NCJ Number
47779
Date Published
1976
Length
46 pages
Annotation
RECIDIVISM RATES FOR 433 MALE OFFENDERS RELEASED TO PRERELEASE PROGRAMS ARE COMPARED WITH RATES FOR 417 OFFENDERS DISCHARGED DIRECTLY FROM PRISON AND WITH 3,476 RELEASED DIRECTLY ON PAROLE.
Abstract
THE PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS' COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTERS (CSC) PROVIDE PRERELEASE REHABILITATION SERVICES IN A PROGRAMMED COMMUNITY SETTING. PARTICIPANTS ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE PART IN TRAINING, EDUCATION, OR EMPLOYMENT ACTIVITIES, AND ARE PROVIDED COUNSELING AND SUPERVISION. THE OFFENDERS' COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES ARE INVOLVED IN THE REHABILITATION PROCESS. A POSTRELEASE FOLLOWUP EVALUATION COVERING THE PERIOD FROM THE OFFENDER'S RELEASE DATE IN 1971 THROUGH DECEMBER 30, 1973 SHOWS A STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TYPE OF RELEASE (TO A PRERELEASE PROGRAM, PAROLE FROM PRISON, DISCHARGE FROM PRISON) AND RECIDIVISM. RELEASE TO A CSC HAS THE LOWEST RECIDIVISM RATE (14.8 PERCENT), DIRECT PAROLE THE HIGHEST (21.4 PERCENT). THE CSC'S ARE MOST EFFECTIVE FOR YOUNGER OFFENDERS AND FOR OFFENDERS WITH NO PRIOR COMMITMENTS TO A STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. THE CENTERS DO NOT SHOW A STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON PERPETRATORS OF CRIMES FOR WHICH RECIDIVSIM GENERALLY HAS BEEN HIGH. METHODOLOGICAL FACTORS THAT MAY INFLUENCE THE INTERPRETATION OF THE FINDINGS ARE NOTED. COST ANALYSIS, A BIBLIOGRAPHY, SUPPORTING DATA, AND DOCUMENTATION ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED-LKM)