CONCORD ACHIEVEMENT REHABILITATION VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE AN EVALUATION

• NCJ Number: 44699
• Author(s): F FARRINGTON; S WITTENBERG
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 23 pages
• Sale Source: Massachusetts Dept of Correction; National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A PROGRAM GIVING INMATES AT THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS' CONCORD FACILITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK IN A STATE HOSPITAL IS ASSESSED IN TERMS OF RECIDIVISM RATES FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS.

Abstract

CONCORD'S ACHIEVEMENT REHABILITATION VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE PROGRAM, IN WHICH INMATES ARE RELEASED FROM PRISON DURING THE DAY TO WORK IN A STATE HOSPITAL, IS ONE ASPECT OF MASSACHUSETTS' APPROACH TO COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION OF OFFENDERS. TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAM, THE INCIDENCE OF REINCARCERATION WITHIN 1 YEAR OF RELEASE IS EXAMINED FOR PARTICIPANTS AND NONPARTICIPANTS. THE ANALYSIS REVEALS THAT THE RECIDIVISM RATE FOR THE PARTICIPANTS (18 PERCENT) IS MUCH LOWER THAN WOULD HAVE BEEN EXPECTED FOR THE GROUP (33 PERCENT), AS WELL AS MUCH LOWER THAN THAT FOR THE GENERAL RELEASE POPULATION (28 PERCENT). A COMPARISON OF PROGRAM COMPLETERS AND NONCOMPLETERS REVEALS THAT THE COMPLETER GROUP INCLUDES A DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH NUMBER OF INMATES WHO HELD SKILLED POSITIONS PRIOR TO INCARCERATION. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE PROGRAM OFFERS A POSITIVE REHABILITATIVE EXPERIENCE FOR INMATES. SUPPORTING DATA ARE PROVIDED.