NCJ Number
29092
Date Published
1975
Length
150 pages
Annotation
THIS PROGRAM WAS ASSESSED BY FOCUSING ON ITS EFFECTS ON THE EX-OFFENDER'S SPECIFIC POSTRELEASE BEHAVIORAL ADJUSTMENT OVER A PERIOD OF TWELVE TO EIGHTEEN MONTHS.
Abstract
THE STUDY COMPARED A GROUP OF MALE PARTICIPANTS IN WORK RELEASE WITH TWO OTHER GROUPS, ONE COMPOSED OF INDIVIDUALS MEETING SELECTION STANDARDS BUT NOT PARTICIPATING AND ANOTHER OF INDIVIDUALS NEITHER SELECTED NOR PARTICIPATING IN WORK RELEASE. THE MAJOR AREAS OF POSTPRISON COMPARISON CONSISTED OF LAW ENCOUNTERS, ENVIRONMENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL ADJUSTMENT, HISTORICAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS, AND EMPLOYMENT AND FINANCIAL MATTERS. AN INITIAL STUDY OF FEMALE WORK RELEASEES WAS ALSO CONDUCTED. STUDY FINDINGS INDICATED THAT PARTICIPATION IN WORK RELEASE PRODUCES A LARGE AND HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN POST PRISON LAW ENCOUNTERS. THE POSTPRISON ADJUSTMENT OF WORK RELEASEES WAS ALSO FOUND TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER THAN THAT OF NONPARTICIPANTS IN TERMS OF BOTH ENVIRONMENTAL INPUT AND BEHAVIORAL OUTPUT AND ADAPTATION. IN ADDITION, WORK RELEASE PARTICIPANTS WORKED A MUCH GREATER PROPORTION OF THE TIME, HAD EARNED ABOUT 60 PER CENT MORE MONEY AT TWELVE MONTHS POSTRELEASE, AND WERE MAKING A WEEKLY SALARY ALMOST TWICE THAT OF NONPARTICIPANTS. THE FEMALE WORK RELEASE PROGRAM DID NOT YIELD THE SAME POSTPRISON BENEFITS. THE LOW JOB SKILL LEVEL FOR FEMALES WAS CITED AS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THIS OUTCOME. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS PROBIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)