Types of criminal rehabilitation programs

Tims, G. DeLeon, and N. Jainchill eds. Government Printing Office, pp. Sullivan, C. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse 33 6 , Short-term residential programs provide intensive but relatively brief treatment based on a modified step approach. These programs were originally designed to treat alcohol problems, but during the cocaine epidemic of the mids, many began to treat other types of substance use disorders. The original residential treatment model consisted of a 3- to 6-week hospital-based inpatient treatment phase followed by extended outpatient therapy and participation in a self-help group, such as AA.

These programs help to reduce the risk of relapse once a patient leaves the residential setting. Hubbard, R. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors 11 4 , Miller, M. Traditional approaches to the treatment of addiction. In: A. Graham and T. Schultz eds. Washington, D.

Outpatient treatment varies in the types and intensity of services offered. Such treatment costs less than residential or inpatient treatment and often is more suitable for people with jobs or extensive social supports. It should be noted, however, that low-intensity programs may offer little more than drug education. In many outpatient programs, group counseling can be a major component.

Some outpatient programs are also designed to treat patients with medical or other mental health problems in addition to their drug disorders. Institute of Medicine. Treating Drug Problems. McLellan, A. Educational counseling is designed to help inmates or recently released ex-offenders receive the basic education necessary to attain a job. The most basic educational rehabilitation programs focus on teaching elementary math and reading skills.

More advanced programs help prepare students for a G. Generally, success in finding a job will lower an ex-offender's chance of being incarcerated again. In life skills courses, students are taught how to perform basic tasks necessary to being a functioning member of society, such as making a budget, preparing a resume, and paying bills.

Often, many inmates are unequipped to accomplish these tasks, which may have helped influence their decision to commit crimes. This kind of rehabilitation is designed to help restore convicts to functioning members of society. Michael Wolfe has been writing and editing since , with a background including both business and creative writing.

A family-centered approach is emphasized on to ensure that the individual has a good natural support system. A successful prevention program adopted by the criminal justice system is day reporting. In this program, the offender is required to avail himself to an assigned facility every day or on some agreed on a regular basis.

The counselling services offered in this program help the offenders to deal with the psychological issues that might contribute to them re-offending. The work skills provided give the offenders the skills needed to obtain a job and therefore earn a living in a legitimate manner.

The criminal justice system also implements electronic monitoring programs to prevent crime. In this program, offenders are fitted with permanent ankle bracelets that have a radio-frequency transmitter.

The tracking is used to ensure that the offender attends all court-mandated sanctions such as mandatory counselling and community service. Rehabilitation is a significant goal of the criminal justice system since it is desirable that the offenders successfully reintegrate with the larger society after imprisonment.

Berenji notes that rehabilitation programs have become an important part of the criminal justice system due to the high recidivism rates. Rehabilitation aims at increasing self-restraint, providing work skills, and educational services to offenders.

This is done with the aim of decreasing the likelihood that they will re-offend once they are released from prison. Rehabilitation considers that it is hard for most inmates to abruptly shift from the strict schedule imposed in prison to the responsibility of making their own decisions once released.

Programs are therefore developed to make the transition from the life in prison to a free life less shocking for the inmate. Gabor reveals that the criminal justice system has endorsed a number of reintegration programs that aim to reorient inmates to normal society life.

Such programs involve having the offender engage in meaningful activity for up to 10 hours each day. Most of these activities include community service where the offender gets to interact with the rest of the society Gabor, The offenders are able to make some independent decisions while engaged in the activities and this prepares them for freedom. Such rehabilitation programs assist offenders in their transitioning back to the community. A rehabilitation service offered by prison facilities is hosting community resource fairs within the prison.

Mohr explains that this is done as part of the transitional release planning program. In the fairs, community agencies, potential employers and employment agencies are invited to the prison. Here they share material to aid offenders in their search for employment after they are released. The offenders are provided with information on the local community resources and they are even able to apply and obtain employment while still in prison.

Mohr observes that this rehabilitation effort aids in the re-entry of inmates by ensuring that they are able to easily find employment and therefore make a living when outside the prison.

Another rehabilitation program offered by the criminal justice system aims at assisting offenders who have drug problems. Drugs contribute to criminal offenses in a number of ways. To begin with, the consumption of illegal drugs is a punishable criminal offense. Most addicts are therefore likely to end up in correctional facilities due to their involvement with drugs.

Jones reveals that drug offenders make up a significant number of incarcerated offenders in US prisons.