Why re-invent the wheel in the US, whereas countries around the world have proven that the criminal justice system can be successful in preventing criminal behaviour and lower recidivism risks.
The European prison system varies slightly from one country to another, being that each country has different laws, cultural practices and government policies.
Some elements however, have proven to be successful in managing prisons, people in custody, maintaining family ties and reducing recidivism rates. Many European prisons have been closed down as a result and have been turned into commercial properties servicing other purposes.
– Reduced Recidivism: the best gauge of a successful incarceration system is a low recidivism rate, making societies safer as the incarcerated individuals have been rehabilitated successfully. Countries like Norway, Sweden, Finland, The Netherlands have relatively low recidivism rates, as their focus is on rehabilitation and not on punishment.
– Rehabilitation programs: European countries focus on re-integration into society and the incarcerated people are submerged into an array of vocational training, education, therapy, sobriety and social reintegration programs. Germany and The Netherlands especially emphasize vocational training and education for inmates.
– Prison conditions: Good conditions within prisons are another marker of a successful system. Most European prisons are clean, not overcrowded, and designed to maintain human dignity. Eastern European countries however still struggle to with issues of overcrowding and poorer conditions.
Incarcerated people can wear their own clothes, shoes and get private spousal visits, family visits. Medical and dental care are of the same standard by law. Being self-sufficient, cooking your own meals on a hot plate or microwave, have access to grocery shopping including fresh meat and vegetables, offer incarcerated people a smoother transition into society and family life.
– Focus on human rights: There is a strict system in place to protect the rights of incarcerated individuals, assuring them of humane treatment and pushed towards a successful re-entry. There is much focus on mental healthcare, religious care and so on.
– Decarceration and alternative sanctions: Some countries have been successful in implementing alternatives to incarceration such as electronic monitoring, community service or fines pro rated to the defendant’s income. This holds them accountable, but at the same time eliminates the negative effects of incarceration such as PSTD.
Challenges remain, but these are nowhere near the levels of the United States where the re-offending rates and prison conditions have reached alarming levels and will leave a growing part of the US society dysfunctional.
Sherida Nabi