Survival Analysis of Criminal Recidivism of Boot Camp Graduates Using Elements From General and Development Explanatory Models

• NCJ Number: 198853
• Journal: International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 47 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2003 Pages: 89-110
• Author(s): Brent B. Benda
• Date Published: February 2003
• Length: 22 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article reports on a 5-year follow-up study of recidivism among 601 male graduates of a boot camp for adults in a southern State.

Abstract

Eligibility criteria for the boot camp program required that all participants must be nonviolent first admissions to the corrections system, with a sentence of 10 years or less. The specific objectives of this study were to determine whether there was a differential criminal recidivism rate in adulthood among early starters and late starters among graduates of a boot camp for adults; to investigate the key elements of caregiving to ascertain how well they predicted criminal recidivism among these graduates; and to examine differences in effects on criminal recidivism. The cut-off used for analyses among early starters and late starters in crime was 10 years of age. Findings show that 248 (66 percent) of the 376 graduates who started offending by at least 10 years of age were recidivists (parole violators or new crimes after release); whereas 104 or 46.4 percent of those who started committing offenses at a later age were recidivists. In support of study hypotheses, the findings show that caregiver attachment and monitoring were inversely related to the hazard of recidivism and abuse before 18 years old; and associated feelings of frustration and alienation were positively related to that hazard. Contrary to general theory, peer-association factors, with the exception of differential reinforcement, were strong positive predictors of recidivism. Aside from showing that peer association and situational factors are strong predictors of recidivism in adulthood, the contribution of this study is that caregiver attachment and monitoring, along with abuse and related feelings, have long-term influence on recidivism in adulthood. These early experiences have not received attention in research on adult criminal recidivism. 3 tables, 88 references, and appended study questionnaire