Does punishment change behavior?

As the U.S. prison system approaches meltdown, the need to evaluate correctional programs and policies has never been more important. This webinar explores the topic of punishment alongside other criminal sanctions like probation, parole, alternative sentencing, and community–based programs as a means of changing behavior. Specific examples are presented to show why a one-size-fits-all approach does not deliver the best results.

Students, researchers, scholars, and practitioners will learn from experts about the history of punishment; why we have criminal sanctions and what is known about their effectiveness in changing behavior; the disparity in punishment and its unintended consequences; and the need for treatment and efforts toward reducing recidivism.

About the panelists

Edward J. Latessa, is a Professor and Director of the School of Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati, and he and his staff have assessed more than 600 correctional programs throughout the United States. Dr. Latessa is one of the world’s foremost experts on correctional programming and was identified in 2013 as one of the most innovative people in criminal justice by a national survey conducted by the Center for Court Innovation in partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the U.S. Department of Justice. He will explain the history of punishment and how it has evolved over the years before using specific examples from today to highlight “what works”.

Deborah Koetzle is an Associate Professor in the Department of Public Management and the Executive Officer of the Criminal Justice Doctoral Program at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Her research interests center on effective interventions for offenders, problem-solving courts, and the use of social media by police departments. She will discuss the need for treatment and efforts toward reducing recidivism.

Kimberly D. Dodson is an Associate Professor and Graduate Coordinator in the School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration at Western Illinois University. Her research interests include using evidence-based assessments to evaluate correctional programs and policies, the effectiveness of rehabilitation and treatment for minorities, and promoting thoughtful pedagogical practices in criminal justice. She will discuss disparate punishment and the unintended consequences of punishment.