NCJ Number
64000
Journal
Monatsschrift fuer Kriminologie und Strafrechtsreform Volume: 62 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1979) Pages: 98-108
Date Published
1979
Length
11 pages
Annotation
BASED ON A SAMPLE OF WEST GERMAN JUVENILE PRISONERS, A MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT THE COST OF GIVING INMATES VOCATIONAL TRAINING IS ABSORBED BY THE REDUCED RATE OF RECIDIVISM IN VOCATIONALLY TRAINED EX-OFFENDERS.
Abstract
AN EXPANSION OF RESOCIALIZATION EFFORTS IN PRISONS IS OFTEN REJECTED WITH THE ARGUMENT THAT IT IS TOO EXPENSIVE. THIS CONTENTION IS OPPOSED BY THE HYPOTHESES THAT RECIDIVISM CAN BE PREVENTED THROUGH REHABILITATION EFFORTS AND THE COST OF REHABILITATION IS LOWER THAN THE COST RESULTING FROM RECIDIVISM. THE METHODOLOGICAL PROCEDURE CONSISTS OF THREE STEPS: (1) AN ESTIMATE OF HOW MUCH THE CORRECTIONAL COSTS INCREASE IF JUVENILE DELINQUENTS RECEIVE VOCATIONAL TRAINING IN JAIL; (2) AN ESTIMATE OF THE SAVINGS IN COURT AND CORRECTIONAL COSTS IF THE TRAINING REDUCES RECIDIVISM; AND (3) A COMPARISON OF THE REHABILITATION COSTS (STEP 1) WITH THE SAVINGS THROUGH THE PREVENTION OF RECIDIVISM (STEP 2). THE STATISTICAL DATA WERE FURNISHED BY 1,339 JUVENILE DELINQUENTS RELEASED FROM A WEST GERMAN JUVENILE PRISON BETWEEN 1961 AND 1964, 436 OF WHOM HAD RECEIVED VOCATIONAL TRAINING DURING IMPRISONMENT. USING MATHEMATICAL GENERALIZING TECHNIQUES, THE TRAINING COST AS WELL AS THE SAVINGS IN COURT AND CORRECTIONAL COSTS DUE TO THE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED RECIDIVISM RATE OF TRAINED INMATES WERE EXTENDED TO THE ENTIRE WEST GERMAN JUVENILE PRISON POPULATION. THE RESULTS SHOWED THAT NOT ONLY DID THE TRAINING COST THE TAX PAYERS NO ADDITIONAL MONEY BUT A SAVING OF 900,000 GERMAN MARKS COULD HAVE BEEN REALIZED. THE RESULTS SUGGEST THAT A COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM FOR PRISONERS IN THE SIXTIES WOULD HAVE DECREASED THE NUMBER OF OFFENSES WHILE BEING ECONOMICALLY ADVANTAGEOUS AT THE SAME TIME. THE ARTICLE INCLUDES NUMEROUS STATISTICAL CHARTS AND FOOTNOTES. --IN GERMAN. (SAJ)