return to incarceration, more than half of paroled individuals end up going back to prison or jail, perpetuating a vicious cycle of criminality that poses a threat to their communities. The issue of recidivism is a pressing concern that demands effective solutions to prevent further harm to society and promote the successful reintegration of those impacted by the criminal justice system. The United States has created various systems to combat recidivism including two different forms of community supervision, known as probation and parole. For this study, I interviewed parole officers in order to learn their perspectives. This study is designed to investigate the impact of various factors, specifically attitudes toward reintegration into society, on positive recidivism outcomes. The interviews revealed that factors such as correctional programs, substance abuse, mental health, social support, and even newer factors such as aging out all affect recidivism outcomes. While those factors are important, this research also shows a singular factor that seems to have one of if not the biggest effect on recidivism outcomes. The parole officer's belief in the returning citizen attitude is underappreciated in past literature and, when focused, can be huge in increasing positive recidivism outcomes. From a parole officer’s point of view, a returning citizen’s attitude can affect how seriously they take the educational programs and if they even care to better themselves. This belief can change how a parole officer views the returning citizen in a more negative or positive light based on what they believe their attitude is. |
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