Prerelease Stress in Prison Inmates

• NCJ Number: 97271
• Journal: Journal of Offender Counseling, Services and Rehabilitation Volume: 9 Issue: 3 Dated: (Spring 1985) Pages: 43-56
• Author(s): J Mabli; S M Glick; M Hilborn; J Kastler; D Pillow; K Karlon; S Barber
• Date Published: 1985
• Length: 14 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study concerns the phenomenon of prerelease stress in inmates at a minimum security, Federal Correctional Institution.

Abstract

While much anecdotal evidence exists to support the belief that inmates soon to be released from custody have increased susceptibility to stress-related behavior disorders, few research studies have been conducted to formally substantiate this belief. This study attempts to document the existence and behavioral manifestations of behavior measures and prerelease stress through the use of MMPI scores, behavioral measures and a Likert type, multiple-item Mood States Questionnaire (MSQ). Ninety-eight male and female inmates were classified as either 'short' or 'long' depending on the time remaining on their sentence. Study results suggest that prerelease stress exists in a certain number of inmates and that additional research is needed to more precisely determine other variables associated with susceptibility to this type of stress. (Author abstract)