NCJ Number
216672
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 34 Issue: 5 Dated: September-October 2006 Pages: 469-478
Date Published
September 2006
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study examined parole failure from the theoretical perspective of Gottfredson and Hirschi's general theory of crime, which holds that all criminal and deviant acts are committed by individuals with opportunity who were unable to constrain themselves (low self-control).
Abstract
The study found that low self-control was significantly and positively related to parole failure; however, it was not the only variable that apparently had an impact on reoffending. Consistent with previous research, young parolees were more likely to violate parole, as were property/nonviolent offenders. First-time California Youth Authority admittees were more likely to have parole success. Low self-control did not have a significant impact on the length of time from release to parole failure. Study data were obtained from a sample of 4,146 juvenile offenders paroled by the California Youth Authority. The initial data collection was done from 1964 to 1965. The dependent variable was a measure of whether or not the offender successfully completed parole. Low self-control was measured with the self-control subscale of Gough's California Psychological Inventory. Control variables were the offender's age at time of sentencing, race, school grade, number of convictions, a violent offense, a first-time offense, and the number of months incarcerated. 3 tables and 28 references