Opinions on Rehabilitation and Punishment for Criminal Offenders

Melissa Italiano

Co-Presenters: Individual Presentation

College: College of Liberal Arts

Major: MA.FORENSIC-PSY

Faculty Research Mentor: Doyle, Christine  

Abstract:

AbstractPublic opinion on rehabilitation versus punishment has been an ongoing conversation throughout the years. Analyzing how the public views recidivism and reacts to specific crimes and sentencing. The United States has favored incarceration while it creates higher chances of recidivism. The purpose of this study is to analyze different approaches and specific laws within different states, regarding rehabilitation and punishment. It emphasizes the various rehabilitation techniques used and the likelihood of the programs reducing recidivism, while also looking at how punishments play a role in reoffending. The severity of crimes is a key component within the study. There will be approximately 100 participants, contacted through social media. The participants will be separated into 2 groups to help differentiate the opinions of individuals being altered by the impact of the crime. Punishment is necessary when the law is broken, yet research suggests that both punishment and rehabilitation are the key components to navigating criminals back into society while lowering the chance of recidivism. The study will be conducted online through Qualtrics. The overall goal of this study is to determine how opinions of rehabilitation and punishment differ with the intensity of the criminal act.keywords: punishment, rehabilitation, recidivism