NCJ Number
49249
Date Published
1975
Length
105 pages
Annotation
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF USING EX-OFFENDERS AS ROLE MODELS IN A PRERELEASE PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PREPARE INMATES FOR HALFWAY HOUSE PLACEMENT IS ASSESSED.
Abstract
MISSOURI'S PRERELEASE PROGRAM IS LOCATED AT ONE OF THE STATE PRISON FARMS. INMATES COME TO THE PROGRAM FROM ALL OF THE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE STATE. DURING THE 6-WEEK COURSE OF THE PRERELEASE PROGRAM, INMATES RECEIVE COUNSELING, EVALUATION, AND PREPARATION FOR HALFWAY HOUSE PLACEMENT. STUDY SUBJECTS ARE 60 MALE INMATES FROM THE MISSOURI STATE PENITENTIARY WHO WERE ASSIGNED TO HALFWAY HOUSE PLACEMENT FROM THE LAST 6 MONTHS OF THEIR SENTENCES. THE CONTROL GROUP RECEIVED THE PRERELEASE PROGRAM'S CUSTOMARY TREATMENT, WHICH CONSISTED PRIMARILY OF INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING. THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP RECEIVED SIMILAR COUNSELING AND VIEWED VIDEOTAPES SHOWING ROLE MODELS -- INMATES WHO HAD SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE HALFWAY HOUSE PROGRAM. COMPARISON OF THE HALFWAY HOUSE EXPERIENCES OF THE TWO GROUPS DOES NOT PROVIDE HIGHLY CONCLUSIVE RESULTS BUT INDICATES THAT THE ROLE MODEL VIDEOTAPES CAN FAVORABLY AFFECT THE POTENTIAL FOR ADJUSTMENT TO A HALFWAY HOUSE SETTING. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION ARE OFFERED. SUPPORTING DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.