Question

why don't most first-time offenders reoffend?

Answer 1

A growing body of research points out to the fact individuals age out of crime, as there is greater tendency for them to act out during their adolescence or youth. It has been observed that an experience in prison is similar to a natural process of maturation and it significantly decreases the chance of the individual reoffending in the future. This, of course, corresponds to one of the primary goals of prison itself. This suggests we can safely let a lot of prisoners free without huge concerns for public safety.