NCJ Number
31630
Date Published
1975
Length
111 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY EXAMINES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE WORK EXPERIENCE OF 205 PAROLEES FROM PATUXENT INSTITUTION IN JESSUP, MARYLAND, AND THEIR SUCCESSFUL RETURN TO SOCIETY AS LAW-ABIDING INDIVIDUALS.
Abstract
USING PERCENTAGES, THE DATA IS ANALYZED IN COMPARISON WITH RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY DANIEL GLASER TO EXAMINE SEVERAL PROPOSITIONS CONCERNING THE WORK HISTORIES, PRISON VOCATIONAL TRAINING, POSTRELEASE EMPLOYMENT, AND RECIDIVISM OF THE RELEASED OFFENDER. THE RESULTS INDICATE THAT REGULAR WORK DURING IMPRISONMENT MAY BE THE LONGEST AND MOST CONTINUOUS EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE THAT MOST PRISONERS HAVE EVER HAD; THAT REGULARITY OF PRIOR EMPLOYMENT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN TYPE OF WORK PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED TO THE POSTRELEASE SUCCESS OF PRISONERS IN AVOIDING FURTHER FELONIES; THAT FOR THE MINORITY WHO GAIN SKILLS IN PRISON AT WHICH THEY CAN FIND A POSTRELEASE VOCATION, PRISON WORK EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING IS A MAJOR REHABILITATIVE INFLUENCE; THAT HABITUATION OF INMATES TO REGULAR AND REWARDING EMPLOYMENT, AND ANTI-CRIMINAL PERSONAL INFLUENCES OF WORK SUPERVISORS ON INMATES, ARE AT PRESENT THE MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS OF WORK IN PRISON TO INMATE REHABILITATION; AND, FINALLY, THAT RECIDIVISM OF ADULT MALE OFFENDERS VARIES INVERSELY WITH THEIR POSTRELEASE EMPLOYMENT. THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PAROLE SUCCESS MAY BE CREATED BY PROVIDING THE PRISONER WITH VOCATIONAL TRAINING, AND ALSO BY MAKING AVAILABLE TO HIM UPON RELEASE, THE TYPE OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR WHICH HE HAS BEEN PREPARED, AND IN WHICH HE FEELS HE CAN MAKE A LIVING FOR HIMSELF SATISFYING TO HIS ASPIRATIONS AND EXPECTATIONS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)