Voices of Recidivism: A Case Study on the Causes of Reoffending

Recidivism means a tendency to be repeatedly punished because one has frequently committed crimes, and recidivism is talking about laws that are repeated as a result of the same and similar actions (Sukma et al., 2023). According to Zara and Fallington, in their book Criminal Recidivism say that: “recidivism is the official criminal involvement (base on criminal records) of a person who, after having been convicted for a previous offense, commits a new crime for which they incur another conviction†(Sukma et al., 2023). This study answers the profiles of the participants in terms of age, sex, and criminal history; why do offenders become recidivists; what are the effects of becoming a recidivist; and how does the recidivist cope with the situation? The purpose of this study is to seek and understand the complex circumstances and underlying causes that lead to repeat offenders’ recurrent engagement in criminal behavior by delving deeply into their lived experiences and views. A case study research design has been utilized in the study. The study was conducted in one of the City Jail in Region-X. The participants of this study were seven (7) male offenders who have been involved in the cycle of criminal recidivism. Yin’s 5-step data analysis approach was used to analyze the data and allow researchers to analyze textual data (Yin, 2011). Participants highlighted the profound impact of peer influence and environmental factors on recidivism. The study reveals that peer pressure and environmental factors play a crucial role in recidivism among individuals in one of the City Jail in Region-X. It is recommended that the government agencies such as health, education and social services implement multifaceted interventions that address both individual and environmental factors contributing to recidivism.