Recidivism describes a return to criminal behavior after a person has been convicted and sentenced for a prior offense. Understanding the term—and how it is measured—matters because reported rates influence public policy, correctional programs, and judgments about whether rehabilitation is working.
The word recidivism comes from Latin roots meaning “to fall again.” In criminal justice, it generally refers to a person returning to criminal behavior after a prior conviction, sentence, and presumed correction. The term is also used for the percentage of former prisoners who experience a specified outcome after release.
All flashcards
Recidivism
A return to criminal behavior after a prior conviction and sentence; studies operationalize it using a specified outcome and period.
Relapse
A return to a behavior or condition after a period of improvement; the term is commonly used in health and addiction contexts.
Structured professional judgment (SPJ)
An approach that organizes risk and protective factors to inform professional assessment; it cannot predict an individual's behavior with certainty.
Reentry planning
Preparation for a person's return to the community, which may include identifying housing, income, and support after release.
Correctional education
Education offered in correctional settings, including basic instruction, vocational training, reading and writing groups, and degree programs.
Quiz questions
What should be checked before comparing recidivism rates from different studies?Answer: The outcome measured, the population studied, and the follow-up period.
What is the primary purpose of structured professional judgment tools such as the HCR-20?Answer: To organize risk and protective factors for a professional assessment.
Why can using “recidivism” to mean psychiatric rehospitalization be problematic?Answer: The term's criminal-reoffending connotation may stigmatize people with mental illness.
What does incapacitation through imprisonment establish about offending after release?Answer: It prevents community offending while the person is in custody, but does not establish what happens after release.
In a quasi-experimental study of Minnesota's Challenge Incarceration Program, what outcome was reported?Answer: The program did not significantly reduce the chances of recidivism but increased time before rearrest.
Based on the Wikipedia article Recidivism, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.