OHIO - A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF SHOCK PROBATION

• NCJ Number: 67371
• Author(s): H R ANGELINO; R L FULLER; J M KISHTON; J A WALDRON; J C ZIMBECK
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 113 pages
• Corporate Author: Ohio State University
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS LONGITUDINAL STUDY INVESTIGATES CHARACTERISTICS OF OHIO FELONS RELEASED ON SHOCK PROBATION, DETERMINES AN ACCURATE RECIDIVISM RATE, AND ASCERTAINING THE EFFECTS ON RECIDIVISM OF A SHORT PERIOD OF INCARCERATION.

Abstract

THE SHOCK PROBATION APPROACH INCORPORATES FEATURES OF BOTH PROBATION AND PAROLE TO GIVE YOUNG FELONS EXPERIENCE WITH PRISON TO DETER THEM FROM FUTURE CRIMES WITHOUT RISKING PRISONIZATION AND ITS EFFECTS. THE SAMPLE INCLUDED 418 MALES RELEASED IN 1969 AND 136 FEMALES RELEASED BETWEEN 1966 AND 1970. INFORMATION WAS COLLECTED FROM INSTITUTION FILES AND FBI CRIMINAL ABSTRACTS ON 79 VARIABLES INCLUDING IDENTIFICATION AND DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES; PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING RESULTS; AND ACADEMIC, VOCATIONAL, CRIMINAL, AND PERSONAL HISTORIES. THE SHOCK PROBATIONERS WERE PREDOMINANTLY YOUNG, UNEDUCATED, UNSKILLED, NORMAL IN INTELLIGENCE, AND CONSIDERED TO HAVE RELATIVELY LOOSE TIES WITH THE COMMUNITY. MORE THAN HALF HAD PRIOR RECORDS, WHILE 60 PERCENT HAD PRIOR ARRESTS AND 39.9 PERCENT HAD PRIOR FELONY CONVICTIONS. THEIR PRESENT CONVICTIONS RANGED FROM FRAUD AND BURGLARY OFFENSES TO FIRST DEGREE MANSLAUGHTER. THE STUDY FOUND A 16.9 PERCENT RECIDIVISM RATE; IF CONVICTION OF A SUBSEQUENT FELONY WAS USED AS A MEASURE, 31.3 PERCENT WOULD BE RECIDIVISTS. RECIDIVISTS TENDED TO BE YOUNGER, BLACK, AND HAD HIGHER SCORES ON A MEASURE OF PSYCHOPATHY. THE LENGTH OF TIME SERVED HAD NO OBSERVABLE AFFECT ON SUBSEQUENT ARRESTS, CONVICTIONS, LENGTH OF TIME TO THE NEXT ARREST, OR SERIOUSNESS OF THE NEXT CRIME. RESULTS INDICATE THAT INDIVIDUALS WITH SHORTER CRIMINAL HISTORIES AND THOSE CONVICTED OF LESS SERIOUS OFFENSES WERE NOT BETTER CANDIDATES FOR SHOCK PROBATION. THEREFORE, THESE FINDINGS DO NOT SUPPORT THE UNDERLYING RATIONALE FOR SHOCK PROBATION. THE STUDY FOUND NO DIFFERENCES ON A VARIETY OF RECIDIVISM MEASURES BETWEEN SHOCK PROBATIONERS AND THOSE WHO DO NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SHOCK PROBATION. HOWEVER, BETTER EQUATIONS CAN BE DEVELOPED TO ASSIST IN PREDICTING RECIDIVISM. OVER 45 TABLES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--JLF)