Criminal Justice Definition of Recidivism
The criminal justice system is a vast and complex system with its own terminology and phrases. People within different departments of the criminal justice system may use specific language that other departments in the criminal justice system do not. However, the word recidivism commonly finds use throughout the criminal justice system.
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Recidivism
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Recidivism is the act of committing wrongdoing or behavior unacceptable in society after warnings and corrective action has already occurred. The term recidivism can be used in comparison with substance abuse and criminal behavior. In the criminal justice context, this term can be defined as a person who reverts back to criminal behavior after being convicted and punished. Those in the criminal justice field commonly refer to repeat offenders as recidivists.
Habitual Offenders
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Criminal recidivism is closely correlated with the term "habitual offender." According to U.S. Legal, habitual offender is a status usually given to a repeat felony offender. If a person has committed two or three previous felonies or numerous misdemeanors, they may be labeled a habitual offender. These repeated acts are termed recidivism and lead to the rise of the prison population.
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Psychopathy
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Recidivism has also been compared with psychopathy in the criminal justice system when trying to define reasons for recidivism. Psychopathy is defined as being unable to control impulses and antisocial behaviors causing the individual to repeat crimes. These repeated crimes cause offenders to reappear in the justice system and drive the recidivism rates higher.
Qualifications
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To be considered a recidivist, a repeated offender must have undergone corrective actions for the previous crime committed. These consequences come the form of incarceration, or other sanctions such as community service and programs. These programs may include substance abuse programs, alcoholic programs, shoplifter programs and gun offender programs.
Rise of Recidivism
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Crime rates have fallen since 1994, but the amount of men and women in the prison system continue to rise. These increases in prison rates are due to the so-called "revolving door" effect that many past offenders get trapped in. Since 1994, the number of recommitted offenders (i.e., the recidivism rate) has risen significantly. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 67.5 percent of offenders are re-arrested within 3 years of being released from prison.
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