NCJ Number
42508
Date Published
1975
Length
59 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY TENTATIVELY ESTABLISHES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PRE-RELEASE PROGRAMS CONSIDERED, BASED ON A MEASUREMENT OF RECIDIVISM RATES OF PARTICIPANTS. INMATE TYPES DISPROPORTIONATELY HELPED ARE ALSO IDENTIFIED.
Abstract
THE PRE-RELEASE PROGRAMS ANALYZED PROVIDE FOR SELECTED INMATES TO LIVE IN A RESIDENCE OUTSIDE THE INSTITUTION FOR A PERIOD PRIOR TO THEIR SENTENCE COMPLETION. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES PROVISION FOR RESIDENTS TO WORK AT JOBS IN THE COMMUNITY, PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND RECEIVE VOCATIONAL AND ADJUSTMENT COUNSELING. IT WAS FOUND THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD COMPLETED THE PROGRAM HAD SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER RATES OF RECIDIVISM THAN A CONTROL GROUP OF SIMILAR INMATE TYPES. INMATES DISPROPORTIONATELY HELPED BY THE PROGRAM HAD COMPARATIVELY SHORTER COURT RECORDS, WITH FEWER INCARCERATIONS AND PAROLES, ALONG WITH A BRIEFER PERIOD SERVED ON THEIR PRESENT SENTENCES. SURPRISINGLY, INMATES WHO HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY HELD ANY JOB LONGER THAN 6 MONTHS HAD DISPROPORTIONATELY LOWER RECIDIVISM RATES THAN INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD HELD JOBS LONGER THAN 6 MONTHS. ALSO, INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD HISTORIES OF PRIOR ARRESTS FOR DRUNKENNESS WERE DISPROPORTIONATELY HELPED BY THE PROGRAM. THE AUTHOR INDICATES HIS FINDINGS ARE TENTATIVE, PENDING THE COMPLETION OF FURTHER RESEARCH NOW UNDERWAY AT THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION....RCB