NCJ Number
44268
Date Published
1977
Length
22 pages
Annotation
A WORK RELEASE PROGRAM INVOLVING A MASSACHUSETTS CORRECTIONAL FACILITY AND A STATE SCHOOL FOR THE HANDICAPPED IS EVALUATED ON THE BASIS OF RECIDIVISM RATES OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS.
Abstract
THE CONCORD ACHIEVEMENT REHABILITATION VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE PROGRAM IS PART OF MASSACHUSETTS' STATEWIDE WORK RELEASE PROGRAM INVOLVING SIX STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND FIVE STATE HOSPITALS OR SCHOOLS. THE CONCORD PROGRAM WAS INITIATED IN FEBRUARY 1968. AN AVERAGE OF 10 TO 15 CAREFULLY SCREENED INMATES OF THE CONCORD PRISON'S PRERELEASE CENTER ARE BUSSED DAILY TO THE SCHOOL, WHERE THEY PROVIDE DIRECT CARE SERVICES TO MULTIPLE-HANDICAPPED PERSONS. INMATE VOLUNTEERS, MANY OF WHOM WORK WITH PROFOUNDLY RETARDED BLIND PERSONS, RECEIVE MINIMAL REIMBURSEMENT FOR THEIR SERVICES AS WARD ATTENDANTS, THERAPIST AIDES, AND PARAPROFESSIONAL TEACHERS. THE EVALUATION IS BASED ON THE RECORDS OF 83 VOLUNTEERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1973 AND OCTOBER 31, 1975. OF THE 54 VOLUNTEERS WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE PROGRAM, 34 HAD BEEN RELEASED TO THE COMMUNITY FOR MORE THAN 1 YEAR AT THE TIME OF THE EVALUATION AND PROVIDE THE TREATMENT SAMPLE FOR THE RECIDIVISM ANALYSIS. THE CONTROL GROUP CONSISTS OF THE 522 INMATES RELEASED FROM THE CONCORD FACILITY IN 1971. THE RECIDIVISM RATE FOR THE TREATMENT GROUP (18 PERCENT) COMPARES FAVORABLY WITH THAT OF THE CONTROL GROUP (28 PERCENT). THE ONLY STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROGRAM COMPLETERS AND NONCOMPLETERS IS THAT A DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH NUMBER OF THE FORMER HELD SKILLED JOBS BEFORE BEING INCARCERATED. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE CONCORD PROGRAM PROVIDES A POSITIVE REHABILITATIVE EXPERIENCE FOR INMATES. SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED.