CRITICAL EVALUATION OF THE RELEVANCE OF REHABILITATION THEORY OF REDUCTIVISM TO CONTEMPORARY CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

Abstract

The concept of rehabilitation of offenders as a tool for tackling recidivism and controlling crime has been one of the most contentious issues among different schools of thought in criminology, criminal justice jurisprudence, political leaders, and criminal justice administrators. There are those who argue that because human beings are rational thinkers, have free will and are utilitarian in nature, they deserve punishment for any felony. However, there are others who contend that because there are factors that are beyond some people`s control which cause them to commit crime, they deserve to be treated or reformed and rehabilitated rather than punished.Using secondary research, the study evaluated rehabilitation theory of Reductivism and assessed its relevance to contemporary criminal justice systems around the world. In doing so it reviewed criminological theories that support rehabilitation theory of Reductivism, history of rehabilitation paradigm, the role of justice paradigm in increasing prison population exponentially around the world and the capacity of rehabilitation paradigm to reduce criminal recidivism and crime rates. The findings indicate that although rehabilitation theory of Reductivism suffered some setbacks, researchers in penology have proven that it works and is a more efficient and humane way of combating crime by reducing recidivism. These researchers are also restructuring treatment models to make them more result oriented. Consequently, many criminal justice systems around the world, seem to have realised that rehabilitation is a better penal option and, appear to be reverting to the rehabilitation theory of Reductivism rather than the justice model or “just desert”.