BEHAVIOR MONITORING PROJECT CONDUCTED AT THE FEDERAL REFORMATORY FOR WOMEN, ALDERSON, WEST VIRGINIA, JANUARY-JUNE 1971 - FINAL REPORT

• NCJ Number: 35072
• Author(s): P J WOODS; R L WEBSTER; L T CLAYTON
• Date Published: 1971
• Length: 75 pages
• Contract Number(s): J1C-22,520
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

FINAL REPORT ON A PROJECT TO EXAMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF USING LINE OFFICERS IN RESIDENTIAL COTTAGES AT THIS REFORMATORY TO OBTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING OBSERVED BEHAVIORS IN THE DAILY LIVES OF THE RESIDENTS.

Abstract

THE PROJECT WAS UNDERTAKEN IN ORDER TO GAIN OBJECTIVE INFORMATION RELATING TO INMATE BEHAVIOR PATTERNS. IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE PROJECT GOALS A TARGET POPULATION OF FOUR COTTAGES WAS STUDIED, TWO HOUSING YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS EXCLUSIVELY AND TWO HOUSING A MORE HETEROGENEOUS POPULATION. REPORTS WERE OBTAINED FROM THE OFFICERS ON EACH OF THREE DAILY SHIFTS FOR 140 CONSECUTIVE DAYS. IN ADDITION, MORE GENERAL BEHAVIORAL CHARACTERISTICS WERE RATED TWICE DURING THE PERIOD OF THE STUDY. ANOTHER INSTRUMENT, TERMED THE DISRUPTION SCALE, WAS DEVELOPED AND USED ONCE WITH THE ENTIRE POPULATION. IN ALL THREE INSTANCES DIFFERENT BEHAVIOR PATTERNS WERE OBSERVED BETWEEN THE SUB-POPULATIONS STUDIED, LEADING THE REPORT TO CONCLUDE THAT THE FEASIBILITY OF A BEHAVIORAL MONITORING PROGRAM WAS DEMONSTRATED BOTH IN TERMS OF COST AND EASE OF ADMINISTRATION. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT SUCH A SYSTEM COULD BE USED TO ESTABLISH BEHAVIORAL NORMS AGAINST WHICH THE PERFORMANCE OF INDIVIDUALS OR SELECTED SUB-POPULATIONS COULD BE COMPARED. THIS INFORMATION WOULD BE USEFUL FOR ASSESSING ADJUSTMENT, PROGRESS AND POTENTIAL POST-RELEASE SUCCESS, AND WOULD THIS BE OF VALUE TO PRISON MANAGEMENT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)