NCJ Number
3090
Date Published
1971
Length
380 pages
Annotation
THE RESULTS OF AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF PRISON GROUP COUNSELING ON INMATE BEHAVIOR AND PAROLEE RECIDIVISM.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH GROUP COUNSELING AS A TREATMENT MODE HAS BEEN USED EXTENSIVELY IN CORRECTIONS, ITS REHABILITATIVE VALUE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. IN THIS TEXT, THE EFFECTS OF GROUP COUNSELING ON INMATE BEHAVIOR AND PAROLE RECIDIVISM ARE STUDIED. THE TEST POPULATION WAS THE INMATES AT CALIFORNIA MEN'S COLONY--EAST IN LOS PADRES. EFFECTIVENESS WAS MEASURED BY PAROLE SURVIVAL OVER A THIRTY-SIX MONTH PERIOD. TRAINING FOR GROUP COUNSELORS, THE PROGRAM ITSELF, AND THE INMATES REACTION TO IT ARE ALL DESCRIBED. FINDINGS REVEALED THAT GROUP COUNSELING DID NOT ALTER INMATES' EXISTING ANTI-SOCIAL ATTITUDES. ADDITIONALLY, IT WAS FOUND THAT PAROLE PERFORMANCE DID NOT SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFER IRRESPECTIVE OF PARTICIPATION, TYPE OF PROGRAM, EXPOSURE, VOLUNTARINESS, AND STABILITY OF GROUP LEADERSHIP. THE IMPLICATIONS OF THESE RESULTS FOR CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATORS AND TREATMENT PROFESSIONALS ARE DISCUSSED. THIS STUDY PROVIDES EMPIRICAL AND ILLUSTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR THE NOTION THAT SOCIAL CONTROL IS THE PRIMARY GOAL IN PRISONS AND PAROLE DIVISIONS. REFERENCES MAY BE FOUND THROUGHOUT THE TEXT. (SNI ABSTRACT)