NCJ Number
128207
Journal
Prison Journal Volume: 80 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring-Summer 1990) Pages: 35-45
Date Published
1990
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Because of the increase in incarceration rates in both Canada and the US, and the increase in the number of offenders receiving longer sentences for more serious crimes, corrections officials must determine what effect lengthy imprisonment terms have on individuals and what programs are most effective for this population. Data collected from several sources address ways in which long-term offenders in Canada can be differentiated from the overall prison population in terms of security and programming needs.
Abstract
As of March, 1990, over 15 percent of Canadian offenders were serving life or indeterminate sentences, mostly on homicides convictions. Life-sentence offenders are older and have less extensive criminal histories than the general prison population; rates of revocation when released into community supervision compare favorably with other inmates. Long-term offenders are routinely assigned to maximum security facilities. Prior criminal experience, particularly previous imprisonment in Federal facilities, is probably the best predictor of long-term offender involvement in violent institutional incidents. Within this population, prior Federal incarceration is also a predictor of criminal orientation; there is no correlation between pro-criminal attitudes and level of assigned security. Pro-criminal attitudes might be important considerations in assigning housing and program-related tasks. 3 tables, 1 figure, 3 notes, and 28 references