Academic Education/Vocational Training and Recidivism of Adult Prisoners

• NCJ Number: 70449
• Author(s): Z D Maciekowich
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 108 pages
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. Arizona State University - doctoral dissertation

Annotation

Research literature was reviewed and inmates were surveyed to determine the effects of academic education and vocational training on the recidivism rate of adult prisoners in Arizona.

Abstract

The study developed a questionnaire to measure recidivism and to determine the effects of academic and vocational programs on recidivism rates. The survey factors (and various subgroups of each) were sex, race, age, involvement with illegal drugs, committing offense, commitment and discharge residence, living arrangement at time of discharge, employment status and level, and type of training. Subjects were 188 inmates (97 percent male, 3 percent female) who had enrolled in and completed 3 different training programs (lower academic, postsecondary, and vocational) while incarcerated in 1973 and 1974 and who were released during that time. A control group consisted of 320 nonparticipant inmates paroled from the Arizona State Prison in 1974. Additional data were obtained from inmate records. Analysis using the chi-square revealed no significant difference among the three programs and a reduction of the recidivism rate in Arizona. No significant difference occurred among the three programs regarding parole status (absolute discharge, expiration, and return to prison) and there was no significant difference relative to the reduction of recidivism between the study sample and the control group. The study found that inmates who completed the postsecondary program and who were unemployed at the time of discharge were more likely to be recidivists. Significant levels of difference were obtained regarding the influence of the educational/vocational training programs upon various subgroups of the variables used to measure recidivism. Those categories for which meaningful results were obtained were minorities, persons over age 30, those committed for narcotics offenses, those living with relatives, those discharged in Maricopa County or discharged in the commitment residence, persons who were employed, and subjects having white-collar or skilled jobs. Tabular data, over 60 references, and appendixes containing the survey instrument and its validation are included. (Author abstract modified).