Breaking the Cycle of Recidivism in America

The United States has one of the highest recidivism rates, with approximately 71% of released prisoners re-arrested within five years (Bureau of Justice Statistics [BJS], 2021). This pattern reflects fundamentally different philosophies of punishment, where the current system focuses on punishment rather than prevention, which drives higher reoffending rates and disproportionately impacts Black Americans. According to the BJS, 37% of the incarcerated population in the US are Black, and 74% reoffended within five years of release – 4% higher than the total percentage of reoffenders (USAFacts, 2023). America does not have a crime problem; it has a system that sets people up to fail. This is evident in the disproportionately high recidivism rates among African Americans. So how do we fix it?

Eugenics is the belief that some groups are biologically superior, and that society “improves” the population by controlling reproduction. Those labeled “unfit” included criminals, the poor, and mentally ill (Oleson, 2016). Overtime, this ideology became racialized and was applied to African Americans, leading to practices of involuntary sterilization, segregation, and social exclusion. Jim Crow laws enforced racial segregation and denied African Americans equal rights in housing, employment, and healthcare. These ideas later became embedded in the criminal justice system, where crime was viewed as individuals being “unfit” and later justified harsher punishments that disproportionately impacted Black communities (Oleson, 2016). This has led to African Americans being more likely to be convicted, incarcerated, and imprisoned at much higher rates than white Americans (Oleson, 2016). Prison limits opportunities, separates families, restricts reproduction, and mirrors earlier eugenic goals of controlling certain populations. 

African Americans face significantly higher rates of recidivism due to deeply rooted systemic barriers rather than individual shortcomings. Structural issues such as poverty, underfunded educational systems, and limited access to employment disproportionately affect Black communities and increase the likelihood of reoffending. Although African Americans make up about 13% of the U.S. population, they account for 37% of those incarcerated, reflecting deep inequalities within the criminal justice system (Prison Policy Initiative, n.d.). Policies such as the War on Drugs have further intensified these racial disparities, leaving many individuals with criminal records that limit their access to housing, jobs and financial stability – conditions that increase the likelihood of reoffending. 

Social stigma and psychological factors also play a pivotal role in higher rates of recidivism among African Americans. Individuals who were formerly incarcerated are often labeled in a way that reinforces negative stereotypes, preventing successful reintegration into society. Despite higher participation in reentry programs, African American men continue to experience higher rates of recidivism, suggesting that these programs are failing to address the psychological, historical, and environmental challenges that come with reintegration (Florida Atlantic University, 2021). Without a more comprehensive approach that reduces societal stigma, provides mental health support, and addresses historical barriers, this cycle of reoffending will continue.

Some individuals resonate with the idea that “people get what they deserve” and “all groups are not created equal,” reflecting a belief in group hierarchies. In a real-world context, these individuals are more likely to favor lengthy prison sentences as a form of retribution (Pratto et al., 1994). Many assume harsher sentencing policies decrease crime rates, but in reality, punitive punishments can increase recidivism (Petrich et al., 2021). There are many frameworks that can explain why African Americans face disadvantages in the criminal justice system; including group-based hierarchies and an attribution perspective that focuses on individual blame while neglecting broader situational factors such as systemic barriers and limited access to resources. Ultimately, these frameworks show how easily inequality is justified and how they contribute to the idea that criminal behavior is the result of individual responsibility and personal choice, rather than the system African Americans are forced to live

in. 

To overcome this disparity amongst the African American population, our system needs to move away from strictly disciplinary tactics and more towards approaches centered around recovery and support. Rehabilitation programs, such as access to counseling, educational opportunities, and vocational skill-building, have proven to be “most effective for reducing criminal behavior,” especially when coupled with the opportunity to access alternative reinforcement and build prosocial (i.e., noncriminal) behavior (Apel & Diller, 2016). Furthermore, community-based initiatives like mentorship programs and support networks can prevent offenses before they happen, giving individuals the resources they need to stay out of the system. 

While these programs are crucial in reducing disparity amongst incarcerated African Americans, these changes depend heavily on policy reform. Implementing fairer sentencing laws and reducing racial biases within our justice system will ensure more equitable treatment and lower disproportionate incarceration rates, promoting fairness and long-term stability. Successful models already exist internationally: nations like Norway and Sweden focus on humane prison conditions, education, and reintegration, which leads to much lower reoffending rates and

“allows inmates to reintegrate more easily back into society post-incarceration”. Respectively, these countries have recidivism rates of 20% and 29%, compared to the US’ 74% (Denny, 2016).  This approach highlights how prioritizing rehabilitation can create successful reintegration and safer communities, offering a compelling model for reform in the United States.

African Americans living in the US have faced centuries of systematic oppression, resulting in institutional struggles they are forced to overcome that many are unable to understand. There are concepts that can explain the causes and effects of these struggles – such as group hierarchies and the FAE. Applying these concepts helps one better understand the experiences of African Americans, from how they are set up to enter a cyclical system to how they become trapped within that loop. Fundamental change is needed to protect these individuals and ensure equal opportunities. This change can only come from challenging the biases within our system, and adopting an approach focused on recovery, as a system centered strictly around punishment cannot create real change.

References

Apel, A. B., & Diller, J. W. (2016). Prison as punishment: A behavior-analytic evaluation of incarceration. The Behavior Analyst, 40(1), 243–256. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40614–016–

0081–6

Bureau of Justice Statistics. (2021). Recidivism of prisoners released in 34 states in 2012: A 5year follow-up period (2012–2017).

Denny, M. (2016). Norway’s prison system: Investigating recidivism and reintegration. Bridges:

A Student Research Journal, 10(10)

Galoustian, G. (2021, February 2). Breaking the Chains of Incarceration in African American

Males. Florida Atlantic University.

Josefin Hedstrom. (2018). The American and Swedish criminal justice system: A comparative study (master’s thesis, East Tennessee State University). Electronic Theses and Dissertations.

Oleson, J. C. (2016). The New Eugenics: Black Hyper-Incarceration and Human Abatement.

Social Sciences, 5(4), 66-n/a. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci5040066

Petrich, D. M., Pratt, T. C., Jonson, C. L., & Cullen, F. T. (2021). Custodial sanctions and reoffending: A meta-analytic review. Crime and Justice, 50(1), 353–397.

Prison Policy Initiative. (n.d.). Racial and ethnic disparities.

https://www.prisonpolicy.org/research/racial_and_ethnic_disparities

Sage reference – encyclopedia of Social Psychology – Social Dominance Orientation. (n.d.-c). https://sk.sagepub.com/ency/edvol/socialpsychology/chpt/social–dominance–orientation USAFacts. (2023). How common is it for released prisoners to re-offend?.

https://usafacts.org/articles/how-common-is-it-for-released-prisoners-to-re-offend