NEW ORLEANS - THE TREATMENT OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR - AN EVALUATION OF REHABILITATION AT THE ORLEANS PARISH PRISON

• NCJ Number: 42256
• Author(s): R STERNHELL
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 167 pages
• Grant Number(s): 72-ED-06-0017-TA-1
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; New Orleans
• Corporate Author: New Orleans Mayor's Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

CLASSIFICATION, GROUP COUNSELING, WORK RELEASE, AND EDUCATION WERE THE PRINCIPAL SERVICES OF THE PROGRAM. USING SEVERAL RECIDIVISM MEASURES, THE EVALUATOR FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF IMPACT ON CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.

Abstract

THE REPORT INCLUDES A DISCUSSION OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED DURING THE YEAR OF OPERATION EVALUATED. THE CLASSIFICATION METHODS USED ARE ASSESSED AND A REVIEW OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE VARIOUS UNITS WITHIN THE REHABILITATION PROGRAM GIVES AN OVERVIEW OF THE STAFF ACTIVITIES. USING AVAILABLE DATA, THE EVALUATOR TENTATIVELY CONCLUDES THE EDUCATION PROGRAM WAS THE MOST EFFECTIVE COMPONENT. THE ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON THE COUNSELING GROUP, THE WORK RELEASE GROUP, AND THE EDUCATION GROUP. EACH IS EXAMINED IN SEPARATE CONTEXTS SINCE THE OVERLAP BETWEEN GROUPS WAS MINIMAL. A GROUP SIMILAR TO THE REHABILITATION POPULATIONS WAS ESTABLISHED FOR COMPARATIVE PURPOSES. IN NO CASE WAS THE RECIDIVISM RATE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN FOR THOSE WHO RECEIVED NO REHABILITATIVE SERVICES. RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDED THE SUGGESTIONS THAT THE EDUCATION COMPONENT BE EXPANDED AND THAT PROGRAM OBJECTIVES DEEMPHASIZE EXPECTATIONS OF BEHAVIORAL CHANGE. ...RCB