EDUCATION AND/OR TRAINING ACTIVITIES AT THE GOVERNMENT PRISONS AT NYBORG AND SOBYSOGARD - SKADHAUGE-PLANEN, REPORT 3

• NCJ Number: 64327
• Author(s): B E HOLSTEIN; F B SKADHAUGE
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 86 pages
• Corporate Author: Denmark Ministry of Justice
• Publication Format: Document
• Country: Denmark
• Note: PART OF A SERIES OF 6 REPORTS ON THE SKADHAUGE-PLANEN. REPORT BY THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE CRIMINAL POLICY RESEARCH GROUP.

Annotation

A STUDY WAS CONDUCTED OF 755 EX-INMATES FROM DENMARK'S PRISONS WHO HAD PARTICIPATED IN A SPECIAL PRISON PROGRAM OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING FROM 1975 TO 1977 AND HAD BEEN RELEASED BEFORE JANUARY 1978.

Abstract

THE STUDY EXAMINED THE EX-OFFENDER'S EMPLOYMENT STATUS, USE OF SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE ACQUIRED WHILE IN PRISON, AND RECIDIVISM. THE PROGRAM, CALLED THE SKADHAUGE-PLANEN (S-P), AIMED AT REDUCING RECIDIVISM AND UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG RELEASEES BY GIVING INMATES OPPORTUNITIES IN EDUCATION, JOB SKILLS IMPROVEMENT, AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT EQUAL TO THOSE ENJOYED BY ALL CITIZENS. THE PROGRAM INCLUDED BROAD CHOICES OF VOCATIONAL AND ACADEMIC PROGRAMS FOR INMATES, WITH INSTRUCTION BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE PRISON. PLANNING FOR A STUDY COURSE BEGAN EARLY--AT THE PRECONVICTION STAGE, AND DEFENDANTS PARTICIPATED IN CHOOSING AN INSTITUTION TO BE ASSIGNED TO, IN CASE OF CONVICTION, THAT MET THEIR STUDY PROGRAM NEEDS. THE STUDY SAMPLE WAS DIVIDED INTO A GROUP OF 313 PERSONS WHO HAD COMPLETED S-P PROGRAMS WHILE IN PRISON, A GROUP OF 270 CONTROLS WHO HAD PLANNED BUT HAD, FOR SOME REASON, NOT PARTICIPATED, AND A REMAINING GROUP OF 172 PERSONS WHO HAD PLANNED AND BEGUN A COURSE OF STUDY BUT HAD NOT COMPLETED IT. INTERVIEWERS GATHERED DATA ON SUBJECTS' DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS, WORK AND UNEMPLOYMENT HISTORY, WORK EXPERIENCES AFTER RELEASE, FAMILY STABILITY, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL STATUS, ESPECIALLY CONCERNING EMPLOYABILITY. QUESTIONS WERE ALSO ASKED CONCERNING RESPONDENTS' PERCEPTIONS OF S-P AND RECIDIVISM. THE RESULTS SHOW THAT THE PROGRAM HAS NOT ACCOMPLISHED ITS MAJOR OBJECTIVE--TO IMPROVE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR RELEASES. OVER HALF OF RESPONDENTS WERE UNEMPLOYED. RESPONDENTS DID FEEL, FOR THE MOST PART, THAT DESPITE THEIR SITUATIONS, THE PROGRAM GAVE THEM A BETTER CHANCE AT JOBS IN THE LONG RUN, INCREASED SELF-WORTH, GAVE THEM NEW INTERESTS, AND ENCOURAGED THEM TO SEEK NEW FRIENDS. MANY HAD BEGUN NEW COURSES OF STUDY. RECIDIVISM APPEARED TO BE AFFECTED FOR ALL GROUPS BY THE AGE AND CRIMINAL HISTORY OF SUBJECTS; HOWEVER, WHEN THESE VARIABLES WERE CONTROLLED, THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP HAD A SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER RATE OF RECIDIVISM. STUDY DATA, A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE S-P IN OPERATION, AND THE STUDY INSTRUMENT ARE INCLUDED.