NCJ Number
65104
Journal
Canadian Journal of Criminology Volume: 22 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1980) Pages: 66-77
Date Published
1980
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THIS CANADIAN STUDY IS A SECOND EVALUATION OF AN INMATE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM AT THE RIDEAU CORRECTIONAL CENTER (RCC) OF THE ONTARIO MINISTRY OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES.
Abstract
THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM WAS BEGUN IN 1974 AND INVOLVED INMATES VOLUNTEERING TO WORK 5 DAYS A WEEK IN TWO SETTINGS--A CENTER FOR THE RETARDED AND THE GERIATRIC UNIT OF A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL. THE PROGRAM PROVED SUCCESSFUL AND RECEIVED EXTENSIVE LOCAL AND NATIONAL MEDIA COVERAGE. THE FIRST EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM INDICATED THAT IT HAD BENEFITED THE PARTICIPATING INMATES WITH HIGH JOB COMPLETION RATES FOR THE INMATES. THE INITIAL EVALUATION ALSO IMPLIED THAT THE PROGRAM MIGHT BE ASSOCIATED WITH CHANGES IN THE INMATES CONSISTENT WITH DIFFERENTIAL ASSOCIATION AND NORMALIZATION THEORIES OF BEHAVIOR. THE SECOND EVALUATION WAS UNDERTAKEN TO EXAMINE WHETHER ANY OF THE INITIAL FINDINGS COULD BE REPLICATED AND EXTENDED. THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM INFORMATION DATA WAS COLLECTED FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY 1976 TO MARCH 1977 ON-THE-JOB SUCCESS RATINGS, SOCIAL HISTORY INFORMATION, AND STAFF RATINGS OF THE PROGRAM. HOSPITAL STAFF RATINGS WERE SOUGHT AND VOLUNTEERS WERE TESTED ON A BATTERY OF ATTITUDINAL SCALES TO ASSESS WHETHER ANY ATTITUDE CHANGE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROGRAM. THE RESULTS SUPPORTED MUCH OF THE DATA GATHER IN THE FIRST EVALUATION. THE PROGRAM WAS RATED A SUCCESS, AND COMMENTS ON THE VOLUNTEERS' WORK AND SOCIAL SKILLS WERE POSITIVE. MOREOVER, THE STUDY MADE CLEAR CERTAIN ADMINISTRATIVE AND THEORETICAL ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAM RAISED DURING THE FIRST EVALUATION. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (MJW)