Positive Criminology and Positive Psychology

• Author: Jeremy Olson
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/08874034221133727
• Published date: 01 February 2023
• Date: 01 February 2023
• Subject Matter: Articles

https://doi.org/10.1177/08874034221133727

Criminal Justice Policy Review

2023, Vol. 34(1) 3 –7

© The Author(s) 2022

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DOI: 10.1177/08874034221133727

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Article

Positive Criminology and

Positive Psychology

Jeremy Olson1

Abstract

Welcome to our Special Issue on Positive Criminology and Positive Psychology. It is

our hope that this issue will help generate critical reflection about American criminal

justice policy and the possibility of moving the system towards a happier and more

prosocial perspective. To begin, this editorial introduction briefly frames positive

criminology and positive psychology for the readers, and then reviews the content

of the special issue.

Keywords

positive criminology, positive psychology, satisfaction with life, well-being

During his presidential address to the American Psychological Association, Seligman

(1999) lamented research indicating that cases of serious depression had increased

10-fold in four decades and voiced his concern that it was now commonly manifesting

as early as the teen years. Seligman hinted at his dismay that increases in depression

were despite increased prosperity, technological advances, and greater access to edu-

cation. To Seligman, it was clear that Psychology’s long-standing efforts to promote

mental healing in people who were suffering some form of dysfunction simply was not

working as well as expected.

Arguably, because of its reliance on rehabilitative therapies from psychology, juve-

nile justice was experiencing its own sense of failed interventions (Carmichael et al.,

2005; Spencer & Jones-Walker, 2004). Recidivism rates after juvenile interventions

were consistently around 50% (Abrams et al., 2008; Unruh et al., 2009). While one-

half recidivism appears high, these juvenile recidivism rates are generally lower than

adult recidivism after incarceration. The latter have been reported between 44% after

1Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Dallas, USA

Corresponding Author:

Jeremy Olson, Penn State Wilkes-Barre, 44 University Drive, Dallas, PA 18612-5500, USA.

Email: jao@psu.edu

1133727CJPXXX10.1177/08874034221133727Criminal Justice Policy ReviewOlson

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