NCJ Number
59186
Date Published
1978
Length
39 pages
Annotation
THIS CANADIAN STUDY WAS DESIGNED TO EXAMINE RECIDIVISM RATES AMONG MALE OFFENDERS AT A COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER 1 YEAR AFTER THEIR RELEASE INTO THE COMMUNITY.
Abstract
DURING THE 1974-1976 STUDY OF COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTERS (CRC'S), THE RECIDIVISM DATA COLLECTED 6 MONTHS AFTER DISCHARGE WAS FOUND INSUFFICIENT TO MEASURE THE OUTCOME FROM CRC INTERVENTION. THE PRESENT STUDY FOUND THAT RECIDIVISM INCREASED TO 30 PERCENT FOR A 1-YEAR FOLLOW-UP PERIOD FROM THE INITIAL 11.6 PERCENT REPORTED FOR THE 6-MONTH FOLLOW-UP PERIOD. CONSIDERATION WAS GIVEN TO FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH RECIDIVISM RATES AND TO CHARACTERISTICS OF OFFENDERS WHO DID NOT COMPLETE THEIR CRC PROGRAM. AMONG THE MEN WHO COMPLETED THEIR PLANNED TERM IN THE CENTERS, LENGTH OF STAY IN THE CRCS WAS RELATED TO THE LENGTH OF SENTENCE FOR WHICH THE MEN WERE SERVING TIME. SHORT-TERM RESIDENTS, WHO WERE CONVICTED OF LESSER CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES AT THE TIME OF THEIR ADMISSION TO THE CRC'S, DEMONSTRATED A SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER RECIDIVISM RATE THAN LONG TERM RESIDENTS AND HAD FEWER PROBLEMS THAT REQUIRED INTERVENTION DURING THEIR STAY AT 6 CENTERS. OWING TO THE CRC'S SUCCESS, PRERELEASE PLANNING SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AN ESSENTIAL ROLE OF THE CENTERS. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ACCOMPANY THE ARTICLE. COCHRAN'S METHOD OF PARTITIONING THE CHI-SQUARE AND SUPPLEMENTARY TABLES ARE APPENDED. (MJW)