RECIDIVISM

I Was Just Thinking About - - - 

What makes one’s psyche (the human soul, spirit, or mind) function and respond as it does? We live in a culture where freedom in lifestyle is championed and removal of reasonable behavioral barriers are altered, challenged or removed altogether. What is recidivism? It is “repeated or habitual relapse, as into crime.” The field of Psychiatry defines it as: “the chronic tendency toward repetition of criminal or antisocial behavior patterns.” Pew Research has done an extensive study titled: State of Recidivism - The Revolving Door of America’s Prisons. Their research states the following: “In 2008, the Pew Center on the States reported that incarceration levels had risen to a point where one in 100 American adults was behind bars. A second Pew study the following year added another disturbing dimension to the picture, revealing that one in 31 adults in the United States was either incarcerated or on probation or parole. ..One key element of the analysis is measuring recidivism, or the rate at which offenders return to prison…” 

Much data is based upon statistics released by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). The most recent of those reports, which tracked offenders released  from state prison in 1994 (Published in 2002), concluded that a little more than half of released offenders (51.8 percent) were back in prison within three years, either for committing a new crime or for violating rules of their supervision…According to the survey results, 45.4 percent of people released from prison in 1999 and 43.3 percent of those sent home in 2004 were reincarcerated within three years, either for committing a new crime or for violating conditions governing their release…” The report is lengthy and the data extensive. In the current issue of World Magazine. Marvin Olasky conducts an interview with Heather Rice-Minus on Restorative Justice and Recidivism Rates. You can read the entire interview at: (http://www.worldmag.com/2015/09/heather_rice_minus_justice_for_all). An interesting part of the interview deals with Risk Convergence. The interview dialogue is, The Question: “What is risk convergence?” The Response: “Over time the risk of a criminal committing another crime is going to converge with that of the general public: Risk convergence occurs at some point when they are no more likely to commit a new crime than Joe Shmo who has never committed a crime. We often ask people on job applications to say if they have had a conviction, felony, or even a misdemeanor—but we know from data that this person does not pose any greater risk after a certain point, because of the phenomenon of risk convergence…We advocate that people who have committed crimes, after receiving proportionate punishment, should be allowed back into the community.”

The whole idea of Recidivism is in terms of recovery and restoration of one who has committed a crime or some deeds of misbehavior. The statistics cover recidivism rates for alcoholics; drug addicts; predators; physical abusers; etc. What will allow for the greatest possibility of recovery and restoration of any individual who has become a “statistic”? The definition of Psyche includes reference to the human soul, spirit, or mind. Focus in this area allows for a spiritual entry point as a preventative of recidivism. The person needs to be changed from the inside outwards. The basics of this type of resolve include: Ii Corinthians 5:17, “If anyone is in Christ, he/she is a new creation - old things pass away and all things become new.” Romans 12:1-2 indicates their must be a shift in focus from a secular world and life view to the spiritual, “…Be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” There will have to be a new commitment and safeguard as one implements Deuteronomy 6:5, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” The road back is never easy but God’s grace is always able and sufficient to result in one’s recovery and restoration. Be encouraged and receive God's grace in your behalf.  Consider these things with me.