NCJ Number
43459
Date Published
Unknown
Length
65 pages
Annotation
STUDY, FOCUSING ON YOUNG OFFENDERS, EXAMINES THE FACTORS BELIEVED TO BE RELATED TO RECIDIVISM & ATTEMPTS TO DETERMINE BY STATISTICAL ANALYSIS IF THESE FACTORS VARY SIGNIFICANTLY FOR RECIDIVISTS AND NONRECIDIVISTS.
Abstract
THE STUDY CONCENTRATED ON MALE INMATES ADMITTED TO THE TRAINING CENTRE IN HONG KONG. THE GOAL WAS TO TEST EIGHT HYPOTHESES RELATED TO RECIDIVISM IN YOUNG OFFENDERS. DATA WERE COLLECTED ALONG THE FOLLOWING LINES: PREINSTITUTIONAL SOCIO-ECONOMIC ATTRIBUTES, CRIMINAL MATURITY, RELATIONSHIP WITH FAMILY, ADJUSTMENT TO AND ACCEPTANCE OF INSTITUTIONAL TRAINING, POSTRELEASE EXPERIENCE, AND BELIEFS AND FEELINGS. THE INVESTIGATION CULMINATED IN THE FOLLOWING CONCLUSIONS: (1) THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS OF THOSE WHO REVERT TO CRIME AFTER A PERIOD OF TRAINING AND OF THOSE WHO DO NOT ARE NOT SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT. (2) THE AGE AT FIRST CONVICTION CANNOT BE CORRELATED WITH REVERSION TO CRIME FOLLOWING A PERIOD OF CORRECTIONAL TRAINING. (3) REVERSION TO CRIME AFTER A PERIOD OF CORRECTIONAL TRAINING SEEMS RELATED TO AFFILIATION WITH CRIMINAL ELEMENTS/GROUPS DURING THE PREINSTITUTIONAL PERIOD. (4) THE AMOUNT OF INTENTIONAL VIOLENCE USED IN THE INITIAL CRIME IS NOT CORRELATED WITH EVENTUAL SUCCESS OR FAILURE. (5) JUVENILE DELINQUENTS WHO ENJOY CLOSE EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT TO THEIR FAMILIES ARE LESS LIKELY TO REVERT TO CRIME AFTER CONCLUDING A PERIOD OF CORRECTIONAL TRAINING. (6) A DELINQUENT WHO VIEWS HIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE CORRECTIONAL TRAINING AS VALUABLE IS MORE LIKELY TO BENEFIT FROM IT AND STAY LAW-ABIDING. (7) SATISFACTORY POSTINSTITUTIONAL ADJUSTMENT OF A DELINQUENT IMPROVES HIS CHANCES OF STAYING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LAW. (8) THE LIKELIHOOD OF A DELINQUENT REVERTING TO CRIME IS SHARPLY REDUCED IF HE VIEWS HIMSELF AS BEING OF VALUE, BELIEVES HE CAN REMAIN LAW-ABIDING, AND FEELS THAT SOCIETY IS CONCERNED ABOUT HIS WELFARE AND TREATS HIM FAIRLY. THE STUDY'S RECOMMENDATIONS ARE BASED ON THE FINDINGS THAT ACCEPTANCE OF CORRECTIONAL TRAINING, RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FAMILY, AND POSTINSTITUTIONAL ADJUSTMENT ARE OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE DETERMINING EVENTUAL RECIDIVISM. APPENDIXES DESCRIBE TRAINING CENTERS IN HONG KONG, PROVIDE THE INTERVIEW SCHEDULE, AND DISPLAY THE INTERNAL CONSISTENCY AND VALIDITY OF ATTITUDINAL STATEMENTS.