NCJ Number
43276
Journal
Prison Journal Volume: 57 Issue: 1 Dated: (SPRING-SUMMER 1977) Pages: 45-52
Date Published
1977
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE HYPOTHESIS THAT SHORT-TERM INCARCERATION REDUCES RECIDIVISM MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN LONG-TERM INCARCERATION WAS TESTED IN THIS STATISTICAL STUDY.
Abstract
THE PROBATIONERS STUDIED CONSISTED OF 418 MALE AND 136 FEMALE INMATES RELEASED FROM OHIO PRISONS. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO DETERMINE CHARACTERISTICS OF EACH SUBJECT; DATA WERE COLLECTED FROM INSTITUTIONAL FILES, PRESENTENCE REPORTS, OHIO AND FBI ABSTRACTS. TABLES PRESENT THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS, CONVICTIONS AND PRISON SENTENCES PRIOR TO THE SHOCK PROBATION OFFENSE; MOST SERIOUS PRIOR, CURRENT, AND SUBSEQUENT CONVICTIONS BY OFFENSE CATEGORY FOR SHOCK PROBATIONERS; AND THE NUMBER OF POST-SHOCK PROBATION ARRESTS, CONVICTIONS, AND IMPRISONMENTS. IT WAS FOUND THAT 33 PERCENT OF THE MEN AND 23 PERCENT OF THE WOMEN WERE SUBSEQUENTLY CONVICTED OF A FELONY, SUGGESTING THAT SHOCK PROBATION IS NOT ESPECIALLY EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING RECIDIVISM. OTHER TABLES DISPLAY THE NUMBER OF MONTHS THE SUBJECTS WERE INCARCERATED PRIOR TO RELEASE ON SHOCK PROBATION AND T-TESTS FOR MALES AND FEMALES WHO SERVED LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS VERSUS MALES AND FEMALES WHO SERVED MORE THAN FOUR MONTHS. THE RESULTS OF THESE ANALYSES DID NOT UPHOLD THE HYPOTHESIS THAT A SHORT PERIOD OF INCARCERATION IS MORE EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING RECIDIVISM THAN FOUR OR SEVEN MONTHS OF INCARCERATION. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT IF ONE IS CONCERNED WITH THE REHABILITATIVE ASPECTS OF INCARCERATION, SHORT PERIODS OF INCARCERATION DO AS MUCH GOOD AS LONGER PERIODS. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.