NCJ Number
59184
Date Published
1978
Length
43 pages
Annotation
THIS SECOND EVALUATIVE REPORT ON ONTARIO'S GUELPH ABATTOIR PROGRAMME, INVOLVING A PRIVATELY-OWNED INDUSTRY STAFFED BY PAID INMATES, COMPARES PARTICIPANTS' AND NONPARTICIPANTS' ATTITUDES TOWARD THE PROGRAM.
Abstract
THE PROGRAM GOAL WAS TO PROVIDE A MORE REALISTIC WORK EXPERIENCE FOR SELECTED INMATES. THE REPORT SEEKS TO OUTLINE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE INMATES EMPLOYED IN THE ABATTOIR PROGRAMME AND A SAMPLE DRAWN FROM THE GENERAL INMATE POPULATION. EACH PARTICIPANT WAS GIVEN AN INITIAL AND FOLLOWUP INTERVIEW WITH THE SECOND ONE COMING 6 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF HIS SENTENCE. RESULTS INDICATED THAT ALL INMATES GENERALLY HAD POSITIVE ATTITUDES CONCERNING WORK. BOTH GROUPS AGREED THAT THE ABATTOIR PROGRAMME WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THE INMATES INVOLVED AND THE INSTITUTION. THE EMPLOYED INMATES REPORTED SATISFACTION WITH THE EXPERIENCE AND INDICATED IMPROVEMENTS IN WORK ATTITUDES, POSTRELEASE EMPLOYMENT POTENTIAL, AND ATTITUDES TOWARD THE PRISON EXPERIENCE. THE MAJORITY OF THE EMPLOYED INMATES REPORTED HAVING POSITIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE PLANS FOR THE USE OF THEIR SAVINGS. NO RELIABLE CHANGE IN SELF-ESTEEM FOR EITHER GROUP WAS OBSERVED DURING INCARCERATION. SINCE THE PROGRAM WAS CONTINUALLY CHANGING, FAILED TO PROVIDE CLEAR GOALS, AND THUS WAS DIFFICULT TO EVALUATE, SUCCESS CANNOT BE ASSUMED. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. FOR FURTHER EVALUATION SEE NCJ 59183 AND 59185.