dealing with offending behaviour

aims of custodial sentencing

protecting public- incapacitation- necessary for violent offenders who cannot control their own behaviour

prevent recidivism- behaviourist approach- decreases the likelihood of a repeated behaviour

deterring others- discouraging the general population from committing crimes

retribution- friends and family seek to feel a sense of justice

rehabilitation- may be opportunity for therapy as they have fewer distractions

+ve psychological effects of recidivism

de-individuation- shown by Stanford prison experiment- loss of identity, increased aggression and treating people in inhumane ways

depression/self harm/suicide - induced hopelessness, about future etc. causes depression- self harm can result from this, or even suicide

overcrowding/lack of privacy- 25% of prisoners are overcrowded, can lead to increased aggression, hypersexuality and illness as shown by a study including rats

effects on the family- children with mother/father affected financially and psychologically, parents in prison may feel guilt and separation anxiety

custodial ao3

❌not effective- for 50% of the prison population, punishment doesn't work. Punishment most effective when it occurs immediately, doesn't happen in the case of custodial sentencing

❌individual differences in recidivism- Walker et al found longer sentences made little differences in habitual offenders who were likely to re-offend no matter the sentence

❌prisons may increase the likelihood of recidivism- DAT- offending behaviour is a result of association with people who have criminal attitudes.

❌benefits of non custodial sentencing- restorative justice is when offenders make amends to victims- facing their conscience, can lead to changed attitudes

behaviour modification

uses operant conditioning to increase or decrease behaviours

reinforcement

token economy

desirable behaviours encouraged through selective reinforcement

tokens - secondary reinforcers can be exchanged for primary (food/privilages)

strategies in token economy

punishment - removing token due to undesirable behaviour

shaping - tokens given for behaviours that progressively become more complex

hobbs and holt

state training school for adolescent boys. used token economy across three cottages (living units) where boys earned tokens for target behaviours like following rules, completing tasks, and good social behaviour.

fourth cottage → control group (no token system).

tokens → exchanged for rewards like sweets, cigarettes, or privileges.

token economy group → significant increase in positive behaviours compared to the control group. (social interaction and rule-following)

behaviour mod ao3

❌ may be seen as manipulative or unethical → critics argue it takes away free will by controlling behaviour through rewards. offenders may be punished for not understanding rules due to learning difficulties or mental health issues.

❌only changes external behaviour, not internal attitudes → offenders may behave well in prison to earn rewards, but reoffend after release. doesn’t address root causes like poor upbringing or mental health, limiting long-term effectiveness.

anger management

form of cbt aimed at helping offenders recognise and control their anger.

based idea that anger contributes to violent crimes and that teaching offenders to manage it can reduce reoffending.

novaco stress inoculation mod CSA

1. cognitive preparation → offenders reflect on past experiences and recognise what triggers their anger.

2. skills acquisition → learn new ways of dealing with anger, such as relaxation techniques or positive self-talk

3. application training → offenders role-play anger-inducing situations in a safe setting to practice their new skills.

anger management ao3

✅ Ireland → 50 young male offenders who completed an anger management programme. 92% showed improvements in anger levels and behaviour (based on self-report and prison officers’ observations)

❌ limited long term effectiveness, assumes anger causes crime. role play not realistic, skills don’t transfer to high stress situation. crimes may be due to financial gain

✅ unlike punishment → focuses on treating the root cause and promoting long-term behaviour change.

restorative justice

method of reducing and atoning for offending behaviour through reconciliation

offender, victim and wider community

restorative justice ao3

✅ effective at reducing reoffending → sherman and strang found RJ led to lower reoffending rates than traditional punishments in many cases, especially for violent and property crimes. victims reported higher satisfaction compared to CJS

✅ benefits for victims → often feel empowered and heard. gain a voice in the process, helps with emotional recovery. makes RJ more victim-centred than traditional justice systems.

❌ not suitable for all offenders or crimes → requires the offender to accept guilt, which not all do. may not be appropriate for serious crimes (e.g. rape, murder) or where victims feel unsafe. also voluntary, so it’s not always available or effective in every case.

❌ psychological harm → may be traumatising for the victim, especially if the offender shows no remorse. if not properly handled, it can retraumatise the victim or make things worse.