NCJ Number
55606
Date Published
1978
Length
132 pages
Annotation
THE ATTITUDES OF 130 YOUNG MEN REGARDING THEIR EXPERIENCES AS RESIDENTS OF AN ENGLISH BORSTAL ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
FROM 1959 TO 1967, 1,105 YOUNG MEN WERE RELEASED FROM THE MORTON HALL BORSTAL. OF THESE, 379 HAD NOT BEEN RECONVICTED AFTER BEING IN THE COMMUNITY FOR AT LEAST 3 YEARS. A SAMPLE OF 229 OF THE MORTON HALL SUCCESSES WAS CONTACTED; 130 REPLIED. THEIR RESPONSES TOUCH ON THE FACTORS THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO THEIR SUCCESS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE BORSTAL--THE PEOPLE, ACTIVITIES, EXPERIENCES, AND ATTITUDES THAT IN INFLUENCED THEM. THE MAJOR FINDING WAS THAT 77 PERCENT OF THE RESPONDENTS REGARDED BEING TRUSTED AS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THEIR BORSTAL EXPERIENCE. ON THE BASIS OF THE SURVEY FINDINGS, THE PROGRAM AT ANOTHER BORSTAL, WHERE TRAINEES WERE SOMEWHAT OLDER THAN THE MORTON HALL RESIDENTS, WAS REASSESSED. A NEW PHILOSOPHY EVOLVED, AND OVER A 5-YEAR PERIOD GAYNES HALL TRAINEES GRADUALLY ASSUMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DAILY RUNNING OF THEIR OWN LIVES. THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT THE NEW PHILOSOPHY WAS SUCCESSFUL. AFTER IT WAS PUT INTO EFFECT, THE SUCCESS RATE INCREASED AT GAYNES HALL WHILE IT DECLINED IN EVERY OTHER BORSTAL. VANDALISM AT THE INSTITUTION DISAPPEARED, VIOLENCE DECREASED MARKEDLY, AND INCREASING NUMBERS OF FORMER RESIDENTS VISITED THE BORSTAL DURING OPEN HOUSES. THE REPORT DETAILS BOTH THE SURVEY RESPONSE AND THE REFORMS AT GAYNES HALL. DIRECT QUOTATIONS FROM SURVEY RESPONSES ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)