Question

______ in a criminal justice context, can be defined as the reversion of an individual to criminal behaviour after he or she has been convicted of a prior offence, sentenced and corrected:

• A. Vicarious trauma
• B. Redisposition
• C. Recidivism
• D. Innocent conviction

Hint:

Reducing recidivism is one of the main goals of rehabilitation and correctional programs.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Concept:

• One of the main goals of the penal system is to reduce the rate of re-offending.
• When an individual "relapses" into crime despite previous punishment or rehabilitation, it is seen as a failure of the correctional process.

Step 1: Define the technical term
The correct term for habitual relapse into crime is Recidivism. A recidivist is a person who repeats an unwanted behavior after they have either experienced negative consequences of that behavior or have been treated/trained to extinguish that behavior.

Step 2: Evaluate the process described
The question describes a three-stage process: 1. Conviction (Legal guilt established). 2. Sentencing (Punishment given). 3. Correction (Rehabilitation attempted). If the person still "reverts" to crime, they are called a recidivist.

Step 3: Analyze other options
(A) Vicarious trauma: Emotional residue of exposure to working with those suffering from trauma (e.g., counselors/police). (B) Redisposition: A non-standard term likely used as a distractor. (D) Innocent conviction: A miscarriage of justice where a person is wrongly found guilty.

Step 4: Final Conclusion
Recidivism is the only term that fits the sociological and legal definition of "reversion" to crime.