NCJ Number
13026
Journal
Criminology Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1973) Pages: 345-381
Date Published
1973
Length
37 pages
Annotation
A QUESTIONNAIRE WAS ADMINISTERED TO WORK RELEASE INMATES SIX MONTHS BEFORE AND JUST PRIOR TO THEIR RELEASE TO FIND WHAT ATTITUDE CHANGE MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO WORK RELEASE.
Abstract
NO DISCERNIBLE DIFFERENCE WAS FOUND OVER THE DURATION OF THE WORK RELEASE EXPERIENCE IN LEVELS OF PERCEIVED OPPORTUNITY, ACHIEVEMENT MOTIVATION, OR SELF-ESTEEM. FURTHER, THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WORK RELEASE PARTICIPANTS AND A CONTROL GROUP OF NON-RELEASE INMATES WITH REGARD TO THESE FACTORS. FINALLY, THE ONLY ATTITUDE CHANGE ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE WORK RELEASE EXPERIENCE WAS UNFAVORABLE SINCE SELF-ESTEEM OF WORK RELEASE PARTICIPANTS WAS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN THAT EXPRESSED BEFORE WORK RELEASE AND THAN THAT EXPRESSED BY THE NON-RELEASE CONTROLS. THE AUTHORS SUGGEST THAT WORK RELEASE, AS SUCH, CANNOT BE CHARGED WITH FAILURE TO IMPROVE INMATE ATTITUDES SINCE THE OUTCOME OF COMMUNITY CONTACTS MAY DEPEND LARGELY ON THE QUALITY OF CONTACTS SUSTAINED OR EXPECTED.