Final answer:
Recidivism refers to the return to criminal behavior after one's release from prison. Rehabilitation and resocialization are key factors in preventing recidivism, providing education, economic opportunities, and necessary societal reintegration.
Step-by-step explanation:
Returning to criminal behavior after being released from prison is known as recidivism. Labeling theory would explain this by suggesting that the offender has been labeled as deviant by society and has accepted this label as a new master status.
Rehabilitation is crucial to prevent recidivism, wherein the former offender receives counseling, educational programs, and economic opportunities to alter their cost-benefit analysis away from reoffending. Additionally, the process of resocialization is necessary to remove old behaviors that are no longer useful in a new environment, such as transitioning from prison back into society.