Criminals and the recidvism rate

Getting tough on criminals with longer sentences does not seem to be working. The resultant overcrowding means more money is needed to house inmates, so less is spent on rehabilitating them. Though many prisoners get work in prison, it is often in jobs which they will not be able to pursue once they are released, such as cleaning highways in the California system (Ruether, 1997).

For juvenile offenders, nine states have systems which impose a military style of discipline known as "shock incarceration," intended to shock the kids into going straight (Kane, 1989). Thirty other states considered employing the same type of system. The results have not been impressive: just as many graduates of such programs end up back in prison within three years as do those paroled from a g

. . .
92). A program known as Equip -- Equipping Youth to Help One Another -- is a program using multiple approaches to train juvenile inmates to help themselves and others deal with their problems, and has significantly reduced the recidivism rate (Reducing number, 1994). It includes social skills training, anger management, oral education, and guided group interaction in which participants discuss their problems in a group setting and help each other resolve them. Though there has never been a scientific study linking drugs and crime, law enforcement has never doubted the relationship. As far back as 1989, a drug crisis spawned a wave of crime that flooded the prison system, making it hard enough to house all the extra inmates, let alone rehabilitate them (Sudo, 1989). A study by the National Institute of Justice found the link between drugs and crime was the strongest amongst addicts using heavy drugs such as cocaine and heroin. Many addicts are unemployed and the only way they can afford drugs is by stealing. Users must form an association with a drug pusher, who is often involved in other crimes, and the user often becomes involved in these activities. When on drugs, the user often exhibits erratic and violent behavior,
. . .

Some common words found in the essay are:
Johnson Larson, , Institute Justice, Youth Help, Re-Integration Offenders, County Massachusetts, County Jail, Newt Gingrich, St Lois, Bailey Hutchison, recidivism rate, rehabilitation programs, reduce recidivism, job training, pierce 2000, drug alcohol, johnson larson 1998, sudo 1989, drugs crime, released prison, help inmates, significantly reduced recidivism, rehabilitation programs prisons, pell grants prisoners, education job training,
Approximate Word count = 2253
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page)