NCJ Number
36028
Date Published
1976
Length
96 pages
Annotation
COLLECTION OF FIVE ARTICLES WHICH REFLECT THE DEBATE OVER WHETHER CORRECTIONAL TREATMENT REHABILITATES OFFENDERS AND REDUCES RECIDIVISM.
Abstract
THE FIRST ARTICLE IS A REPRINT OF ROBERT MARTINSON'S 'WHAT WORKS? - QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT PRISON REFORM'. THE AUTHOR ANALYZES EVALUATION STUDIES OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TWELVE TYPES OF CORRECTIONAL TREATMENT AND CONCLUDES THAT 'WITH FEW ISOLATED EXCEPTIONS, THE REHABILITATIVE EFFORTS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED SO FAR HAVE HAD NO APPRECIABLE EFFECT ON RECIDIVISM'. THE OTHER FOUR ARTICLES INCLUDE A POINT-BY-POINT CRITIQUE OF THE MARTINSON ARTICLE, A PAPER WHICH DISPUTES MARTINSON'S GENERAL FINDINGS, AND RESPONSES BY MARTINSON TO EACH OF THESE CRITIQUES.