Search Results (33)

Rehabilitation programs by the Prisoner Rehabilitation Authority and the Israeli Prison Service are key in helping offenders transition from prison to society, aiming to reduce recidivism. Fraud offenders, however, face distinct challenges due to their personal and socio-economic backgrounds, including sophisticated and manipulative strategies, mechanisms of concealment and denial, as well as coping with a unique social stigma associated with belonging to higher socioeconomic strata. This study examined whether rehabilitation participation affects self-efficacy, sense of community, and belief in successful reintegration. Eighty-six released Israeli fraud offenders (42 program participants, 44 non-participants) completed self-report questionnaires on their sense of community, self-efficacy, and community integration. Group comparisons, correlations, hierarchical regressions, and mediation analysis were conducted. Analyses showed that released offenders who participated in a rehabilitation program reported higher community connectedness, greater self-efficacy, and stronger belief in reintegration capabilities than those who did not. Furthermore, the relationships between these factors were notably stronger in the rehabilitation program participant group. Mediation analysis demonstrated that self-efficacy fully mediated the link between sense of community and belief in successful reintegration. The findings emphasize the importance of combining institutional and community support for released offenders, with efforts to enhance their self-efficacy, thereby improving rehabilitation effectiveness and reducing recidivism risk. The results support the development of targeted rehabilitation policies for fraud offenders that enhance connections between formal programs and community support systems. Full article

Although trauma exposure (TE) has been shown to be a robust predictor of youth involvement in the juvenile justice system, evidence regarding the role of TE amongst youth who recidivate has been more mixed. Recidivist youth are a population of particular concern, given evidence of declining mental health and diminished likelihood of returning to an adaptive developmental course. One way in which TE may contribute to these negative outcomes over time is through potentiating or “driving” mental health problems, which are especially prevalent among trauma-exposed youth in the justice system. To examine this hypothesis, longitudinal data were obtained over a 10-year period from a sample of 5615 juvenile justice-involved youth (1499 girls and 4116 boys) who completed a mental health screening at each admission to detention. Results of analyses assessing the associations among trauma exposure, linear and quadratic time, and mental health problems were consistent with the hypothesis that increases in TE were associated with increasing anger/irritability, depression/anxiety, somatic complaints, and suicidal ideation across repeat admissions. With the exception of alcohol/drug use, all mental health outcomes followed a quadratic trajectory over the course of multiple admissions. Rates of mental health problems were consistently highest for girls and White youth across all waves. These results add to our understanding of the role of trauma in mental health problems among persistent offenders and may help to inform interventions designed to reduce youth contact with the potentially iatrogenic effects of justice system involvement. Full article

Gender-based violence (GBV) and traffic offenses pose significant public health challenges and contribute to widespread social issues globally. This study examines the sociodemographic and psychological profiles of individuals who commit traffic offenses and GBV, focusing on three alternative penal programs: TASEVAL (for traffic offenses), PRIA-MA, and reGENER@r (both for GBV). The study involved 54 participants distributed across these programs, using various psychometric tests to assess their profiles. Participants across the three programs (TASEVAL, PRIA-MA, and reGENER@R) were comparable in age (mean range 39.13–40.69 years) and nationality, with roughly half having prior contact with the justice system. Educational levels varied, with TASEVAL participants mainly completing secondary education (43.8%), PRIA-MA participants primary education (43.8%), and reGENER@R participants post-secondary education (59.1%). Employment status differed slightly, with TASEVAL and reGENER@R participants mainly employed (62.5% and 63.6%, respectively), while most PRIA-MA participants were unemployed (56.3%). Family characteristics varied across groups. In TASEVAL, having a partner and no children predominated (62.5% and 31.3%); in PRIA-MA, not having a partner and having two children predominated (62.5% and 37.5%); and, in reGENER@R, not having a partner and having one child predominated (59.1% and 31.8%). No significant differences were observed in sociodemographic variables. Regarding psychological characteristics, results across all groups indicate a marked presence of psychopathological symptoms and difficulties in emotional intelligence domains, with a significant correlation between psychological traits and coping strategies. These findings highlight the importance of tailoring alternative penal measures to the specific characteristics of each group to enhance effectiveness and reduce recidivism. Full article

The issue of effective treatments for individuals with a history of sexual offending has legal, social, economic, political, and clinical impacts. Studies conducted on the topic of evaluating treatment outcomes for sex offenders have examined both biological and psychological interventions. The etiology of the phenomenon appears to be multifactorial, as the sexual harasser learns from the social and family context the norms that will constitute our framework of rules, in addition to the characteristics of temperament, character, and personality. Therefore, there is a need for a definite social–health policy at the government level to be able to address the legal-judicial, socio-political, and health problem of Italian sex offenders to reeducate and reintegrate them into society by drastically reducing or nullifying the risk of recidivism. This study proposes the “Trident State Program” (TSP), which could reduce or solve the problem of recidivism of Italian sexual offenders and promote a better process of re-education and reintegration of these individuals. The operational protocol of the program is being drafted. Full article

This study examines the exercise of religious freedom within the Polish penitentiary system, focusing on the intersection of legal frameworks, religious pluralism, and secularization. While Poland’s Constitution and penal legislation guarantee inmates the right to practice their faith, the practical implementation of this right faces systemic challenges. This research draws on legal analysis, demographic data, and existing empirical studies to assess how pastoral care operates in prisons. The findings reveal that although the prison system is formally open to various denominations, access to non-Catholic chaplaincy is often limited and misaligned with the evolving religious composition of the inmate population, especially following increased immigration. The number of chaplains and volunteers remains low relative to the needs of inmates, and pastoral services vary widely across regions. Despite these issues, religious involvement is shown to support rehabilitation by fostering moral development and reducing recidivism. This study concludes that a more inclusive, pluralistic, and flexible approach to prison ministry—one that accounts for both declining religiosity and growing diversity—is essential. Chaplaincy must adapt not only as a provider of religious rites but also as a facilitator of ethical reflection, emotional support, and reintegration into a secular and pluralistic society. Full article

Many countries use the deprivation of liberty as a punitive strategy to ensure citizen security. Nowadays, a rehabilitative perspective has also been included to promote social inclusion. University education is a potential tool for achieving this goal. The aim of this article is to gather the opinions of twenty students and ten professors concerning the realities of university education in an Ecuadorian prison. This study uses an onto-epistemological approach and concentrates on the perception of individuals, employing a qualitative methodology. The results show that these educational programs have positive effects on the students, improving their life projects, their behavior inside and outside jail, and their digital knowledge and ICT skills, reducing recidivism and promoting labor market reintegration. The conclusions suggest that university distance education is a tool for rehabilitation and social inclusion and that greater involvement is required on the part of the State, companies, and the community in general to facilitate the graduates’ labor reintegration, as well as follow-up and social support services for ex-offenders and their families. Full article

Despite the importance of criminogenic thinking in addressing criminal behavior, validated instruments to measure these cognitions in Portuguese forensic settings are scarce. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to explore the psychometric properties of the Criminogenic Cognitions Scale (CCS) in a sample of 364 Portuguese incarcerated males (M_age = 37.88, SD = 10.88). An exploratory factor analysis was conducted, indicating a 15-item, two-factor structure (KMO = 0.82; Bartlett’s test, χ² = 1841.2, df = 105, p < 0.001). The CCS dimensions, comprising Short-Term Orientation and Responsibility Evasion and Authority Resistance, demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties, including convergent validity with antisocial traits, moral disengagement, and self-control dimensions, as well as internal consistency (omega coefficient = 0.60–0.77; composite reliability = 74–91; coefficient H = 89–95), and sensitivity of items. The CCS is a valuable tool within prison settings for assessing criminogenic thinking patterns, supporting risk assessment, the development of targeted rehabilitation programs, and monitoring cognitive changes over time to reduce recidivism, thereby promoting inmates’ safer reintegration into society. Overall, our findings suggest the CCS is a promising tool for assessing criminogenic cognitions in the forensic Portuguese population. Full article

(1) Background: Alcohol and/or other drug use problems (ADUPs) and trauma are key risk factors for intimate partner violence (IPV) that should be addressed in perpetrator programs. Participants with ADUPs and trauma histories may display greater difficulties in emotion regulation, which may increase the likelihood of IPV recidivism. The study aimed to examine differences among participants with trauma, ADUPs, ADUPs and trauma, and without such factors in dropout, IPV, and variables related to emotion regulation at pre- and post-intervention; (2) Methods: A sample of 312 men court-mandated to attend a perpetrator program (Contexto Program) was used. Variables related to emotion regulation difficulties included alexithymia, depressive symptomatology, and clinical syndromes. IPV variables included self-reported physical and psychological IPV and IPV recidivism risk assessed by facilitators. Comparisons between groups were made using one-way ANOVA, chi-square tests, and two-way repeated measures ANOVAs; (3) Results: Participants with ADUPs and trauma presented greater difficulties on variables related to emotion regulation, higher risk of IPV at pre-intervention, and higher dropout rates. At post-intervention, all participants improved their emotion regulation skills and reduced IPV recidivism risk, with participants with ADUPs and trauma maintaining a higher risk of IPV; (4) Conclusions: IPV perpetrators with ADUPs and trauma are high-risk participants. Interventions should target trauma and ADUPs to improve their effectiveness. Full article

The paper applies the prototype willingness model (PWM) and incorporates components of the theory of planned behavior (TPB), along with deterrence factors, to understand the behavioral intentions, willingness, and recidivism behaviors of individuals penalized for drunk driving. It explores psychological and social factors influencing repeat offenses, focusing on attitudes, subjective norms, prototypes, and deterrence. The PWM outlines two pathways—reasoned (based on intentions) and social reactive (based on willingness). The model helps predict risky behaviors like drunk driving. Thirteen hypotheses are proposed in this study to examine how various factors, such as attitudes, subjective norms, and deterrence, influence willingness, intentions, and behavior. Surveys were conducted among individuals attending road safety classes after being penalized for drunk driving. A total of 1156 individuals participated in the survey, with 855 valid responses collected. The results indicate that behavioral willingness had a stronger impact on recidivism than intention. On the other hand, subjective norms did not significantly affect the intent to reoffend, but attitudes, deterrence, and PBC did. The findings suggest that focusing on behavioral willingness, deterrence, and educational interventions could help reduce repeat drunk driving offenses. The paper offers insights for policymakers to improve prevention strategies, by focusing on the psychological motivators of repeat offenders. Full article

This study looks at post-detention migration and focuses on the reasons, challenges and solutions for preventing recidivism and ensuring reintegration into society. This research involves an analysis of the factors influencing the intention to emigrate of criminally sanctioned persons in Romania, the differences between the types of crimes and their impact on the desire to leave the country, as well as the causes of external migration, such as unattractive jobs and inadequate income at the level of the family of origin. The results show that people who have committed crimes against a person are more inclined to emigrate compared to those who have committed crimes against property. Unattractive jobs and insufficient income are also significant factors contributing to the decision to emigrate. This study proposes solutions to facilitate the reintegration of these people into Romanian society and reduce recidivism rates. Full article

This study investigates the protective role of emotional relationships and rehabilitative actions in reducing recidivism within the prison context. Data were collected from three Italian prisons as part of the European project “Calypsos”. This study examines the role of love across its various expressions and components in the social reintegration of inmates, exploring how family ties, educational programs, and employment opportunities contribute to their well-being and socio-affective regeneration. Descriptive analyses and multiple linear regression were used to assess the impact of these factors on recidivism. The results indicate that stable family relationships, positive interactions with teachers, and meaningful work experiences significantly reduce the likelihood of reoffending. The findings highlight the necessity of policies supporting the maintenance of emotional bonds and the provision of educational and vocational training within prisons. This study concludes that integrating these elements into rehabilitation strategies can improve inmate outcomes, reduce recidivism, and enhance social cohesion. Finally, the article identifies love as a performative right as a future research direction. Full article

Background: Cholesteatoma is a lesion capable of destroying surrounding tissues, which may result in significant complications. Surgical resection is the only effective treatment; however, the presence of cholesteatoma recidivism is common. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the Attic Exposure-Antrum Exclusion (AE-AE) surgical technique in treating cholesteatomas and identifying factors associated with recidivism. Additionally, the study aimed to assess the utility of non-echo-planar diffusion MRI (non-EPI-DWI MRI) in detecting cholesteatoma recidivism in patients undergoing AE-AE surgery. Methods: The study involved 63 patients who underwent AE-AE surgery for primary acquired cholesteatoma and were followed up clinically and radiologically for at least five years. The radiological follow-up included a non-EPI-DWI MRI. Results: Results showed that the AE-AE technique successfully treated cholesteatomas, with a recidivism rate of 5.2%. The study also found that non-EPI-DWI MRI was a useful diagnostic tool for detecting cholesteatoma recidivism, although false positives could occur due to the technique’s high sensitivity. As Preoperative Pure-tone average (PTA) increases, there is a higher probability of cholesteatoma recidivism in imaging tests (p = 0.003). Conclusions: Overall, the study highlights the importance of the AE-AE surgical technique and non-EPI-DWI MRI in managing cholesteatoma recidivism in patients, providing valuable insights into associated risk factors and how to manage recidivism. Non-EPI-DWI MRI can assist in patient selection for revision surgery, reducing unnecessary interventions and associated risks while improving treatment outcomes and patient care. Full article

Following the peace accord on 26 September 2016 between the Colombian government and the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC), significant structural issues persisted in Colombia, such as state fragility, land distribution challenges, and rural impoverishment, all of which jeopardized sustainable peace. Previous disarmament events indicated potential shifts in violence and recidivism rates among ex-combatants. This paper aims to determine the likelihood that, in the post-conflict era with FARC, these ex-combatants would rearm themselves into new criminal factions. Employing a methodology by Paul Collier, the study utilized logit, probit, and panel data models with both fixed and random effects to evaluate the recidivism risk at the municipal level. A 1% increase in per capita municipal income decreased conflict probability due to the increased opportunity cost of disrupting economic endeavors. Conversely, 1% increases in potential conflict benefits from tax revenue and natural resource proceeds raised the probability of conflict by 40% and 17%, respectively. Key results indicate that economic advancement, as measured by per capita income, reduced the duration of paramilitary presence, whereas revenue from taxes and natural resources extended it at the municipal level in Colombia. Full article

Juvenile delinquency is a pressing problem in the United States; the literature emphasizes the importance of early interventions and the role of the family in preventing juvenile delinquency. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework, PudMed, and Scopus, we included 28 peer-reviewed articles in English between January 2012 and October 2022. We evaluated the existing literature regarding the risk factors, protective factors, and interventions related to juvenile delinquency. We searched articles that discussed reducing juvenile delinquency and recidivism in the U.S. and coded them into four overarching themes: ‘family conflict and dysfunction’, ‘neglect and maltreatment’, ‘individual and family mitigating factors’, and ‘family- and community-based interventions. We found that family conflict and dysfunction and neglect and maltreatment were two primary predictors of juvenile delinquency. Notably, higher academic achievement and strong and positive parental relationships were factors that protected against delinquency amongst at-risk youth. Interventions that yielded optimal efficacy in curbing recidivism included family-based interventions, specifically family therapy, and community-based interventions. Considering multi-dimensional factors that affect delinquent behaviors, interventions should consider the influence of family, peers, neighborhood, schools, and the larger community. Full article

Criminological research on religiosity among prisoners has focused on the effects of or outcomes associated with religiosity. Studies have discovered that faith-based programs can reduce recidivism and that religiosity facilitates adaptation to imprisonment and is associated with reductions in serious misconducts. Criminologists have yet to examine the predictors of religiosity among prisoners. In this study, I examine individual- and facility-level predictors of inmate religiosity to uncover the relationship between individual demographic and criminal justice characteristics and religiosity among prisoners. I use national data sets, the Survey of Inmates in State Correctional Facilities and the Census of State Correctional Facilities, and multilevel modeling techniques to examine these relationships. Findings at the individual level indicate that the same factors that are important influences on religiosity in the general population are also significant predictor of religiosity among prisoners, and that the criminal justice/criminal history characteristics of prisoners are also important influences on religiosity. At the facility level, prisons in the Southern region of the US had the highest rates of religiosity among prisoners. Full article