Decades of
research identify the punishments that produce long term change
in most criminal offenders’ behavior. "Tough on crime" punishments
simply do not work on most offenders. As violent crime escalated over past decades, "tough on crime"
policies like high "mandatory minimum" prison sentences, "three
strikes, you’re out" and "truth in sentencing" became popular.
Many people still support long prison sentences, including life
in prison, even for nonviolent offenders.
Today, we have more proven solutions.
Scientific studies that use control groups and follow the behavior
of different types of criminal offenders subject to different
types of punishments demonstrate that certain programs reduce
the chance that an offender will commit another crime and increase the chance that an offender will experience long term positive change in behavior. This body of research is often
referred to as "what works" or "evidence-based programming."
Research shows that some people in
society are so responsible and honest that they will immediately
change their behavior if they are somehow caught up in the criminal
justice system. Even without much punishment, these people will self-correct their behavior. On the other end of the spectrum, there are those who have a history of violence that
does not suggest that treatment is a viable option.
But most people who are caught up in
the criminal justice system are in between these two extremes,
and can learn to change with proven evidence-based programs. Most
people in the criminal justice system do not really make us afraid
for our safety, but instead make us angry because they seem too impulsive to learn how to change. Lecturing or harsh punishment will not convince this person to change – he or she will not change just
because we threaten to put them into prison for longer periods
of time.
Instead, long-term change comes from
learning and internalizing life’s lessons and changing thinking
patterns – things that are virtually impossible inside prison
walls. In fact, this person may choose to go to prison instead of probation, because it is easy to do prison time compared to the challenge of staying in the community
and taking personal responsibility for change through substance abuse
treatment, life skills training and keeping a job.
Evidence-based programs reduce crime.
The Texas Criminal Justice Policy Council found that offenders
who received appropriate treatment were 4 times less likely to
go back to prison than those who did not.
Increasing penalties for crime does
not reduce crime for most criminal offenders. According to the
United States Department of Justice, National Corrections Institute,
severe punishments can have the opposite effect:
-
Punishment produced a -0.07% increase in criminal behavior
-
Treatment produced a 15% decrease in criminal behavior
-
Cognitive skills programs produced
a 29% decrease in criminal behavior
Our criminal justice system should
give criminals sentences that fit the offender’s personal
behavior profile. For the typical person in the system,
a simple probation plan, rather than an impossible plan, will ensure
that they are not set up to fail. Too many fines frequently
doom an offender to financial failure. Job training for career-oriented
employment is one of the keys to success. Community service works
if it changes the person’s expectations and options in life.
Based on the individual’s needs, proven substance abuse
treatment programs and cognitive behavioral programs get people
off drugs. Strengthening internal constraints instead of simply
using external controls will be more likely to modify antisocial
thinking and promote responsibility.
Key components of "what works" are:
• Assess the individual’s risk
level and needs,
• Provide seamless programming
tailored to the risk level and needs,
• Use incentives and other motivational
tools to reward success,
• Use swift and clear sanctions to
punish for lapses,
• Strengthen the individual’s
peers and family,
• Provide follow up services
after release from "the system."
Only real, long-term change in criminal
behavior will actually reduce crime and create stronger families
and communities in our state.
