NCJ Number
96586
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 48 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1984) Pages: 38-44
Date Published
1984
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Prior experiences with the legal system were more closely related to the success or failure of outcome for the clients of a halfway house in Dayton, Ohio, than were demographic or social background characteristics.
Abstract
However, gender, educational achievement, employment history, and previous psychological treatment were also related to outcome. The clients of Cope House included referrals from Federal, State, county, and municipal courts and correctional institutions. Programming revolved around a behavioral contract (called a Mutual Agreement Plan) modeled after that used by the Massachusetts Halfway House Association. Study data came from the intake and termination forms from 409 clients who entered the program between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 1982. A total of 417 clients were admitted during that time. Overall, 65 percent of the clients were successful and 35 percent were unsuccessful, for a slightly higher success rate than that found in the survey by Seiter and others. Failure was defined as removal from the house for violation of house rules and regulations or the commission of a new offense. The latter category included those who escaped from the house. Females were more successful than males. While 70 percent of those over age 36 were successful, only 60 percent of those under 25 were successful. Only 57 percent of those arrested as juveniles were successful, while 86 percent of those whose first arrest occurred after age 25 were successful. Clients with more convictions were significantly less likely to be successful than those with fewer convictions. Data tables and 10 references are supplied.