PENOLOGY - How far does the empirical evidence support the view that ‘nothing works’ in the punishment of the offenders?

Hausarbeit , 2008 , 8 Seiten , Note: 58 Punkte = 2,5

Jura - Strafrecht

In the 1970’s the ‘nothing works’ theory emerged by the works of a number of researchers doubting the effectiveness of probation and along with it rehabilitation as a means to reduce criminal offending, amongst others Robert Martinson (1974), who determined the idea of ‘nothing works’ in the first place. In 1974, Martinson stated that “…with few and isolated exceptions, the rehabilitative efforts, that have been reported so far have had no appreciable effect on recidivism.” (Sarre, 1999). This essay will try to trace out how far the empirical evidence in means of official statistics, studies and reports supports this theory.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• PENOLOGY
• How far does the empirical evidence support the view that 'nothing works' in the punishment of the offenders?
• Official Statistics and Empirical Evidence
• The 'Nothing Works' Theory and its Impact on Penal Policy
• Custody Rates and Crime Rates
• Reconviction Rates and the 'Nothing Works' Theory
• Youth Crime and Re-offending Rates
• The 'Nothing Works' Theory and the Empirical Evidence
• Conclusion
• Bibliography

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte

This essay aims to critically examine the 'nothing works' theory in penology, which posits that rehabilitative efforts have no significant impact on recidivism rates. It will explore the empirical evidence, including official statistics, studies, and reports, to assess the validity of this theory. The essay will analyze the effectiveness of both custodial and non-custodial punishments in reducing re-offending rates.

• The 'nothing works' theory and its historical context
• The impact of the 'nothing works' theory on penal policy
• The reliability and limitations of official statistics and empirical evidence
• The effectiveness of custodial and non-custodial punishments in reducing recidivism
• The role of social factors in re-offending rates

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel

The essay begins by introducing the 'nothing works' theory and its origins in the work of Robert Martinson. It then discusses the limitations of official statistics and empirical evidence, highlighting the potential for manipulation and misinterpretation. The essay explores the shift towards a more punitive penal policy in the 1980s and 1990s, driven by the 'nothing works' theory and the rise of the 'just deserts' ideology.

The essay then examines the relationship between custody rates and crime rates, arguing that higher custody rates do not necessarily correspond to higher crime rates. It also analyzes reconviction rates for both custodial and community penalties, finding that they are often similar, seemingly supporting the 'nothing works' theory. However, the essay also presents evidence suggesting that community services can have a positive impact on re-offending rates.

The essay concludes by discussing youth crime and the challenges of reducing re-offending rates among juvenile offenders. It highlights the importance of considering social factors that contribute to re-offending and the need for effective interventions to address these issues. The essay also acknowledges the limitations of empirical research and the potential for misinterpretation of data.

Schlüsselwörter

The key terms and focus themes of the text include penology, recidivism, rehabilitation, punishment, custodial sentences, community penalties, official statistics, empirical evidence, 'nothing works' theory, 'just deserts', youth crime, and social factors.

• Hochschule: University of Portsmouth (Institute of Criminal Justice)
• Note: 58 Punkte = 2,5
• Autor: Viola Abelius (Autor:in)
• Erscheinungsjahr: 2008
• Seiten: 8
• Katalognummer: V180886
• ISBN (eBook): 9783656055495
• ISBN (Buch): 9783656482949
• Sprache: Englisch
• Schlagworte: penology-