Prevention of Crime and Social Reintegration of Released Prisoners

The course focuses on two key areas: crime prevention and the social reintegration of ex-prisoners, the latter being essentially aimed at preventing recidivism and engagement in a criminal "career." The first part of the course addresses crime prevention, beginning with its conceptual framework. Emphasis is placed on the types and distinctions within prevention, as well as the necessary clarification of concepts to avoid frequent misunderstandings with seemingly related terms (such as prognosis, prediction, and apprehension). Specifically, the course analyzes various forms of prevention, starting with the distinction between penal and social prevention. This is further broken down into the categories of general and specific (penal) prevention, as well as general and situational (social) prevention, and their more specific manifestations (private, community-based, technical, etc.). The approach to these forms of prevention is specialized according to the type and nature of criminal activity (domestic violence, sexual offenses, theft/burglary, robbery, drug-related crime, economic crime, etc.). Additionally, the role of local communities, law enforcement, the justice system, and informal and formal social control mechanisms is highlighted. The second part of the course addresses the prevention of recidivism and the social (re)integration of ex-prisoners and, more broadly, of criminal offenders. This includes examining key issues such as the conceptual and epistemological underpinnings of social exclusion, marginalization, and reintegration, as well as the various aspects of "social barriers" and exclusions. Related concepts and practices, such as social deprivation and the stigmatization of individuals and populations, are also discussed. Moreover, the course explores protective factors and risk factors for criminality, drawing on international and Greek research and theoretical perspectives on "criminal careers." The methodological challenges encountered in this context are also critically examined. Through this analysis, the course provides an in-depth understanding of the dynamics at play in preventing crime and fostering the reintegration of offenders into society.