NCJ Number
58199
Date Published
1979
Length
236 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY FOCUSES ON THE NATURE OF THE ADJUSTMENT DEMANDS CONFRONTING FEMALE FURLOUGHEES PRIOR TO, DURING, AND AFTER TEMPORARY RELEASE, THEIR REACTIONS TO THESE DEMANDS, AND IMPLICATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS.
Abstract
SIXTY FEMALE FURLOUGHEES WERE SELECTED FROM THE BEDFORD HILLS, N.Y., AND NIANTIC, CONN., FACILITIES TO BE INTERVIEWED AND ADMINISTERED PRE- AND POST-FURLOUGH QUESTIONNAIRES WHICH PROBED EXPECTATIONS FOR, AND PERCEPTIONS OF, THE TEMPORARY RELEASE EXPERIENCE. PERSONAL, CRIMINAL, AND INSTITUTIONAL DATA WERE COLLECTED FROM CASE RECORDS, AS WELL AS THE NUMBER AND TYPE OF DISCIPLINARY INCIDENTS OCCURING PRE- AND POST-FURLOUGH. THREE MAIN TOPIC AREAS ARE ANALYZED: (1) THE STRESSORS THAT CONFRONT FURLOUGHEES AT EACH STAGE IN TRANSITION; (2) THE REACTIONS TO STRESSORS IMPINGING ON FURLOUGHEES AT EACH STAGE OF TRANSITION; AND (3) FACTORS THAT AGGRAVATE AND MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF TRANSITION STRESSORS SUCH AS AGE, EDUCATION, MARITAL STATUS, ETHNICITY, CRIMINAL OFFENSE, PRIOR CRIMINAL RECORD, DRUG OR ALCOHOL ABUSE HISTORY, LENGTH OF INCARCERATION, AND STAGE OF INCARCERATION (EARLY, MIDDLE, AND LATE). THE DATA DO NOT CONFIRM THE ORIGINAL HYPOTHESIS THAT THE DOUBLE TRANSITION EXPERIENCE IS SO STRESSFUL AS TO NEGATE THE BENEFITS OF FURLOUGH. ALTHOUGH CHARACTERISTIC PRESSURES ARE TIED TO EACH PHASE OF TEMPORARY RELEASE, AND THOSE DEMANDS ARE LINKED INHERENTLY TO THE TRANSITIONAL NATURE OF THE EXPERIENCE, THE POTENCY OF STRESSORS AS JUDGED FROM ANALYSIS OF REPORTED FURLOUGHEE REACTIONS IS MINIMAL. FINDINGS SHOW THAT (1) TEMPORARY RELEASE FROM INCARCERATION IS VIEWED AS A VACATION FROM CONFINEMENT, AND DIFFICULTY IS MANAGEABLE; (2) STRATEGIES ARE EMPLOYED THAT ENCOURAGE THE INMATE NOT TO PLAN HER TEMPORARY RELEASE EXPERIENCE NOR TO EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM HER REUNION WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS, TO AVOID TROUBLE OF ANY SORT, AND TO DECIDE BEFORE HER RELEASE THAT SHE WILL RETURN TO THE INSTITUTION AT THE SCHEDULED HOUR AND WORK AT READJUSTING TO CONFINEMENT; (3) THREE INMATE ORIENTATIONS OR ADJUSTMENT MODES EXIST, THE NONPRISON (FREE WORLD) ORIENTATION, THE PRISON ORIENTATION, AND THE STRATEGY OF SELF-INSULATION; AND (4) DISCOMFORT FACTORS ARE SIGNIFICANT DURING TEMPORARY RELEASE, E.G., LEGAL MARITAL STATUS, FURLOUGHEE PERCEPTION OF INMATE RESOURCES AND SUPPORTS, AND INMATE MOTHERS' PERCEPTION OF THEIR CHILDREN'S ADJUSTMENT TO SEPARATION. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT WHILE THE SHORT-TERM BENEFITS OF TEMPORARY RELEASE ARE NUMEROUS, AND THE INMATE CAN MANAGE THE DEMANDS WITH EASE, TEMPORARY RELEASE SERVES TO REINFORCE THE PREVAILING FANTASY OF EFFORTLESS COMMUNITY ADJUSTMENT WHICH MANY OF THE INMATES HOLD. SUGGESTIONS ARE OUTLINED, AND APPENDICES AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED. (MHP)