NCJ Number
28064
Date Published
1975
Length
52 pages
Annotation
THIS PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED AND INITITATED TO TEST THE UTILITY OF FINANCIAL AID IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS ON PAROLE IN REDUCING ECONOMIC STRESS CAUSED THE LACK OF A JOB UPON RELEASE OR THE LOSS OF A JOB SUBSEQUENTLY.
Abstract
THE PROJECT WAS DESIGNED TO DELIVER UP TO 960 DOLLARS AT THE RATE OF 80 DOLLARS PER WEEK FOR UP TO THREE MONTHS TO AN EXPERIMENTAL SAMPLE OF 120 PAROLEES IN CALIFORNIA. PAROLEES WHO WERE DUE TO BE RELEASED TO THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA BEGINNING IN AUGUST 1972 FORMED THE POOL OF SUBJECTS FOR THE PROJECT. THOSE WHOSE CDC IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ENDED IN AN ODD DIGIT WERE DESIGNATED EXPERIMENTALS AND THUS WERE ELIGIBLE FOR DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE MONIES; WHILE THOSE WHOSE NUMBER ENDED IN AN EVEN NUMBER WERE DESIGNATED CONTROLS AND WERE DECLARED INELIGIBLE. SEVERAL EXPERIMENTAL PAROLEES DID NOT NEED PROJECT FUNDS. SIX AND 12-MONTH PAROLE OUTCOMES FOR THE TWO GROUPS WERE COMPARED TO TEST THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE AID PROGRAM. THE CRITERION USED FOR MEASURING 'SUCCESS' CONSISTED OF SIMPLY WHETHER THE MAN REMAINED ON ACTIVE PAROLE. STUDY FINDINGS INDICATED THAT SOME 80 PERCENT OF THE EXPERIMENTAL SAMPLE AND ABOUT 71 PERCENT OF THE CONTROL GROUP AT THE END OF SIX MONTHS. THIS SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE OF NINE PERCENT WAS ALSO REFLECTED AT THE 12-MONTH POINT. RESEARCHERS RECOMMENDED THAT FUTURE SUCH PROGRAMS BE INITIATED EXCLUDING SUBJECTS ONLY ON THE BASIS OF NEED, THAT FURTHER RESEARCH BE CONDUCTED TO REPUCATE FINDINGS, WAYS OF FINANCING THE PROGRAM WITHIN THE SYSTEM BE INVESTIGATED, INCLUDING RELEASING OFFENDERS THREE TO SIX MONTHS EARLIER. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)