The myth of the Nordic rehabilitative paradise

The Nugget

The myth of the Nordic rehabilitative paradise is debunked: Recidivism rates in Nordic countries are not significantly lower than in the United States, challenging the belief in their superior rehabilitation success.

Make it stick

💡 Recidivism rates are influenced by various external factors beyond prison rehabilitation efforts.
💡 Therapy does not significantly reduce recidivism rates, contrary to common belief.
💡 Prison differences in recidivism rates may be more linked to prisoner composition than actual prison rehabilitation efforts.

Recidivism rates depend heavily on the follow-up duration and how recidivism is defined.
The composition of sentenced offenders, societal factors, distribution of crime types, and deportation of foreign convicts all affect recidivism rates.
Comparing recidivism rates between countries can be challenging due to differences in measurement and societal factors.

The effectiveness of therapy in reducing recidivism rates is not well-supported by evidence.
Age, sex, and psychiatric medication for certain disorders like ADHD and psychosis can influence recidivism rates.
Broadly applicable interventions that drastically lower recidivism rates on a national level are generally not known or supported by strong evidence.

Nordic recidivism rates, especially in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, are not exceptionally low as commonly believed.
The United States' recidivism rate is comparable to countries like Denmark, Sweden, and Finland when measured closely.
Much of the variation in recidivism rates is influenced by factors outside prison rehabilitation efforts.

"Recidivism rates are measured very differently depending on jurisdiction and context, making international comparisons challenging."
"Therapy is not significantly effective at reducing recidivism rates, contrary to popular belief."
"Differences in recidivism rates across prisons may be more about prisoner composition and external factors than prison rehabilitation efforts."
"The dream of complete rehabilitation or anything close to it is disappointing given the current evidence."
"Comparing recidivism rates between countries must consider the complexities of measurement and societal factors, not just rehabilitation efforts."

This summary contains AI-generated information and may have important inaccuracies or omissions.