NCJ Number
99978
Journal
Journal of Offender Counseling Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: (October 1985) Pages: 9-17
Date Published
1985
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Semistructured interviews were conducted with 20 male jail prisoners in Fairfax County, Va., to examine if they experienced the 5 stages of grieving identified by Kubler-Ross.
Abstract
Results show that all of the men experienced the stages of grief to one degree or another. Indications of denial were found both in relation to the various stages of criminal justice processing and the charged crime. Often it took the form of shock at their treatment by police or in jail. Without exception, offenders experienced anger directed toward themselves and others (e.g., lawyers, families, juries). Virtually all the subjects had participated in plea bargaining; they also used bargaining to gain privileges while in jail. All experienced depression since their arrest. Depression was related to the criminal act, loss of freedom, lack of purpose in life, and other reasons. Most inmates had reached some degree of acceptance of their incarceration. Those who accepted their situation also felt they were better able to cope with it. It is suggested that the counselors' constructive use of these grieving processes can aid offender adjustment and facilitate rehabilitation. Five references are included.