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Abstract

The ironic success of prisons in perpetuating a cycle of offending has become a central focus in criminal justice research. While the use of prisons within a contemporary context remains largely debated among scholars and society, figures of recidivism rates in England and Wales provide a strong contextual background for the failure in rehabilitating offenders. Locating a single agreed-upon figure proves difficult, however, estimates suggest that 48% of adults in England and Wales reoffend within a year after release, and for those serving 12 months or less this figure rises to 63% (Guiney & Yeomans, 2023). In consideration of the UK government’s claim that inmate rehabilitation remains a priority, this dissertation aims to investigate the root causes of such a high recidivism rate persisting. To collate the key perspectives among existing research, a literature-based methodology was employed, with an additional comparative study being conducted with the Norwegian penal system, known globally for its progressive approach that has resulted in one of the lowest recidivism rates worldwide. The examination revealed stark disparities between the two systems: while Norway focuses on providing inmates with comprehensive support through a clean and modern prison infrastructure directed towards successful societal re-integration, whereas England and Wales continue to operate ageing facilities with inadequate internal conditions and offer little support with rehabilitation. Four recommendations were subsequently proposed: inmate-focused work, prison safety, post-release employment, and reducing the prison population. Influenced by their proven success in Norway, these recommendations present as strategies for reducing recidivism rates across England and Wales’s penal system. Consequently, this research contributes to existing penological discourse by providing evidence of the unlikely outcome of reduced reoffending under current penal policies.

Course: Criminology and Forensic Studies - BSc (Hons) - C2039F

Date Deposited: 2024-11-20

URI/permalink: https://library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis14540.html