Prisons do separate people from society. But, at least as they exist today, prisons do not reform people.
In 1999, researchers at the University of New Brunswick examined 50 studies on recidivism that covered more than 300,000 offenders.
Considering other factors—such as an inmate's criminal background and age—they found that the longer someone spent in jail, the more likely they were to commit another crime when they got out.
The researchers found the impact was most significant for low-risk offenders—suggesting prison may indeed be a "school of crime" that makes people worse, not better.
James Morton
1100-5255 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario
M2N 6P4
416 225 2777
6 comments:
Society must reform before people can...
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society."
I am pretty sure the conservatives have access to the same information. They just don't care.
Safety takes a back seat to politics.
Hold on there, haven't the Liberals been touting stats that recidivism rates are way down? How can you guys argue both sides? Either Liberal policies in place from 1970 to today worked, or they didn't. If they worked then recidivism should be down. If they didn't then the policies of rehabilitation begun by Trudeau don't work. You have to at least try to be consistent, don't you?
The Rat,
The statistical findings you allude to would not contradict the findings of this study. Mr. Morton's post makes no mention of increased recidivism; it suggests a relationship between time served and the likelihood of recidivism. Perhaps you should READ Morton's post before patronizing those who have.
"...they found that the longer someone spent in jail, the more likely they were to commit another crime when they got out."
I would expect that to be true in any case.
The stats on "low risk" offenders are more interesting.
The bigger more obvious problem is drug abuse. We do not need a study to tell us that as long as inmates have access to drugs then reform is virtually impossible.
You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that poverty breeds crime, so therefore, reduce poverty and it stands to reason you reduce crime.
Put money and programs into communities rather than into 'super prisons', and you not only fix the problem, but save a bundle too.
Anything else I can help anyone with today?... :-)
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