What model replaced the medical model in probation thinking?

• A. Restorative justice
• B. Reintegration
• C. Medical model
• D. Deterrence-based

Answer: (B)

In probation thinking, the shift away from viewing offenders as patients who simply need treatment toward helping them return and stay in the community is the essence of reintegration. The medical model treated crime as a pathology, focusing on diagnosing and “treating” the offender to reduce risk, often with the authority of professionals guiding the process. Reintegration, by contrast, centers on rebuilding the offender’s social bonds—employment, housing, family connections, and pro-social roles—while still providing supervision and support to manage risk. This approach supports public safety while recognizing that people can and do reform within the context of community life, making it the model that replaced the medical approach in probation thinking.