The Criminal Recidivism Process

This book addresses how and why criminal offenders repeat their actions after being released from prison. It is part of an attempt to explain criminal behavior within the context of a contemporary psychological understanding of behavior, rather than more traditional theories of crime. Over 300 serious male criminal offenders were interviewed and tested after they returned to prison for new crimes. The results indicate that their new offenses may be the result of something like a ‘breakdown’. From this, it can be argued that we could monitor released prisoners to predict or even to prevent their return to crime. This report, written for a general audience, has some important implications for release supervision, rehabilitation programs, and the prediction of recidivism.

• Innovative approach • Powerful results • Approachable writing without much jargon

List of illustrations and tables; Preface; 1. Introduction: the prediction of criminal behavior; 2. The study; 3. Recidivists: a general profile; 4. Comparisons with nonrecidivists; 5. Comparisons across offender groups; 6. Comparisons within offender groups; 7. Final considerations; References; Appendix: interview form; Index.