Criminals Among Us?

I believe that criminal justice programs are not significantly effective in reducing recidivism rates because they don't really connect criminals to their communities.

I would not go so far as to advocate for community-based punishment. Instead, I am a proponent of community-based restoration.

From what I know, pprograms offered the incarcerated do offer beneficial education, therapies or support. But for the most part, they are all offered in the context of the criminal justice system.

I think programs that incorporated active contact with their communities post-release would give inmates a chance to be restored to their own worlds. Perhaps programs could incorporate the prisoners churches, schools, families, or organizations in their communities. It would place them in a position to receive support from from people who understand where they come from. It would also give them an opportunity to give back to their community.

The problem with such an approach to reducing recidivism is that the community must also cooperate, and without unfairly judging or discriminating against former inmates.