ndividual Factors: •Mental health or addiction issues: Underlying mental health problems or substance abuse can contribute to criminal behavior. With treatment, these issues can make it difficult to develop impulse control or make positive life choices. •Lack of opportunity: Limited access to education, employment, or social support can make it hard to find legitimate ways to make a living, pushing some back to crime. •Socialization and environment: Growing up in a high-crime environment or associating with criminals can normalize criminal behavior and make it seem like the only option. There are severalreasons why people might not change their criminal behavior after convictions: 4 I

1. CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR
RESEARCH
IDS105 - 22342 Systems & Society
Shaikha Khalifa 202310028
Fatima Ibrahim 202213560

2. Tableofcontents
Introduction
Research Question 01
Introduction to our question 02
Introduction to our question 03
#System Analysis
Micro Level 04
Meso Level 05
Macro Level 06
#BehavioralExplanation
Feedback loop 07
Cognitive Model 08
Core beliefs and limiting beliefs 09
#Purpose 10
Goals and values 11
#Utility 12
Costs and benefits 13
Conclusion 14
References 15

3. ResearchQuestion:
Whydopeoplefailtochangetheircriminal
behavioraftertheyhavebeenrepeatedly
convicted?

4. #EvidenceBased
Individual Factors:
•Mental health or addiction issues: Underlying mental health problems
or substance abuse can contribute to criminal behavior. Without
treatment, these issues can make it difficult to develop impulse control
or make positive life choices.
•Lack of opportunity: Limited access to education, employment, or
social support can make it hard to find legitimate ways to make a living,
pushing some back to crime.
•Socialization and environment: Growing up in a high-crime
environment or associating with criminals can normalize criminal
behavior and make it seem like the only option.
There are several reasons why people might not change their
criminal behavior after convictions:
4
Introduction

5. Systemic Factors:
•Harsher punishments don't always deter: While punishment is a deterrent for some, lengthy
sentences can disrupt positive social ties and make it harder to reintegrate into society upon release.
•Inadequate rehabilitation programs: Prisons might not offer sufficient programs for education, job
training, or addiction treatment, leaving people unprepared to live a crime-free life after release.
•Limited post-release support: Difficulties finding housing or employment after prison can make it
very challenging to avoid returning to criminal activity.

6. #SystemAnalysis
8
MICRO-LEVEL:
•Agents: Individuals who have committed crimes. (James & Glaze, 2006)
•Attributes:
Mental health: History of mental illness, substance abuse issues.
Socioeconomic background: Education level, employment history, social support network. (Petersilia, 2003).
Cognitive factors: Impulse control, decision-making skills.
Criminal history: Type of offense, number of prior convictions. (James & Glaze, 2006)

7. •Agents: Prisons, rehabilitation programs, social service agencies, employers.
•Attributes:
Rehabilitation programs: Availability and quality of educational programs, job training, cognitive behavioral
therapy, and addiction treatment.
Social services: Availability of housing assistance, job placement support, and mentorship programs. (RAND
Corporation (RR162.0, 2003)
Employer attitudes: Openness to hiring formerly incarcerated individuals. (National Employment Law
Project, 2018; Urban Institute, 2010).
#SystemAnalysis
8
MESO-LEVEL:

8. #SystemAnalysis
8
MACRO-LEVEL:
•Agents: Government agencies, policymakers, public opinion.
•Attributes:
Sentencing policies: Emphasis on incarceration vs. rehabilitation. (Clear, Gottfredson, & Clarke, 2014).
Funding: Investment in prison rehabilitation programs and reentry support services. (Clear, Gottfredson, &
Clarke, 2014).
Social inequalities: Levels of poverty, unemployment, and access to education that can contribute to
crime.
Public safety concerns: Attitudes towards rehabilitation vs. punishment.

9. #BehaviorExplaination
FeedbackLoop:
The criminal behavior is reinforced by reward or survival in a criminal atmosphere.
The prison environment may promote undesirable habits rather than encouraging good change.
Lack of confidence and self-worth contribute to the perception that crime is a life role.
Habitual reactions to stress or disagreement that encourage criminal behavior.

10. COGNITIVE MODEL
#BehaviorExplaination
Behavior: Involved in any criminal behavior: theft, murder,
fraud, homicide etc. Actions that have been reinforced by
previous experiences that they dealt with.
Thoughts/Beliefs: belief systems that excuse or legitimize
illegal behavior. Rationalization, ownership, blaming others, law
disregards etc.
Emotions/Feelings: Feelings that result from ideas and
activities, frequently strengthen the criminal cycle. Rage,
detachment, impatience, anxiety etc.
Body Physiology: Reactions that show that they are stressed
and that can cause “fight-or-flight behavior” involving criminal
activity.
(Niv & McAllister, 2019)

11. #BehaviorExplaination
Whether it’s good or bad strongly held beliefs influence behaviors and views of
individuals.
Lack of worth
Changing is impossible (Micheal, 2021).
Community’s outcast
Viewing themselves as the victims
Core beliefs: Limiting beliefs:
“Life is unfair and society owes me”
Law enforcement as rivals.
Legal success is impossible to achieve.
Unfair treatment

12. Criminal behavior is influenced by societal values, norms, and structural inequalities, shaping the purposes behind such actions.
In marginalized communities, individuals may turn to criminal activities to meet needs for survival, status, or a sense of
belonging.
Understanding the underlying purposes of criminal behavior is crucial for developing targeted interventions that address
root causes and provide alternative pathways for fulfillment.
By recognizing these motivations, interventions can be more effective in reducing recidivism rates and promoting social
rehabilitation.
(Simons and Burt,2011)
#PURPOSE

13. Goals and value:
Criminal behavior is influenced by societal values, norms, and structural inequalities, shaping the purposes behind such
actions.
In marginalized communities, individuals may turn to criminal activities to meet needs for survival, status, or a sense of
belonging.
Understanding the underlying purposes of criminal behavior is crucial for developing targeted interventions that address
root causes and provide alternative pathways for fulfillment.
By recognizing these motivations, interventions can be more effective in reducing recidivism rates and promoting social
rehabilitation.
Researchers like (Simons and Burt,2011) highlight the significance of comprehending the motivations driving criminal
behavior to design interventions that effectively address these underlying reasons.
#Purpose

14. #Utility
Recidivism imposes significant societal costs, such as straining criminal justice resources, causing harm to victims, and
eroding community trust and safety.
Policymakers must conduct a cost-benefit analysis to assess the effectiveness of interventions in reducing recidivism rates
and improving overall societal well-being.
This analysis entails comparing the costs of criminal justice programs with the benefits they offer, such as decreased
recidivism rates and quantifiable benefits like savings on incarceration expenses and reduced victimization costs.
Incorporating rational choice theory and bounded rationality, as suggested by McCollister, French, and Fang's research,
provides additional depth to understanding decision-making processes related to criminal behavior and intervention
evaluations.

15. #UTILITY
COSTS AND BENEFITS
COSTS:
Benefits:
Continued Harm to Victims
Strain on Criminal Justice Resources
Damage Community Trust
Maintained Criminal Networks
Perceived Benefits of Crime
Avoidance of Responsibility

16. 3
Individuals may not change their criminal behavior after convictions due to personal issues like mental health problems or addiction.
Environmental factors can also contribute, such as growing up in high-crime areas or associating with criminals.
At different levels of analysis:
Individual level: Factors like mental health, socioeconomic background, cognitive abilities, and criminal history influence criminal behavior.
Community level: Prisons, rehabilitation programs, social services, and employers play roles in providing support, training, and opportunities for change.
Society level: Government decisions, policies on punishment vs. rehabilitation, funding for programs, social issues like poverty and unemployment, and public attitudes all
influence criminal behavior.
Understanding why people turn to crime is key to creating interventions that address the real reasons behind their actions and offer better paths for them.
By recognizing these reasons and evaluating interventions effectively, we can reduce repeat offenses and help people reintegrate into society positively
.
Researchers like (Simons and Burt,2011) stress the importance of understanding these motivations for designing successful interventions.
Conclusion

17. References
Clear, T. R., Gottfredson, M. R., & Clarke, S. G. (2014). Punishment and crime rate revisited. Rutgers University Center on Crime in America.
Håkansson, A., & Berglund, M. (2012). Risk factors for criminal recidivism – A prospective follow-up study in prisoners with substance abuse. BMC Psychiatry.
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-12-111
James, D. J., & Glaze, L. E. (2006). Mental health problems of prison and jail inmates. Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report.
https://bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/mental-health-problems-prison-and-jail-inmates
McCollister, K., French, M., & Fang, H. (2010). The cost of crime to society: New crime-specific estimates for policy and program evaluation. Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2009.12.002
Micheal. (2021, September 7). Why domestic violence offenders don’t change: Avoiding pitfalls. Ananias Foundation. https://www.ananiasfoundation.org/why-domestic-
violence-offenders-dont-change/
National Employment Law Project. (2018). Collateral consequences of criminal records: A briefing paper. https://www.nelp.org/publication/collateral-consequences/
Niv, S., & McAllister, K. (2019, July 23). Psychological explanation: Analyzing agent behavior in a complex system. Minerva Project. https://www.minervaproject.com/
Petersilia, J. (2003). Desistance from crime: Community context and social ties. Cambridge University Press.
RAND Corporation. (2003). The impact of prison-based education programs on recidivism: Final report. https://www.rand.org/well-being/justice-policy/portfolios/correctional-
education/policy-impact.html
Simons, R., & Burt, C. (2011). Learning to be bad: Adverse social conditions, social schemas, and crime. Criminology. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-9125.2011.00231.x