Occupational therapy - possible solution for preventing the breach of criminal law and socially reintegrating offenders

• Author: Constantin Marc Neagu
• Position: Assistant Lecturer, PhD candidate, Faculty of Law, 'Nicolae Titulescu' University of Bucharest (e-mail: lexetscientia@univnt.ro).
• Pages: 136-144

LESIJ NO. XXIV, VOL. 2/2017

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY - POSSIBLE SOLUTION FOR

PREVENTING THE BREACH OF CRIMINAL LAW AND

SOCIALLY REINTEGRATING OFFENDERS

Constantin Marc NEAGU*

Abstract

This paper a ims at giving a brief overview on occupational therapy, a less known branch

belonging to health science, which focuses on improving the cognitive, physical and motor skills within

the individual. For its obvious benefits, one would like to propose to apply this treatment to criminally

convicted individuals in order to better achieve their social reintegration. In this regard, occupational

therapy can increase the offender’s self esteem, so tha t, finally, his social reintegration could become

successful. Therefore, current trends in occupational therapy are outlined and a short historical

evolution of this branch of health science is also provided.

Keywords: occupational therapy; therapy through work; reintegration of offenders; preventing

criminal behaviour; overpopulated prisons

1. Introduction. Outlining the

Concept

The interest in the topic of

occupational therapy in the field of cri minal

sciences lies in the very notion of the term

‘criminal science’. As defined in the legal

dictionary, ‘the criminal law science is a

branch of legal-criminal s cience which

represents a system of knowledge expressed

in concepts, theories, ideas intended to

explain the need, purpose and tasks of

criminal law, to establish the methods of

investigation for legal and criminal

phenomena, to develop legal means to

prevent and combat crime by means of the

criminal law

1

.’

* Assistant Lecturer, PhD candidate, Faculty of Law, “Nicolae Titulescu” University of Bucharest (e-mail:

lexetscientia@univnt.ro).

1

legeaz.net/dictionar-juridic/stiinta-dreptului-penal-si-procesual-penal. See, as well, M. A. Hotca, Manual de

drept penal. Partea generală - Criminal Law Textbook. The General Part, Universul Juridic Publishing House,

Bucharest, 2017, p. 22-25.

What is meant by occupational therapy

derives from the words that compose it.

Having an occupation means being

involved, committed and really participating

in a motivated manner. Therapy means

being treated for an illness, disability, or

handicap.

Occupational therapy is the art and

science directing the patient into

participating in certain activities to rebuild,

strengthen or improve one’s performance, to

facilitate the acquisition of those skills and

functions that are required for adaptation and

productivity, as well as for the reduction or

correction of the pathology, so as to maintain

one’s health status. The fundamental

concern of occupational therapy is to

maintain and develop a p erson’s capacity to

satisfactorily perform various activities for