For many decades, the legal system subscribed to a primarily punishment-based model; however, efforts to effectively rehabilitate individuals who are incarcerated are driving international prison reform.
The 1990s “positive psychology” movement fostered an interest in building on the strengths of incarcerated individuals and enlisting their motivation and commitment to positive change. Since then, research has consistently demonstrated that using cognitive-behavioral programs to target dynamic (changeable) risk factors for reoffending (e.g., problematic cognitions, peer affiliation, and personality traits) can reduce recidivism rates by up to 55%. In response, implementations of cognitive-behavioral programs in correctional and forensic psychiatric settings proliferated.