NCJ Number
59187
Date Published
1977
Length
46 pages
Annotation
IN 1970-71, A STUDY WAS CONDUCTED DEALING WITH RECIDIVISM RATES AND INSTITUTIONAL NORMS OF 802 INMATES ADMITTED TO THE GUELPH CORRECTIONAL CENTER, A RECEIVING INSTITUTION FOR FIRST INCARCERATES IN ONTARIO, CANADA.
Abstract
SOCIAL HISTORY, INSTITUTIONAL EXPERIENCE, AND THE RECIDIVISM RATES ASSOCIATED WITH THESE FACTORS ARE REPORTED. MOST PARTICIPANTS WERE YOUNG, SINGLE, AND HAD PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS EITHER AS JUVENILES OR ADULTS. MOST HAD EXPERIENCED FAMILY PROBLEMS AND FAMILY INSTABILITY, AS WELL AS DIFFICULTIES IN SCHOOL AND LIMITED WORK HISTORIES. ABOUT 40 PERCENT REPORTED DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE STARTING AT AN EARLY AGE. NOTABLY, VERY FEW OF THE PARTICIPANTS OR THEIR FAMILIES HAD RECEIVED HELP FROM EXISTING SOCIAL AGENCIES. FACTORS MOST ASSOCIATED WITH RECIDIVISM WERE AGE, PRIOR CRIMINALITY, WORK HISTORY, INSTITUTIONAL BEHAVIOR, AND THE AGE AT WHICH ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE BEGAN. RECIDIVISM RATES WERE COMPARED TO THOSE COLLECTED PREVIOUSLY IN CANADA AND ELSEWHERE AND DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF THEIR RELEVANCE TO CURRENT CORRECTIONAL THEORY. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMMING ARE MADE IN THE AREAS OF SOCIAL SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY, INCREASED VOCATIONAL TRAINING IN THE INSTITUTION, AND MORE REALISTIC USE OF PSYCHIATRIC HISTORY DATA AND SYSTEM INFORMATION DEVELOPMENT. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--MJW)