Can Prisoners Be Rehabilitated?

According to the the Bureau of Justice, more than 825,000 prisoners were paroled by the end of 2008. "Parole is a period of conditional supervised release in the community following a prison term." The study found that 85% of these parolees were required to check in with a parole supervisor in some capacity, with only 6% failing to report and eluding contact. Of the parolees, 37% were drug offenders and 26% had committed violent crimes. Some offenders enter military parole and are not required to check in, as they are in the military. Some parolees are monitored constantly using a GPS tracking device. The reason to have these people check in, is to help ensure they have been rehabilitated and can function in society upon release.

In Colorado for example, the Department of Corrections runs the Pre-Release Program which helps former prisoners readjust to society. The State has found that the program helps to reduce the number of repeat offenders. The program provides a variety of services: housing, money management, healthy lifestyles, family support, education, transportation and employment to name a few. A study conducted by the Connecticut Department of Corrections found that nearly 37% of inmates were re-incarcerated within three years without a program similar to the Colorado example. The percentage was reduced by approximately 9% when inmates participated in this program, and by a further 3% when the parole program was completed.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice parolees can work in any legitimate job. Full-time worked is preferred to part-time work. Additionally, jobs that do not require travel are preferred to those that do. If a parolee was imprisoned for breaking the law in a certain industry, when paroled, he will not be allowed to work in this industry. Where rehabilitated inmates live depends on individual circumstances. Some live with family members, while others live independently.

While I have never served time in a jail or prison, I had a college classmate who was jailed for selling drugs to an undercover police officer. He had to serve time in county jail, but was allowed to participate in a program that let him attend classes during the day. The idea was that keeping him locked up all day would not lead to his rehabilitation. When not in class, he had to return to jail. This went on for several months, if not a year. We shared the same major and had a few classes together during this time period. We have maintained sporadic contact since our time as undergraduates, and to my knowledge, he has not been in the business of selling drugs since his release. I think this story is a good illustration of how prisoners can be rehabilitated, especially with this type of program. When it comes to murder, I think a more appropriate question is should convicted murderers be rehabilitated?

References:

Colorado Department of Corrections

Connecticut Department of Corrections

Lauren E. Glaze and Thomas P. Bonczar. Probation and Parole in the United States, 2008

U.S. Department of Justice