NCJ Number
50369
Journal
Bulletin of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: (1977) Pages: SYMPOSIUM ISSUE,P 161-170
Date Published
1977
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE METHODS AND MAJOR FINDINGS OF A COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS OF THE MARYLAND FACILITY FOR DANGEROUS OFFENDERS ARE SUMMARIZED.
Abstract
THE STUDY SOUGHT TO DETERMINE THE RELATIVE COSTS AND EFFECTIVENESS OF CONFINEMENT AT THE PATUXENT INSTITUTION, A STATE FACILITY OFFERING PSYCHIATRIC AND OTHER SERVICES TO INVOLUNTARILY COMMITTED OFFENDERS JUDGED TO BE 'DEFECTIVE DELINQUENTS,' AND AT CONVENTIONAL HIGH-SECURITY INSTITUTIONS. COSTS INCLUDED THOSE INCURRED BY THE STATE FOR INCARCERATING OFFENDERS AND EARNINGS LOST TO OFFENDERS DURING THEIR INCARCERATION. EFFECTIVENESS WAS MEASURED IN TERMS OF THE INSTITUTION'S IMPACT ON POSTRELEASE CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. THE COST TO THE STATE FOR CONFINING A TYPICAL INMATE AT PATUXENT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE APPROXIMATELY TWICE THE COST OF INCARCERATING THE SAME OFFENDER IN A CONVENTIONAL PRISON. THE EARNINGS LOST TO THE TYPICAL PATUXENT INMATE WERE ESTIMATED TO BE SLIGHTLY GREATER THAN THOSE INCURRED BY THE TYPICAL PRISON INMATE. PATUXENT'S SUCCESS AT REDUCING CRIME (I.E., DECREASING THE LIKELIHOOD THAT AN INMATE WOULD COMMIT A NEW OFFENSE AFTER RELEASE) WAS NEARLY IDENTICAL TO THAT OF CONVENTIONAL PRISONS. THE FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT THE PATUXENT PROGRAM IS NOT AN EFFICIENT USE OF RESOURCES. SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)