NCJ Number
194999
Date Published
2002
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This document presents the results of a follow-up on reconviction rates for young offenders.
Abstract
In July 1996, intensive regimes for young offenders were established at Thorn Cross Young Offender Institution. In February 1997 the same was done at Colchester Military Corrective Training Centre. The purpose was to test the impact of demanding, highly structured regimes on attitudes, behavior, and recidivism. One year after release reconviction rates were examined. Two years after release a follow-up was conducted and the following results were indicated. There was no significant difference in the proportion reconvicted between the Thorn Cross experimental group and a control group. The Thorn Cross experimental group took longer to re-offend and committed significantly fewer crimes. The cost savings from the smaller number of crimes more than outweighed the extra cost of the Thorn Cross regime compared with a standard regime. The Colchester experimental group committed slightly fewer crimes than a control group, but their crimes were more costly. There was little difference between Thorn Cross, Colchester, and control group offenders in terms of their before and after performance on a variety of psychological tests. The Colchester group had significantly more positive attitudes towards staff and other inmates at the end of sentence and was significantly more hopeful about the future than the control group. The success of the Thorn Cross regime in reducing reconviction offenses is probably due to its offending behavior, education, employment, mentoring, and through-care components rather than to its drilling and physical training components. The Colchester regime, which emphasized physical activities, was not successful in reducing reconvictions. 2 tables, 2 references