NCJ Number
34137
Journal
JOURNAL OF VOLUNTEERS WITH DELINQUENTS Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: (SPRING 1972) Pages: 22-32
Date Published
1972
Length
11 pages
Annotation
A PRE-TREATMENT AND POST-TREATMENT COMPARISON OF SOCIAL ATTITUDES AND HOSTILITY LEVELS OF YOUTHFUL PROBATIONERS WAS UNDERTAKEN TO DETERMINE THE EFFECT OF THE LACKAWANNA COUNTY VOLUNTEERS IN PROBATION PROGRAM.
Abstract
SEVERAL STUDIES ARE REVIEWED WHICH INDICATE THAT PROBATIONERS RECEIVING VOLUNTEER PROBATION AID EXHIBIT SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR. THIS STUDY SOUGHT TO INVESTIGATE THE IMPACT OF THE VOLUNTEERS IN PROBATION (VIP) PROGRAM ON PROBATIONERS. THE HYPOTHESIS WAS THAT YOUTHS PLACED IN THE VIP PROGRAM WOULD SHOW ENRICHED EDUCATIONAL, VOCATIONAL, AND SOCIAL ATTITUDES AND A REDUCTION IN HOSTILITY. THE POPULATION STUDIED INCLUDED ALL YOUNG OFFENDERS ON PROBATION IN LACKAWANNA COUNTY ASSIGNED TO VIP BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 25. THE SAMPLE OF 20 YOUTHS WAS TESTED BEFORE VIP PROGRAM PARTICIPATION AND AGAIN SEVERAL MONTHS LATER. THE BUSSEE-DURKEE HOSTILITY SCALE WAS UTILIZED. VARIABLES UNDER INVESTIGATION INCLUDED VARIETIES OF HOSTILITIES SUCH AS INDIRECT HOSTILITY, IRRITABILITY, NEGATIVISM RESENTMENT, SUSPICION, AND VERBAL HOSTILITY; EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL LEVELS OF ATTAINMENT, AGE, SEX, LENGTH OF SENTENCE, GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION, AND NATURE OF PLEA. THE STUDY REVEALED THAT POSITIVE CHANGES IN ATTITUDES OF OFFENDERS PLUS MINOR EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS DID OCCUR WITH PROBATIONERS PLACED IN VIP. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)