EFFECTS CRISIS COUNSELING HAS UPON THE ATTITUDES OF INMATES WHO ARE GRANTED OR DENIED PAROLE

• NCJ Number: 49258
• Author(s): J R KLUTTZ
• Date Published: 1971
• Length: 150 pages
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: BALL STATE UNIVERSITY - DOCTORAL DISSERTATION

Annotation

ATTITUDES TOWARD SELF, OTHER INMATES, REFORMATORY STAFF, PAROLE BOARD MEMBERS, PAROLE PROCESS, AND THE REFORMATORY ARE MEASURED FOR AN EXPERIMENTAL GROUP BEFORE AND AFTER PAROLE HEARING AND CRISIS COUNSELING.

Abstract

SUBJECTS FOR THE STUDY WERE 102 INMATES AT THE INDIANA REFORMATORY IN PENDLETON, WHO APPEARED BEFORE THE MAY 1970 INDIANA STATE PAROLE BOARD, THEY WERE SELECTED ON THE BASIS OF TWO CRITERIA -- ELIGIBILITY FOR A HEARING BEFORE THE PAROLE BOARD AND A WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RESEARCH PROJECT. AFTER CONSULTATION WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE INDIANA STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION-TREATMENT DIVISION, THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE REFORMATORY, AND THE REFORMATORY PSYCHOLOGIST, THE FOLLOWING SIX CONCEPTS WERE DETERMINED TO BE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT FACTORS IN THE TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION PROCESS OF INMATES: (1) MYSELF, (2) OTHER INMATES (3) REFORMATORY STAFF, (4) PAROLE BOARD MEMBERS, (5) PAROLE PROCESS, AND (6) THE REFORMATORY, THE SEMANTIC DIFFERENTIAL, CONSTRUCTED AS PRESCRIBED BY OSGOOD (1957, PP. 77-81), WAS USED TO MEASURE THE ATTITUDES OF THE SUBJECTS ON THE SIX IDENTIFIED CONCEPTS. THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP CONSISTED OF TWO SUBGROUPS: 33 SUBJECTS GRANTED PAROLE WHO RECEIVED 30-MINUTE CRISIS COUNSELING WITH A MALE DOCTORAL INTERN AFTER THE PAROLE HEARING, AND 20 SUBJECTS DENIED PAROLE WHO RECEIVED CRISIS COUNSELING AFTER THE PAROLE HEARING. THE CONTROL GROUP CONSISTED OF TWO SUBGROUPS ALSO: 29 SUBJECTS GRANTED PAROLE WHO RECEIVED NO CRISIS COUNSELING, AND 20 DENIED PAROLE WHO RECEIVED NO CRISIS COUNSELING. THE SEMANTIC DIFFERENTIAL SCALE WAS GIVEN 48 HOURS PRIOR TO THE SUBJECTS' MEETING WITH THE PAROLE BOARD AND WITHIN 1 HOUR AFTER MEETING WITH THE PAROLE BOARD AND UNDERGOING CRISIS COUNSELING. ANALYSIS OF THE DATA INDICATED THAT THE INMATES WHO EXPERIENCED CRISIS COUNSELING, WHEN COMPARED TO THE CONTROL GROUP, MADE NO SIGNIFICANT POSITIVE GAINS IN THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARD THE SIX SELECTED CONCEPTS. THE RESULTS AND QUESTIONS STIMULATED BY THE STUDY ARE SHOWN TO INDICATE MANY AREAS THAT MIGHT WARRANT FURTHER RESEARCH. THE APPENDIXES INCLUDE ALL INFORMATION AND ITEMS USED IN THE TESTING. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS ALSO INCLUDED. (RCB)