NCJ Number
67827
Date Published
1979
Length
26 pages
Annotation
THE CHARACTERISTICS AND PAROLE PERFORMANCE OF OFFENDERS PARTICIPATING IN OHIO'S SHOCK PAROLE PROGRAM ARE COMPARED OVER A 2.5-YEAR PERIOD.
Abstract
THE 252 INMATES RELEASED ON SHOCK PAROLE FROM JANUARY THROUGH JUNE 1977 WERE ALMOST IDENTICAL TO 1976 SHOCK PAROLEES IN TERMS OF AGE, SEX, ETHNIC BACKGROUND, AND LEVEL OF EDUCATION. THERE WERE SMALL VARIATIONS IN REGARD TO PRIOR FELONIES AND PROPORTION OF PAROLEES FROM URBAN COUNTIES, AND LARGER VARIATIONS IN MARITAL AND EMPLOYMENT HISTORIES. OVERALL, THERE WERE NO MAJOR SHIFTS IN THE NATURE OF THE SHOCK PAROLEE POPULATION IN THE PERIODS STUDIED. THERE WAS, HOWEVER, A DETERIORATION IN PAROLE OUTCOME FOR SHOCK PAROLEES SINCE 1975. THE NUMBER ARRESTED OR AT-LARGE IN THE FIRST YEAR AFTER RELEASE INCREASED STEADILY FROM 1975 THROUGH JUNE 1977. CHANGES IN THE RATE OF RETURN TO PRISON WERE SMALL, BUT SHOW THE SAME TREND. ALTHOUGH THE OVERALL PAROLE RECORD OF SHOCK PAROLEES REMAINS BETTER THAN THAT OF PAROLEES RELEASED THROUGH REGULAR HEARINGS, THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS ARE LESSENING. THE EMPLOYMENT STATUS OF SHOCK PAROLEES IMPROVED MARKEDLY OVER THE 2.5-YEAR PERIOD, DUE IN PART TO IMPROVEMENT IN THE ECONOMIC CLIMATE. THE EARLY RELEASE OF 252 INMATES THROUGH SHOCK PAROLE IN THE FIRST HALF OF 1977 HAD THE EFFECT OF REDUCING THE PRISON POPULATION FOR THE YEAR BY ABOUT 100. ACTUAL ECONOMIC SAVINGS WERE MODEST, BUT SHOCK PAROLE PLAYED A ROLE IN AVERTING THE NEED TO OPEN A NEW PRISON AND IN COMBATING LAWSUITS BASED ON OVERCROWDING. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT, AS LONG AS PAROLE RESULTS FOR SHOCK PAROLEES REMAIN BETTER THAN RESULTS FOR REGULAR PAROLEES, CONTINUATION OF THE PROGRAM IS JUSTIFIED. SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED. NO DESCRIPTION OF THE SHOCK PAROLE PROGRAM IS PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)