According to The Sentencing Project (2020), the United States currently detains about 2 million people within their prisons and jails, being the lead country in the international rates of incarceration. Lobel (2020) defines mass incarceration as the "dramatic expansion of using solitary confinement…" As we continuously face this epidemic of rising incarceration rates and the implications that follow, many individuals look to criminologists, law enforcement, and the court system to address this issue with preventative and intervention methods. In our roles as catalysts for change in the criminal justice system, we must address how to effectively punish those who have broken the moral standard and rehabilitate them so that they do not repeat such crimes. Additionally, as we discuss the growing concerns about incarceration rates, we must also address recidivism. In the context of this paper, I will be investigating the efficacy of different methods of reducing recidivism, specifically art therapy in juveniles. My research question is, "What role does art therapy contribute to the recidivism rate, specifically in juvenile offenders?" This topic highlights innovative ways to reduce the entire prison population by solely decreasing the recidivism rate. While our criminal justice system has allowed the previously incarcerated to shift their goals and mindset, the environment of some prisoners remains inhumane and isolated. Being subjected to an environment that does not serve one's needs can most certainly contribute to unhealthy habits, so we must move forward with how we can rewire the justice system and reduce the disparities within it.
