CRIMINALS COMING OF AGE - A STUDY OF INSTITUTIONAL ADAPTATION IN THE TREATMENT OF ADOLESCENT OFFENDERS

• NCJ Number: 16458
• Author(s): A E BOTTOMS; F H MCCLINTOCK
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 519 pages
• Sale Source: Heinemann
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

A REPORT ON AN INDIVIDUALIZED TRAINING PROGRAM INSTITUTED IN AN ENGLISH BORSTAL WHICH INCLUDES SOCIAL AND CRIMINAL DATA ON INMATES, STAFF AND INMATE PERCEPTIONS OF THE NEW PROGRAM, AND A PROGRAM EVALUATION.

Abstract

THE CHANGES INTRODUCED BY THIS PROGRAM INVOLVED AN INDIVIDUALIZED APPROACH IN WHICH THE BACKGROUND HISTORY OF EACH INMATE WAS STUDIED IN DETAIL TO DEVELOP A SPECIFIC COURSE OF TRAINING CATERING TO THE INDIVIDUAL'S NEEDS. A STUDY WAS MADE OF THE CRIMINAL HISTORY, SOCIAL BACKGROUND, AND ATTITUDES OF APPROXIMATELY 300 SERIOUS ADOLESCENT OFFENDERS TREATED UNDER THE PROGRAM. THIS GROUP WAS THEN COMPARED TO OFFENDERS TRAINED PREVIOUSLY IN THE SAME INSTITUTION UNDER A TRADITIONAL REGIME. THE RESULTS ARE CONSIDERED BOTH IN TERMS OF RECONVICTION RATES AND ON THE BASIS OF QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENTS DURING THE PERIOD IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING TRAINING. IT WAS FOUND THAT RECIDIVISM RATES FOR AN 18 MONTH FOLLOW-UP PERIOD WERE SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME FOR THOSE TREATED UNDER THE NEW AND TRADITIONAL REGIMES.