RE-ENTRY OF SEX OFFENDERS 3
Running head: RE-ENTRY OF SEX OFFENDERS 1
Program For Helping Reentry of Sex Offenders Back into The Society
Robert Clark
Excelsior College
ENG102A Advanced Composition II
Sandra Dutkowsky
08/08/2021
Program For Helping Reentry of Sex Offenders Back into The Society
Experts express that for many prisoners, serving their time does not end with completing their prison sentences as they continue to serve their sentences through the extensive discrimination they face in society. Regardless of whether the ex-convict was wrongfully convicted or whether they may have reformed while they were incarcerated, discrimination is constant. “The process of transitioning from prison to the community poses unique challenges for those who have been convicted of sexually-based offenses.” (Schaefer, 2018). Ex-convicts require appropriate support systems to impact positive change and promote their absorption back into society. Understanding the various dynamics of prison sentences, the counseling they undergo while incarcerated, and the importance of effective reentry allows for the development of appropriate programs that will help these people adapt and adjust. Research indicates that society often discriminates against ex-convicts because they fail to understand their predicaments and appreciate the transformation that the ex-convicts may have undergone. Understanding the experiences, they have had coupled with the challenges they have undergone would prompt society to be more compassionate with their dealings.
Reentry
The reentry back to the society of the various sex offenders is often faced with many challenges. The challenges range from discrimination from family, friends, and the community, restricted access to employment opportunities, difficulty readjusting to the changing society, and even violence. Cases of ex-convicts being targeted by murderous vigilantes who claim they are serving justice and resettling social equilibrium have been on the rise. “The current study compiles open-source news reports involving vigilantes who targeted individuals because of their status as a sex offender (SO) or their suspected involvement in a sex offense. The Sex Offender-Vigilante database includes 279 separate incidents of vigilantism against SOs, ranging from the dissemination of unsanctioned fliers to murder.” (Cubellis et al., 2018). Therefore, victimization is high, and all these points towards the lack of compassion and lack of basic understanding appreciation of the various concepts that could possibly positively influence the decision-making process. It is therefore essential to put effective measures in place that will ensure appropriate programs are developed that will be key in facilitating effective reentry of them ex-convicts. Resources and focus ought to be directed at determining which programs serve the society best and which help the ex-convicts fit back into the society, and which ones help the sex offenders embrace society.
Developing An Appropriate Program
Experts point out that programs can be transformational and essential in influencing the outcome of situations and fostering change when effectively developed. To address the challenge of effective reentry, the development of effective programs would be key. These programs ought to be based on key components and data gathered touching on how the community perceives ex-convicts who are sex offenders as well as how the offenders themselves perceive themselves. Carrying out research and analyzing the various data collected over the years would be important as it will allow for the elimination of the various assumptions that may be made concerning the perceptions that the community has. One such concept that is often assumed is that victims harbor so much hatred, and the desire to see the offenders suffer and perish. Research indicates that this assumption is misplaced. “It is commonly assumed that victims of sexual abuse feel more negatively toward sex offenders and advocate for harsher punishments than individuals who have not been victimized… Overall, we found that victims of sexual abuse reported more positive attitudes toward sex offenders and were more supportive of mandated treatment compared with nonvictims” (Spoo et al., 2017). Therefore, developing an appropriate program that considers the various assumptions and facts could prove to be an essential transformation tool.
Reentry Program: The Second Chance Reentry Program That Focuses on Community Service and Volunteering
For prisoners not serving life sentences or on death row, reintegration back into the community is important, and effective reentry should be emphasized. “In the United States, 93% of prisoners will at some point return to their communities. Therefore, it is important to look at the process by which they readjust into life outside prison walls” (Berghuis, 2018). The development of an effective program should consider the various contributing factors and the effective interlink between the community, therapists, parole officers, family, and friends. Effectively managing human interactions will positively influence the various programs and increase the chance of success. Some aspects of the program should emulate the various supervision models, which often produce positive results (Newstrom et al., 2018).
An effective program will ensure that the chances of recidivism are minimized or eliminated. Research indicates that with effective risk assessment, the risk of recidivism can be effectively determined (Helmus, 2018). The second chance reentry program, when properly implemented, will key in imparting positive change in the lives of the ex-convicts and the society as well. The focus of the program will be community service and volunteering. These aspects of the programs will have the sole aim of improving relationships between ex-convicts and the community. The main assumption made in the development of the program is that once the community effectively interacts with these ex-convicts and appreciates the change they have undergone, it will be possible to accept and absorb them back into the community.
Moreover, other than building a good rapport with the community, the various volunteering and community service activities will ensure that the ex-convict effectively interacts with the community, and this will be key in enabling them to readjust back into society. Research indicates that beyond the external challenges that the ex-convicts face, they also face internal personal battles as they strive to readjust to the new environment. Therefore, the various interactions they will have with the community will positively contribute to giving them a sense of belonging and thus properly fit in.
Furthermore, apart from building a rapport with the community, the second chance program will ensure that the ex-convicts report to their paroles when need be and attend any therapy sessions required of them. Often after releasing from prison, it is not uncommon for offenders who had committed serious crimes to be required to attend therapy sessions to help them cope with the new environments and reduce the risk of recidivism. Therefore, the effective implementation of the second chance reentry program will have extensive benefits. To assess the program’s effectiveness, progress made by the ex-convicts will be checked against the various indicators, and random assessments and evaluations will be used to assess progress.
Rationale Behind the Development of The Second Chance Program
Reentry is a difficult journey that the ex-convicts ought not to walk alone. Therefore, in the attempt to reconcile the ex-convicts with their communities, the second chance program actualizes. After spending so many years behind bars, the ex-convicts may come out to find a different society than the one they were in before being convicted. As such, the rationale behind the conceptualization of the program, which focuses on volunteering and community service, is an effort to impart positive change in society. When effectively implemented, the program will act as a transformative tool and will drive both personal and communal change.
Indicators That Will Be Used to Determine the Effectiveness of The Program
To gauge the program’s success, it will be necessary to have several observable indicators. These will be key in allowing for the determination of the effectiveness of the program. One such indicator is the willingness of the ex-convicts to undertake therapy. The other major indicator will be the willingness of the ex-convicts to undertake community service activities and volunteer. The other indicator will be the willingness of the community to join the ex-convicts in the various community service activities and volunteering activities. The other major indicator will be the rate at which the ex-convicts can secure employment in the communities they are volunteering in and carrying out community service activities. The final and most important indicator will be zero recidivism among ex-convicts. Effective application of risk assessment tools will be key in identifying ex-convicts who may be at risk of recidivism (Levenson, 2018). Such will help prevent the crime.
Assessment/Evaluation Plan
To determine the effectiveness of the program as well as the progress that is being made with the ex-convicts, continued assessment and evaluation will be important. Assessment and evaluation will be implemented through the observation of the ex-convicts as well as through interviews with the various members of the community. Through effective information gathering and information analysis, appropriate conclusions will be made relating to whether the program is effective or not. Assessment will be key to ensure that the trend of program fails, and ex-convicts reoffending does not recur (Pettus-Davis, Renn, Veeh & Eikenberry, 2019). For those at risk of suffering recidivism, early identification of the issue will be key in ensuring they get the proper and necessary help.
References
Berghuis, M. (2018). Reentry Programs for Adult Male Offender Recidivism and Reintegration: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. International Journal Of Offender Therapy And Comparative Criminology, 62(14), 4655-4676. DOI: 10.1177/0306624×18778448
Cubellis, M., Evans, D., & Fera, A. (2018). Sex Offender Stigma: An Exploration of Vigilantism against Sex Offenders. Deviant Behavior, 40(2), 225-239. DOI: 10.1080/01639625.2017.1420459
Helmus, L. (2018). Sex Offender Risk Assessment: Where Are We and Where Are We Going?. Current Psychiatry Reports, 20(6). DOI: 10.1007/s11920-018-0909-8
Levenson, J. (2018). Sex Offender Management Policies and Evidence-Based Recommendations for Registry Reform. Current Psychiatry Reports, 20(3). DOI: 10.1007/s11920-018-0884-0
Newstrom, N., Miner, M., Hoefer, C., Hanson, R., & Robinson, B. (2018). Sex Offender Supervision: Communication, Training, and Mutual Respect Are Necessary for Effective Collaboration Between Probation Officers and Therapists. Sexual Abuse, 31(5), 607-631. DOI: 10.1177/1079063218775970
Pettus-Davis, C., Renn, T., Veeh, C., & Eikenberry, J. (2019). Intervention development study of the five-key model for reentry: An evidence-driven prisoner reentry intervention. Journal Of Offender Rehabilitation, 58(7), 614-643. DOI: 10.1080/10509674.2019.1635242
Schaefer, R. (2018). Understanding Sex Offender Community Supervision: A Mixed Methods Approach. International Journal Of Offender Therapy And Comparative Criminology, 63(7), 1038-1065. DOI: 10.1177/0306624×18812043
Spoo, S., Kaylor, L., Schaaf, S., Rosselli, M., Laake, A., Johnson, C., & Jeglic, E. (2017). Victims’ Attitudes Toward Sex Offenders and Sex Offender Legislation. International Journal Of Offender Therapy And Comparative Criminology, 62(11), 3385-3407. DOI: 10.1177/0306624×17740537
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