Recidivism as a Process

This paper approaches recidivism from the perspective of ethnomethodology and views “recidivism” as the product of, various decisions and interactions. Consequently, rehabilitation and measures of its success or failure must be considered as a process. An example is presented of the use of failure rate anlaysis in analyzing the recidivism of 468 men released from a penitentiary in Iowa. While the need for better theory and its utilization is not denied, it is suggested that the development of valid theories in corrections is dependent upon greater attention to the measurement of “what works?” and “for whom?”