Prison Re-Entry Program Analysis

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In contrast, utilizing a re-entry program within a just deserts approach will have the offender do their punishment, but it will also help reintegrate them back into the community. Releasing offenders back into the community after they have been in prison for a long period of time is not effective in helping them overcome the issue that got them in trouble in the first place. The social strains that took place before prison will still be there and will most likely become greater. When an offender is released from prison they will be labeled by society into a deviant characterization. This causes them to lose job and housing opportunities, putting strain back onto the offenders to take care of themselves. Webster and Doob (2015) found that “crime was repeatedly seen as largely socially determined whereby offenders were perceived as socially disadvantaged and in need of assistance” (p.303). When offenders do not receive the proper assistance it pushes them into committing crimes to survive. However, when reintegration programs are implemented properly, the strains that develop are dealt with through specific programs that deal with the offender's needs. Furthermore, in order for a re-entry program to be successful, personal change must be at the center of the plan. Gill and Wilson …show more content…
Although the COSA program is specifically designed to help sex offenders, the results show that by basing a program on the offender’s individual needs, positive results can follow. By dealing with the offender’s present and past issues, re-entry programs seek to take the pressures off of the offender when they are released back into the community. Social strains are all around the offender, however, if there are programs that can help the offenders deal with the strains of re-entry, recidivism rates will