Criminal Justice Practice Exam

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Which term refers to the return to illegal activity after release from incarceration?

Recidivism
Restitution
Prisonization
Arraignment

The correct answer is: Recidivism

The term that refers to the return to illegal activity after release from incarceration is recidivism. This concept highlights the tendency of previously incarcerated individuals to re-offend and may involve a cycle of arrest, incarceration, and re-offending patterns. Recidivism is an important measure in the criminal justice system as it indicates the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs and the challenges faced by individuals reintegrating into society. Restitution refers to the compensation given to victims by offenders, usually in the form of monetary payment, and is not directly related to the act of re-offending. Prisonization describes the process by which inmates adapt to the prison environment and adopt its norms and values, which can influence behavior post-release but does not specifically address re-offending. Arraignment is a legal proceeding in which a defendant is formally charged with a crime and enters a plea, and again, it does not relate to the concept of returning to illegal activities after serving time. Therefore, recidivism is the most accurate term to describe the phenomenon of returning to criminal behavior following incarceration.