4- Dealing with offending behaviour

What are the aims of custodial sentencing?

Retribution, deterrence, rehabilitation, and protection of the public

What is retribution in custodial sentencing?

Punishing the offender to reflect the seriousness of the crime

What is deterrence in custodial sentencing?

Discouraging the offender and others from committing crime through fear of punishment

What is rehabilitation in custodial sentencing?

Reforming offenders so they can re-enter society as law-abiding citizens

What is meant by recidivism?

The tendency for a convicted criminal to reoffend

Why is recidivism a problem for custodial sentencing?

High reoffending rates suggest prisons may not effectively rehabilitate offenders

What are psychological effects of custodial sentencing?

Institutionalisation, prisonisation, stress, depression, and increased criminal identity

What is behaviour modification in custody?

Using operant conditioning (token economy systems) to reinforce desirable behaviour in prison

How does a token economy work in prisons?

Inmates earn tokens (secondary reinforcers) for good behaviour which can be exchanged for privileges (primary reinforcers) e.g. phone calls or snacks

What is one strength of behaviour modification in custody?

It is based on learning theory and can effectively manage behaviour short-term

What is one limitation of behaviour modification in custody?

Behaviour may not generalise outside prison

What is anger management as a treatment for offending?

A cognitive-behavioural programme that teaches offenders to control anger and aggression

What are the three stages of anger management?

Cognitive preparation, skill acquisition, and application practice

Why is anger management considered effective?

It addresses cognitive and behavioural aspects and can reduce recidivism

What is restorative justice?

A programme bringing offenders and victims together to repair harm and encourage accountability

What is a key benefit of restorative justice programmes?

Reduced recidivism and increased victim satisfaction compared to custodial sentencing

What is a limitation of restorative justice?

It may not be suitable for all crimes or offenders