FOREIGN EXPERIENCE IN COUNTERING RECIDIVISM

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of foreign experience in countering recidivism and identifies key trends that shape contemporary approaches to preventing repeat criminal offenses. Recidivism remains one of the most complex and socially dangerous problems of modern criminal justice. The article is devoted to the analysis of foreign experience in combating recidivism and the assessment of the effectiveness of various models of resocialization and prevention. Particular attention is paid to the practices of Norway, the USA, Canada, and the UK, in particular: the humanistic model of the Norwegian prison system, the reforms of the US Federal Bureau of Prisons, the work of drug courts in the United States and Canada, and the Second Chance social enterprise program for former prisoners in the United Kingdom.

A comparative analysis of innovative tools was conducted: electronic surveillance, intensive probation programs, educational and professional training, medical and psychological interventions, and labor integration of convicts. The conclusions show that the most effective way to combat recidivism is based on a comprehensive combination of criminal law, social, psychological, and educational measures, a personalized approach to convicts, and active support for their social integration. The proposed conclusions can serve as a scientifically sound basis for improving the Ukrainian criminal justice system and increasing the effectiveness of preventive and rehabilitation programs.

Particular attention is paid to innovative prevention mechanisms, including electronic surveillance, risk-oriented tools for assessing offender behavior, digital systems for predicting recidivism, interagency cooperation between social services and the probation service, and the implementation of psychotherapeutic support and vocational training programs in places of deprivation of liberty.

The study demonstrates that the most effective models for combating recidivism are based on a combination of two key components: ensuring public safety and creating conditions for the successful resocialization of convicts.

Based on a summary of positive practices, recommendations have been formulated regarding the possibilities for their adaptation to the Ukrainian context. The results obtained can be used in further scientific research, as well as in the formation of a national strategy for the prevention of recidivism.