Abstract
Overcrowding in prisons is a huge problem in the United States and one that we have yet to deal with successfully. A key factor is recidivism, which is defined as offenders returning to prison or jail post-release. The United States has one of the highest recidivism rates in the world, especially when compared to Scandinavian countries which have the lowest. The socioeconomic historical development and cultural characteristics of both the United States and Scandinavian countries affect the culture of their prison systems and in turn, affects the prison populations and recidivism rates. Comparing the history, cultural attitudes, and prisons of the United States to Scandinavia shows a gap in the literature of not connecting what really affects the prison systems and the recidivism rates. Is it the history, the culture, the prisons themselves, or a combination?
Semester/Year of Award
Fall 2019
Mentor
Charles B. Fields
Mentor Professional Affiliation
Justice Studies
Access Options
Open Access Thesis
Document Type
Bachelor Thesis
Degree Name
Honors Scholars
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Department
Justice Studies
Recommended Citation
Riep, Alexis, "The Effects of Culture and Punishment Philosophies on Recidivism: Comparing Prison Systems in the United States and Scandinavia" (2019). Honors Theses. 700.
https://encompass.eku.edu/honors_theses/700
