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please respond to the following 2 students with 250 WORDS EACH at least 1 REFERENCE EACH && 1 BIBLICAL VIEWPOINT EACH:

Original Discussion Question (do not respond to this) Topic: Generic Rehabilitation Programs

Thread: Can generic rehabilitation programs be adapted to meet the needs of various offender populations (i.e., males, females, sex offenders, mental health, etc.)? Is there a need for gender-specific programming? Why or why not? Note: This is a 2-part question.

1) Shorter- Generic rehabilitation programs can be advantageous in the sense that they may be more cost-effective and comprehensive; however, they may fail to effectively meet the unique needs of the diverse population of the offenders in a prison or similar penal institute. Ward and Willis (2016) note that offenders are unique in several ways, which warrant specific types of rehabilitation programs that best suit the requirements for reintegration into society. These differences can include the age of the offenders, their sex or gender, their level of mental health or mental capacity, the crimes that they committed or were involved in, their level of family support, and occupational or vocational background and objectives. For instance, Higley, Lloyd, and Serin (2019) note that “Age and motivation can be specific responsivity features that may deserve attention in rehabilitation practice” (p. 558).

While generic rehabilitation programs may provide a solid foundation to contributing to a positive path of rehabilitation, for the most part, they likely will not meet all of the needs each population group would require in order to be fully rehabilitated. A generic rehabilitation program cannot be individualized or customized, meaning it cannot be holistic or centered on the inmates and their individual needs. As a result, generic rehabilitation programs, while likely better than having no program at all, likely would not be as effective to meet the needs of various offender populations.

With that being said, it would then also be recommended to incorporate gender-specific rehabilitation programs for offender populations. Hilterman, et al. (2016) notes that, based on feminist theory, the pathways for female offenders regarding criminal conduct, rates of recidivism, and substance use are divergent from their male counterparts. This warrants a need to have a separate rehabilitation program with separate guidelines, goals and objectives, activities, and outcomes designed exclusively for women. To give an example, Hilterman, et al. (2016) notes that it is beneficial for a women’s-based rehabilitation program to have a greater focus on assisting women in keeping in contact and developing their relationships with their children. As such, having separate programs for women, as well as for individuals with other divergent needs when compared to the neurotypical male population (such as for minorities, violent/non-violent offenders, those with mental health issues, or similar), would be optimal. Such would ensure that all the highly unique and widespread needs of the comprehensive offender population would be appropriately met, further contributing to an overall reduction in recidivism rates.

References

Higley, C. A., Lloyd, C. D., & Serin, R. C. (2019). Age and motivation can be specific responsivity features that moderate the relationship between risk and rehabilitation outcome. Law and Human Behavior, 43(6), 558.

Hilterman, E. L., Bongers, I., Nicholls, T. L., & Van Nieuwenhuizen, C. (2016). Identifying gender specific risk/need areas for male and female juvenile offenders: Factor analyses with the Structured Assessment of Violence Risk in Youth (SAVRY). Law and HumanBehavior, 40(1), 82.

2) Manry- Can generic rehabilitation programs be adapted to meet the needs of various offender populations?

Generic rehabilitation programs can and must be adapted to meet the needs of diverse offender populations, as rehabilitation is not a “one-size-fits-all” endeavor. Successful application of the RNR model of treatment can aid in rehabilitation success. The RNR model is founded on three fundamental principles: the risk principle, the needs principle, and the responsiveness principle. The risk principle aligns the treatment intensity with the risk level of the offender. It is critical to target more dangerous offenders, as improper matching can actually result in an increase in criminal behavior (Viglione, 2018). The needs principle directs treatment toward programs that address the criminogenic needs associated with offending behavior. The third principle is the responsivity principle, which directs treatment delivery by examining the components of general and specific responsivity. This treatment method has been demonstrated to be effective and critical to the process of rehabilitative programs. When administered by properly trained personnel, the best instruments can predict recidivism with an accuracy of approximately 70%. (Russo et al., 2020).

Populations of Offenders:

Violent Offenders:

Violent offenders are considered to be the most serious type of offender in the criminal justice system. These men and women have committed heinous acts that have frequently resulted in death. These offenders are also among the most likely to reoffend following their release. It is recognized that because these offenders are high-risk, treatment is critical, which is reinforced by the RNR risk principle. Treatment strategies for these individuals vary, but the most effective have focused on cognitive-behavioral and social learning theory-based intervention programs (Gideon & Sung, 2011).

Sexual Offenders:

In general, society is unsupportive of sexual offenders and frequently believes that they cannot be successful in rehabilitative programs due to the nature of their crimes. As with violent offenders, the RNR model recommends that those with the greatest likelihood of reoffending receive the most intensive treatment. The most effective programs for sexual offenders are those that incorporate cognitive behavioral therapy. Given the high rate of reoffending in this population, it is critical that they are closely monitored following release and continue to receive treatment.

Intimate Violent Offenders:

There are far too many instances of intimate violence, and many of them go unreported. Programs aimed at assisting these types of offenders are critical and should emphasize feminist psychoeducation and cognitive behavioral principles (Gideon & Sung, 2011). While several factors make determining the effectiveness of these programs difficult, progress has been made, and those conducting research in this area are continuing to develop and implement even more successful programs.

Juvenile Offenders:

The majority of recidivism and treatment programs and resources have been directed toward adult offenders. Two distinct approaches are used in the treatment of juvenile offenders: cognitive behavioral and social learning theory and family system theory (Gideon & Sung, 2011). This demographic is critical to target because they have many years ahead of them to reoffend, and treating them now will benefit society as a whole.

Offenders with Mental Disorders:

When we think of criminals, particularly violent criminals, we frequently assume that they must have a mental illness. Regrettably, this is far too frequently the case when inmates are screened for mental illness. According to the Treatment Advocacy Center, approximately 383,000 individuals with severe psychiatric disorders were imprisoned in the United States in 2014, more than ten times the number of patients remaining in the country’s state hospitals (Carroll, 2016). Psychotropic medication and psychological interventions are frequently used to treat these offenders. These individuals may benefit from treatment if they agree to be medicated, but a significant number of them are resistant to treatment.

Is gender-specific programming necessary? How come or why not?

There is a need for gender-specific programming in prison systems, as God created men and women to be fundamentally different, but little research has been conducted in this area. It is concerning that the rate of female offenders has increased, but little attention has been paid to their unique treatment. Women have a unique set of experiences and responsibilities compared to men, and these experiences have a unique effect on them. Sexism, victimization, poverty, and racism are just a few of the factors that differ between men and women. While some men do experience these things, they do not have the same effect on them. Some of the startling differences become apparent when considering that 43% of women (12% of men) inmates have been physically or sexually abused prior to entering prison, that women in prison use more drugs and do so more frequently than men, and that women serving a sentence for a violent offense are twice as likely as men to have committed their offense against a close relative (Travis, 1998). These statistics alone demonstrate the importance of developing programming to address the unique needs of women, which differ significantly from those of men.

References

Carroll, H. (2016, September). Serious Mental Illness Prevalence in Jails and Prisons. Treatment Advocacy Center.

https://www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org/evidence-and-research/learn-more-about/3695.

Gideon, L., & Sung, H.-E. (2011). Rethinking corrections: rehabilitation, reentry, and reintegration. SAGE.

Russo, J., Vermeer, M. J. D., Woods, D., & Jackson, B. A. (2020, September 9). Risk and Needs Assessments in Prisons.

RAND Corporation. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA108-5.html.

Viglione, J. (2018, October 17). The Risk-Need-Responsivity Model: How Do Probation Officers Implement the Principles of Effective

Intervention? –Jill Viglione, 2019. SAGE Journals. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0093…