NCJ Number
80457
Date Published
1978
Length
114 pages
Annotation
The dissertation seeks to determine the effects of Rational Behavior Therapy (RBT) intervention for male work release offenders in the problem areas of interpersonal relations, money management, and leisure time activities -collectively called career-management skills.
Abstract
The study sample consisted of 6 groups of 10 offenders divided into 3 subgroups each. Allowances were made for offenders treated with significant other involvement, these treated without significant involvement of family, and those not treated. Group treatment sessions were held once weekly for 3 hours over a 12-week period (6 weeks for each experiment), so that all treated offenders received about 20 hours of intervention. Pretest and posttest measures included the entire Parole Assessment and Selection Scale (PASS) and a 20-item subscale of the PASS which targeted the life-career management skills under investigation; the Work Release Evaluation Checklist (WREC); and the Post-Intervention Questionnaire. As hypothesized, significant differences emerged between treated and untreated groups on both PASS measures, although not on the WREC. However, offenders receiving treatment with significant others did not score better than those receiving treatment alone. It is concluded that RBT intervention can be a useful adjunct to the traditional educational and vocational training regimens in American offender rehabilitation and that the evaluation strategy should be used for similar treatment programs in the future. Figures, tables, appendixes, and a bibliography are supplied.