NCJ Number
67703
Date Published
1979
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THIS FOLLOWUP STUDY COMPARED MINNESOTA STATE PRISON (MSP) INMATES WHO TOOK A 'GUIDES FOR BETTER LIVING' COURSE WITH MSP INMATES WHO DID NOT TAKE THE COURSE.
Abstract
RESEARCHERS RECORDED ALL NEW COURT COMMITMENTS AND RETURNS FOR REVOCATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR 169 MEN WHO TOOK THE COURSE AND WERE RELEASED AND FOR 288 OF THOSE RELEASED SINCE 1972 WHO CHOSE NOT TO TAKE THE COURSE. THE COURSE FOCUSED ON GOALS, GOAL SETTING, AND MOTIVATION. THE TWO GROUPS WERE SIMILAR IN AGE AND EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND. PERCENTAGED FOR OFFENSE TYPE WERE ALSO SIMILAR FOR THE TWO GROUPS. THE COURSE GRADUATED HAS FEWER PAROLE REVOCATIONS AND WERE LESS LIKELY TO RETURN WITH A NEW SENTENCE THAN THE OTHER GROUP. HOWEVER, THE STUDY CONCLUDED THAT PARTICIPATION IN THE COURSE DID NOT NECESSARILY ACCOUNT FOR THE GRADUATES' LOWER RECIDIVISM RATE. OTHER FACTORS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WERE THE MOTIVATION OF COURSE PARTICIPANTS AND LIMITATIONS OF THE SAMPLE GROUP STUDIED. TABLES ARE INCLUDED.