NCJ Number
142483
Date Published
1974
Length
66 pages
Annotation
This study obtained extensive data on 4,146 male California Youth Authority parolees so as to provide information on offender characteristics that may be related to parole success.
Abstract
Information was collected on over 200 variables in eight categories: individual case history factors, intelligence factors, academic factors, vocational factors, personality factors, psychiatric and psychological factors, admission offense and parole behavior, and initial institutional programming. The overall parole success rate for the total study population was 60.9 percent on a 15-month followup. The average age of this group was 19.44 years. Parole success rates were markedly higher for first admissions to the Youth Authority, with the exception of the dull normal group, for whom only slightly higher success is evident. Wards of average intelligence did not show any differences in parole success rates among the ethnic groups. Among wards of bright normal intelligence, whites did relatively well on parole, and blacks did relatively poorly. Wards of borderline and dull normal intelligence with severe drinking problems were particularly less successful on parole. Parole success rates dropped considerably for all persons illegally involved with drugs. Regardless of intellectual potential, wards who committed aggression and violence against persons were relatively successful on parole. 52 tables, 59 figures, and 5 references