Criminal Justice Reform and Rehabilitation

Position Statement: To approach criminal justice with a sense of compassion, by helping offenders reintegrate into the society and reduce recidivism. Currently, a number of offenders sentenced to prison sentences recommit crimes after their release. Our society’s current emphasis on prison sentences as the only means of justice and reform does not deter recidivism. In fact, higher sentences strengthen the tendencies towards criminality, and are associated with higher recidivism. Moreover, the prisons are becoming overcrowded, the costs of incarceration are increasing every year, and most importantly, the underlying issue of cessation of criminal behaviour is not being addressed.

Proposal:  

1. Currently, a person deemed mentally insane when convicted of a felony, is released from custody as “innocent”. Unfortunately, a plethora of individuals with psychopathic disorders gain satisfaction through their antisocial behavior and lack any remorse for their actions. Those individuals should instead serve their sentence in a Mental Health Residential Facility, so that appropriate treatment and care can be provided to them.
2. Presently, Adult Redeploy, a comprehensive program diverting non violent offenders to community-based services, is available in a very small portion of the state – 39 out of 102 counties. This program should be expanded to encompass the entire state, allowing for easier reintegration into society, reducing recidivism and overpopulation in prisons.
3. Illinois should reclassify nonviolent possession-of-drug offenses so that low quantity drug possession is considered a misdemeanor as opposed to a felony (excluding cannabis, as it is already so). This type of misdemeanor is easily treatable through rehabilitation and/or therapy, and instead of incarcerating these individuals, Illinois has the opportunity to rehabilitate them and reduce recidivism of the crime. Further, the reform will drastically reduce the number of inmates cycling through Illinois’ prison system, as well as save the state taxpayer money.
4. Illinois should establish a restorative-justice program. A program as such would personalize a non-violent crime by having the victim and offender mediate a restitution agreement, allowing the offender to take responsibility for his/her actions. These offenders are given the opportunity to compensate the victim directly, which may include money, communuity service, and/or education to prevent recidivism.
5. Currently, Illinois has no program whatsoever concerning emotional or mental health counseling for the incarcerated. Not all offenders are the stereotypical macho individuals with a hardened demeanor that is beyond redemption or only deserving of cruel punishment. Prisons are harsh, psychologically damaging environments. Moreover, the social stigma associated with incarceration, combined with the depersonalizing effects of imprisonment, may result in a sense of hopelessness and powerlessness, as well as deeply internalized shame and guilt for some inmates. The signs of these should be identified, and Emotional and Mental health counseling should be available to the inmates. Examples may include individual therapy, group therapy, or other self-help activities.

Expected Results:

Recidivism rates would reduce drastically from the current 48% per year in Illinois alone, costing an additional $120,000 per individual prisoner. Prisons would no more be overpopulated, and those resources could instead be reallocated towards more productive agenda items such as education and mental health care. Those who are mentally ill can be afforded suitable treatment, further lowering recidivism rates and addressing mental health issues in the state. Finally, rehabilitation allows for increased employment opportunities, improved self-esteem, and reintegration for individuals to once again be active contributors to society.