DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA - IMPACT OF THE YOUTH CENTER ON FIRST TERMERS

• NCJ Number: 11169
• Author(s): J D SPEVACEK; S ADAMS
• Date Published: 1969
• Length: 30 pages
• Grant Number(s): OLEA-089
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: District of Columbia Dept of Corrections
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

PRELIMINARY SUMMING UP OF IMPRESSIONS DERIVED FROM TWO INTERVIEWS WITH EACH OF TEN CONSECUTIVE FIRST ADMISSIONS TO THE D.C. YOUTH CENTER.

Abstract

THE INTERVIEWS WERE DESIGNED TO EXPLORE THE IMPACT OF THE YOUTH CENTER ON FIRST TERMERS AND TO UNCOVER POSSIBLE WAYS OF MAKING THE CENTER A MORE EFFECTIVE INSTRUMENT OF REHABILITATION. MOST OF THE SUBJECTS OF THE STUDY SEEMED TO SHIFT FROM A POSITIVE TO A NEGATIVE ORIENTATION TOWARD THE YOUTH CENTER AFTER BEING THERE 35 DAYS. THIS SHIFT HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE ADJUSTMENT TO THE DEPRIVATIONS OF IMPRISONMENT AND THE INTERPERSONAL PROBLEMS WHICH ARE GENERATED BY THE STRUCTURE AND PROCESSES OF THE INMATE SOCIETY. ANTI-STAFF IDEOLOGY AND PERCEPTION OF INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAMS ARE ALSO CITED AS SOURCES OF THE NEGATIVE SHIFT IN ATTITUDES. THE AUTHORS FEEL THAT THESE NEGATIVE ATTITUDES WILL DISAPPEAR AS THE MEN BECOME INVOLVED IN GOAL-DIRECTED PROGRAMS. FOUR CASE HISTORIES OF INMATES IN THE STUDY ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)