Cognitive-behavioral skills training in preventing offending and reducing recidivism

Criminal behavior is a reality of contemporary society. The aim of this chapter is to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral and cognitive skills training programs in preventing offending and reducing recidivism. There is, it seems, a reliable human prediction which finds its credibility in its confirmation: past behavior is the most robust and significant predictor of future behavior. However, reducing the risk of future offending by intervening on past criminogenic behavior is not straightforward. The road to effective interventions is still lengthy. Addressing the issue of “what works?” in preventing crime, in reducing re-offending and in rehabilitating offenders, is not only a scientific challenge, but has become a professional responsibility for researchers, criminologists, practitioners, policy makers, and politicians involved in the task of protecting and enhancing the well-being of individuals and their community.