NCJ Number
64522
Date Published
1980
Length
13 pages
Annotation
ALTHOUGH A GOVERNMENT-SUPPORTED WORK PROGRAM FOR THE CRIME PRONE, WILDCAT REDUCED WELFARE AND ENHANCED STABLE LIVING CONDITIONS, PARTICIPANTS DID NOT COMMIT FEWER CRIMES THAN OTHER GROUPS IN THE LONG RUN.
Abstract
WILDCAT, A SUBSIDIZED WORK PROGRAM ESTABLISHED IN 1972, PROVIDES LOW-STRESS WORK TO TEACH WORK HABITS THROUGH PEER SUPPORT AND REGULAR JOB PERFORMANCE FEEDBACK. WILDCAT AIMS TO GRADUATE PARTICIPANTS INTO THE NORMAL WORKING WORLD. FIVE HUNDRED SUBJECTS, MOST MALE, MINORITY, DRUG ADDICTS, WERE ASSIGNED TO WILDCAT OR TO CONTROL GROUPS. IT WAS HYPOTHESIZED BY RESEARCHERS THAT WORK WOULD INDUCE PARTICIPANTS TO CHANGE TO A 'STRAIGHT' LIFE-STYLE OR GIVE THEM LESS TIME TO COMMIT CRIMES. ECONOMICALLY-MOTIVATED THEFTS MIGHT ALSO DECREASE. ARREST RATE WAS THE STUDY'S MEASURE OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. ALTHOUGH ARREST RATES WERE LOWER FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS THAN FOR CONTROL GROUPS THE FIRST YEAR, THIS TREND REVERSED IN SUBSEQUENT STUDY YEARS. IN ADDITION, NO DIFFERENCE IN CRIME TYPE WAS SEEN AMONG CONTROL AND PROGRAM GROUPS. HOWEVER, THE STEADILY EMPLOYED WERE ARRESTED LESS OFTEN THAN THE LESS STEADILY EMPLOYED, WILDCAT GRADUATES ARE SUBSEQUENTLY ARRESTED LESS OFTEN THAN THOSE LEAVING THE PROGRAM PREMATURELY, AND WILDCAT EMPLOYEES HAVE FEWER ARRESTS THAN GRADUATES. THUS, WHILE A RELATION BETWEEN UNEMPLOYMENT AND CRIME IS SUGGESTED, ITS NATURE IS UNKNOWN. MOREOVER, LINKS BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYMENT AND CRIMINAL HISTORIES ARE NOT ESTABLISHED, AS INTERVIEWS OF PRISON INMATES ABOUT EMPLOYMENT AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITY YIELDED NO CONCLUSIVE RESULTS. RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE CONTINUING WORK PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH AND EX-OFFENDERS AS RESEARCH ON CRIME AND UNEMPLOYMENT CONTINUES. NOTES, A COMMENTARY, AND TABLES ARE INCLUDED.