Recidivism is a term often used in the criminal justice system, referring to the tendency of convicted criminals to re-offend. The spelling of this word may seem daunting, but it follows a fairly regular pattern. The "rec" syllable is pronounced with a short "e" sound, as in "pet". The "i" in the middle is pronounced with a long "e" sound, as in "meet". The "-cism" suffix is pronounced with a soft "s" sound and an "ism" ending, similar to the word "criticism".
Recidivism is a term used in criminology and law to describe the tendency of a convicted criminal to relapse into criminal behavior after serving their punishment or sentence. It refers to the act of reoffending or committing new crimes upon being released or completing a prior sentence. The term specifically applies to individuals who have been previously convicted and have gone through the criminal justice system.
Recidivism is often measured by calculating the percentage of former inmates who are rearrested, reconvicted, or reincarcerated within a specified period after their release from prison. It is a significant concern for policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and society as a whole, as it indicates the failure of rehabilitation or deterrence in the criminal justice system.
Factors that contribute to recidivism can be complex and multifaceted, including personal, social, and environmental circumstances. Common risk factors include lack of education or employment opportunities, substance abuse issues, mental health problems, inadequate social support, and previous criminal history. Addressing these underlying factors through effective rehabilitation programs, educational support, vocational training, and access to essential resources can potentially reduce the tendency of recidivism.
Understanding and addressing recidivism is crucial in improving criminal justice systems, enhancing public safety, reducing the burden on law enforcement, and providing individuals with the opportunity to reintegrate into society as law-abiding citizens.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "recidivism" has its origins in the Latin language. It is derived from the Latin word "recidivus", which means "repeatedly falling back" or "recurring". The term "recidivus" itself is composed of two Latin parts: "re-" meaning "again" or "back" and "cadere" meaning "to fall". Over time, the word "recidivism" has come to be specifically used in the context of relapsing or repeating criminal behavior.