Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Investigate not Just the Crime, but the Criminal

  In addition to a sentence being given to every prisoner, a rehabilitation plan should be given. We should outline the steps and measures that will be taken to change and rehabilitate the prisoner.
  It is said, if you don't have a plan, you plan to fail. Having an outline of what will be done to effect change makes sense, if your goal truly is to rehabilitate.
  Now, if you are going to have a plan, it also makes sense to base it on what you know about the prisoner. What are the factors that led him or her to drift into lawlessness? What are the factors in his or her environment, and what are the factors in his or her psychological makeup? If you want to put it this way, what are the buttons that need to be pushed?
  The prisoner becomes the patient. You evaluate him or her.
  So, in addition to an investigation into the crime, you now need an investigation into the criminal. You need a social worker to study the prisoner. Of this, I am fearful. I do not want to create an expensive system. Government is expensive enough. So, I toy with the idea that the police officers take on the background studies, instead of adding a new layer of workers. Nor do I feel the study should be overly exhaustive. Once the worker knows what to look for and what questions to ask, perhaps each study can be completed in a day.
   I do think this whole idea bears merit, though. It would be a revolutionary change, true, but a worthy one. I do think having a rehab plan based on the individual's own needs and characteristics will enhance the chances of rehabilitation. I do feel we should study the criminal in order to know what things will work best to bring about change, and what things there are that need to be changed. The evaluation should include determining what character flaws he or she has, so those can be addressed. We should be seeking to place a better person back into society.

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