NCJ Number
205439
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 66 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2004 Pages: 84-87,105
Date Published
April 2004
Length
5 pages
Annotation
In order to assess the needs of parole violators, the Pennsylvania Department of corrections conducted a survey of technical and convicted parole violators who were returned to 12 State correctional institutions.
Abstract
Nearly 600 parole violators were surveyed during a 2-month period early in 2003, representing approximately 75 percent of the total parole-violator prison admissions during that time period. The survey contained questions on living arrangements, finances, employment, leisure activities, marital/family relationships, alcohol/drug use, community supervision experience, and thoughts and emotions while last on parole. At the end of the data-collection period, 542 surveys were completed. After the initial survey results were compiled and analyzed, results were discussed in focus groups of parole violators at four of the participating institutions. Survey results were also matched with other data sources to identify recurring themes across multiple data sources, to expand the data pool of information on parole violators, and to examine the consistency of respondents' answers as a measure of reliability. Parole violators indicated that emotional problems -- such as stress, depression, frustration, and worry -- contributed more to their failure on parole than any other factor, including alcohol and other drug use, employment, living arrangements, and relationship problems. There were other important factors that also contributed to parole violations. These included unrealistic expectations about what life would be like outside of prison; parolees' strong antisocial attitudes; and poor self-management, self-control, and problem solving skills in the face of emotional instability or the daily obstacles of life. Study results support four policy implications for managing parole violators. First and foremost, programming should focus on cognitive-behavioral treatment that involves coping strategies, behavior rehearsal, and relapse prevention. Also, reentry programming should focus more on teaching parole violators specific and transferable life skills such as money management techniques. Further, correctional facilities should continue to reinforce intensive alcohol and other drug treatment programs that have proven to be effective. Finally, parole violators should be instructed in the realities they will face upon release and in the coping strategies that will enable them to manage these realities without reoffending or violating parole conditions.