Discuss ways of dealing with offending behaviour. (8 marks)

There are several psychological ways of dealing with offending behaviour, including behaviour modification in custody, anger management, and restorative justice programmes. Behaviour modification is based on operant conditioning and uses token economies to reinforce positive behaviour in prison settings. Tokens are given for desirable actions, such as following rules, and can be exchanged for privileges. Anger management involves cognitive behavioural techniques to help offenders recognise triggers and develop coping strategies. It typically includes cognitive preparation, skill acquisition, and application practice. Restorative justice focuses on rehabilitation through reconciliation with victims, often involving mediated meetings to help offenders understand the impact of their crimes.

One strength of these approaches is that some aim to reduce recidivism by targeting underlying causes of offending. For example, anger management addresses emotional regulation, which can be especially beneficial for violent offenders. This suggests a more long-term and rehabilitative solution compared to punishment alone.

However, a limitation is that some methods may not be equally effective for all offenders. For instance, token economies often produce short-term behavioural compliance in prison but have limited impact once released. Additionally, restorative justice requires a willing and cooperative offender and victim, which may not always be possible, limiting its applicability.