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MANUAL FOR THE USE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL DEPRIVATION SCALE (EDS) IN CORRECTIONS - THE PREDICTION OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR

NCJ Number
7138
Author(s)
W O JENKINS
Date Published
1972
Length
90 pages
Annotation
BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW TECHNIQUE MEASURES THE SUPPORT PROVIDED BY PEOPLE AND SITUATIONS IN MAN'S ENVIRONMENT WHICH REINFORCES SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR.
Abstract
THE EDS IS HIGHLY PREDICTIVE OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AND RECIDIVISM. IN A SAMPLE OF NEARLY 300 RELEASED EXOFFENDERS, OVER 90 PERCENT OF THOSE MEN WHO RECIDIVATED, I.E., COMMITTED NEW FELONIES AND RETURNED TO PRISON, SCORED HIGH ON THE EDS. OF THOSE WHO COMMITTED MISDEMEANORS, 83 PERCENT SHOWED HIGH EDS SCORES. SOME 84 PERCENT OF THE MEN WITHOUT LAW ENCOUNTERS EXHIBITED A LOW DEGREE OF DEPRIVATION AND A CORRESPONDING LOW EDS SCORE. THE AUTHORS EXPLORE OTHER POTENTIAL USES FOR THIS SCALE IN THE CORRECTIONAL FIELD, AND EXPLAIN IN DETAIL HOW TO UTILIZE IT. CLIENT INTERVIEWING TECHNIQUES ARE OUTLINED, AND PROCEDURES FOR SCORING AND EVALUATING ITEMS FROM THE INTERVIEW ARE SUGGESTED. DIAGNOSTIC USE OF THE SCALE IN MATCHING TREATMENT TO PROBLEMS IS SUGGESTED. APPENDICES CONTAIN SAMPLE SCORING FORMS, INTERVIEW EXCERPTS, AND DATA FROM A STUDY WHICH PROVED THE CAPACITY OF THE SCALE TO PREDICT LAW VIOLATIONS. AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED