NCJ Number
18133
Journal
Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume: 65 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1974) Pages: 397-415
Date Published
1974
Length
19 pages
Annotation
REPORT ON A STUDY WHICH EXAMINED THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SAN MATEO COUNTY (CA) WORK FURLOUGH PROGRAM, WHICH PERMITS CONVICTED MISDEMEANANTS TO CONTINUE OR SECURE EMPLOYMENT WHILE SERVING THEIR SENTENCE.
Abstract
THE RECIDIVISM RATES OF WORK FURLOUGHEES FOR THE FOUR YEAR PERIOD FOLLOWING RELEASE WERE COMPARED WITH THOSE OF A CONTROL GROUP OF INMATES WITH SIMILAR SOCIAL AND CRIMINAL HISTORIES WHO DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM. THE STUDY ALSO EXAMINED THE RECIDIVISM RATES OF MEN WITH DIFFERENT SOCIAL AND CRIMINAL HISTORIES. THE RESEARCHERS PREDICTED THAT WORK FURLOUGH INMATES WOULD FARE BETTER OVERALL AFTER RELEASE THAN THE COMPARISON GROUP. THIS HYPOTHESIS WAS UPHELD SINCE THE PRECENTAGES OF WORK FURLOUGHEES WITH NO ARRESTS AND NO CONVICTIONS WAS NEARLY DOUBLE THOSE OF THE CONTROL GROUP. HOWEVER, THESE PERCENTAGES, 23 AND 43 PERCENT RESPECTIVELY PROVED DISCOURAGING OVERALL. THE MAJOR FINDING OF THE STUDY WAS THAT WORK FURLOUGH WAS MOST BENEFICIAL TO THOSE HAVING THE HIGHEST RISK OF FAILURE AFTER RELEASE - THOSE INMATES WHO FARED WORST UNDER STANDARD INSTITUTIONALIZATION. THE AUTHORS SUGGEST TWO IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SELECTION CRITERIA FOR WORK FURLOUGH - A RELAXATION OF THE GENERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND A REVISION IN THE POSTRELEASE PROGNOSIS FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF OFFENDERS. MORE RESEARCHED IS URGED TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF WORK FURLOUGH ARE PARTIALLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO A POSITIVE LABELLING EFFECT OR WHETHER RECIDIVISM COULD SIMPLY BE REDUCED BY GIVING OFFENDERS JOBS AND MONEY WITHOUT IMPOSING ANY FORM OF INCARCERATION ON THEM.