INTENSIVE SUPERVISION BY PAROLE OFFICERS AS A FACTOR IN RECIDIVISM REDUCTION OF MALE DELINQUENTS

• NCJ Number: 50179
• Journal: Journal of Psychology Volume: 67 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1967) Pages: 75-82
• Author(s): R K SCHWITZGEBEL; D J BAER
• Date Published: 1967
• Length: 8 pages
• Grant Number(s): 65215
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Corporate Author: Journal Press
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A SPECIAL SELECTION AND TRAINING PROGRAM FOR PAROLE OFFICERS IN REDUCING RECIDIVISM AMONG JUVENILE PAROLEES ASSIGNED TO THE MASSACHUSETTS YOUTH SERVICE BOARD IS ASSESSED.

Abstract

TWO CONTROL GROUPS OF 157 HISTORICAL AND 152 CONTEMPORANEOUS PAROLEES, ALL OF WHOM WERE SUPERVISED BY REGULAR PAROLE OFFICERS, WERE COMPARED WITH 95 EXPERIMENTAL PAROLEES, WHO WERE SUPERVISED BY 12 SPECIALLY TRAINED COUNSELORS. THE COUNSELORS RECEIVED INFORMATION ON COUNSELING PROCEDURES AND ULTILIZATION OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES DURING 45 TRAINING SESSIONS CONDUCTED OVER A 1-YEAR PERIOD. THE EXPERIMENTAL OFFICERS' CASELOADS WERE REDUCED FROM THE USUAL 75 TO 25. THEIR CONTACTS WITH THE PAROLEES BEGAN WHILE THE JUVENILES WERE STILL INCARCERATED. THE THREE PAROLEE GROUPS WERE MATCHED FOR 11 BACKGROUND AND OFFENSE VARIABLES. COMPARISON OF EXPERIMENTAL AND CONTROL GROUPS FOR RECIDIVISM OVER A 6-MONTH POSTPAROLE PERIOD REVEALS NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN PERCENT OR TYPE OF RECIDIVISM. THIS FINDING MAY BE ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE RELATIVELY SHORT OBSERVATION PERIOD, TO FACTORS IN THE SELECTION OF THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP, AND/OR TO THE INCREASED OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNSELORS OF EXPERIMENTAL SUBJECTS TO OBSERVE MALADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR. SUPPORTING DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)