Do They Pose a Danger: Evaluation of the Recidivism Characteristics in China’s Community Corrections?

Authors

  • Haoran Xu Law School, Southwest University of Political Science & Law, Chongqing, China;2 Department of Criminology, Criminal Law and Social Law, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
  • Xiaomei Liu Law School, Tiangong University, Tianjin, 300387, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/jpr.v5i1.5340

Abstract

The modern criminal justice system includes community corrections, which play a preventive role in lowering recidivism among offenders. However, some offenders continue to commit crimes during community corrections. This research focuses on community corrections in Chinese community policing practice, particularly offender recidivism. The study collected a total of 500 questionnaires from offenders in the provincial administrative regions of northern China, which included first offense status, psychological status, and recidivism behavior. The study found that most recidivists are usually arrested for “drunk driving”, which may be related to their ability to exercise self-restraint, and that alcohol may contribute to their deviant behavior. Another important finding relates to young recidivists, who may have difficulty securing employment during community corrections and thus use crime again to gain income. In general, this study explores the offender population in Chinese community corrections practice and discusses the factors within it that influence offender recidivism. This may support law enforcement agencies in further evaluating the effectiveness of community corrections, and may provide new information for understanding community corrections in China.

Keywords:

Community corrections; Offender reoffending; Criminal psychology; Chinese policing practices

References

[1] Cherney, A., 2021. The release and community supervision of radicalised offenders: Issues and challenges that can influence reintegration. Terrorism and Political Violence. 33(1), 119-137.

[2] Li, E., 2015. China’s community corrections: An actuarial model of punishment. Crime, Law and Social Change. 64(1), 1-22.

[3] Zeccola, J., Kelty, S.F., Boer, D., 2021. Does the good lives model work? A systematic review of the recidivism evidence. Journal of Forensic Practice. 23(3), 285-300.

[4] Martínez, L.M.C., Banqueri, V.M., del Carmen Cano, M., 2011. In search of psychosocial variables linked to the recidivism in young offenders. The European Journal of Psychology Applied to Legal Context. 3(1), 77-88.

[5] White, R., 2004. Community corrections and restorative justice. Current Issues in Criminal Justice. 16(1), 42-56.

[6] Jiang, S., Lambert, E.G., Zhang, D., et al., 2016. Effects of work environment variables on job satisfaction among community correctional staff in China. Criminal Justice and Behavior. 43(10), 1450-1471.

[7] Zevitz, R.G., Farkas, M.A., 2000. Sex offender community notification: Managing high risk criminals or exacting further vengeance? Behavioral Sciences & the Law. 18(2-3), 375-391.

[8] Huang, Y., Wu, R., Wu, J., et al., 2020. Psychological resilience, self-acceptance, perceived social support and their associations with mental health of incarcerated offenders in China. Asian Journal of Psychiatry. 52, 102166.

[9] Mai, Y., Yang, R., Wu, X., et al., 2021. Impulsiveness and suicide in male offenders: Examining the buffer roles of regulatory emotional self-efficacy and flourishing. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice. 94(2), 289-306.

[10] Schaefer, L., 2018. Environmental corrections: An application of environmental criminological theories to community corrections practices. Advancing Corrections Journal. 5, 22-33.

[11] Taxman, F.S., Pattavina, A., Caudy, M., 2014. Justice reinvestment in the United States: An empirical assessment of the potential impact of increased correctional programming on recidivism. Victims & Offenders. 9(1), 50-75.

[12] Latessa, E.J., Lovins, B., 2010. The role of offender risk assessment: A policy maker guide. Victims and Offenders. 5(3), 203-219.

[13] Howell, B.A., Puglisi, L., Clark, K., et al., 2021. The transitions clinic network: Post incarceration addiction treatment, healthcare, and social support (TCN-PATHS): A hybrid type-1 effectiveness trial of enhanced primary care to improve opioid use disorder treatment outcomes following release from jail. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment. 128, 108315.

[14] Lloyd, C.D., Perley-Robertson, B., Serin, R.C., 2020. Age and strengths in a community corrections sample. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health. 19(3), 215-226.

[15] Singh, S.B., 2016. Offender rehabilitation and reintegration: A South African perspective. Journal of Social Sciences. 46(1), 1-10.

[16] Garcia, C.A., 2004. Realistic expectations: Constructing a mission-based evaluation model for community corrections programs. Criminal Justice Policy Review. 15(3), 251-269.

[17] Duan, W., Wang, Z., Yang, C., et al., 2023. Are risk-need-responsivity principles golden? A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of community correction programs. Journal of Experimental Criminology. 1-24. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11292-022-09550-w.

[18] Gonzalez, A.V., Eikenberry, J., Griess, C., et al., 2023. Evaluation of an occupational therapy reentry program: Achieving goals to support employment and community living after incarceration. Work, (Preprint). 1-18.

[19] Chan, H.C., Beauregard, E., Myers, W.C., 2015. Single-victim and serial sexual homicide offenders: Differences in crime, paraphilias and personality traits. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health. 25(1), 66-78.

[20] Rolison, J.J., Hanoch, Y., Gummerum, M., 2013. Characteristics of offenders: The HEXACO model of personality as a framework for studying offenders’ personality. The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology. 24(1), 71-82.

[21] Papalia, N., Spivak, B., Daffern, M., et al., 2019. A meta-analytic review of the efficacy of psychological treatments for violent offenders in correctional and forensic mental health settings. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice. 26(2), e12282.

[22] Polaschek, D.L., Bell, R.K., Casey, A.R., et al., 2022. Do triarchic psychopathy components of new zealand high-risk parolees predict probation officer relationship quality, quality of life on parole, and recidivism?. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology. 66(15), 1682-1702.

[23] Rice, M.E., 2003. Violence and psychopathy. Violence and Victims. 18(1), 110.

[24] Jennings, S., McGinley, J.D., Orr, M., 2018. Masking and unmasking: Drama therapy with offender patients. Dramatherapy. Routledge: UK. pp. 83-112.

[25] Moore, K., Stuewig, J., Tangney, J., 2013. Jail inmates’ perceived and anticipated stigma: Implications for post-release functioning. Self and Identity. 12(5), 527-547.

[26] Li, E., 2017. The rhetoric and practice of community corrections in China. Asian Journal of Criminology. 12(2), 143-162.

[27] Gunnison, E., Helfgott, J.B., 2011. Factors that hinder offender reentry success: A view from community corrections officers. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology. 55(2), 287-304.

[28] Thompson, M.N., Cummings, D.L., 2010. Enhancing the career development of individuals who have criminal records. The Career Development Quarterly. 58(3), 209-218.

[29] Heseltine, K., Sarre, R., Day, A., 2011. Prison-based correctional rehabilitation: An overview of intensive interventions for moderate to high-risk offenders. Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice. (412), 1-6.

[30] Parker, M.M., Cade, R., 2018. Using sand tray therapy with juveniles in correctional settings. Journal of Addictions & Offender Counseling. 39(2), 78-88.

[31] Wyse, J.J., 2013. Rehabilitating criminal selves: Gendered strategies in community corrections. Gender & Society. 27(2), 231-255.

Downloads

How to Cite

Xu, H., & Liu, X. (2024). Do They Pose a Danger: Evaluation of the Recidivism Characteristics in China’s Community Corrections?. Journal of Psychological Research, 5(1), 20–27. https://doi.org/10.30564/jpr.v5i1.5340

Issue

Article Type

Article