EFFECTS OF INCARCERATION ON THE INTELLIGENCE, ACHIEVEMENT AND PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF ADJUDICATED MALE DELINQUENTS

• NCJ Number: 63183
• Author(s): T E PECK
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 116 pages
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: SPECIAL PRICES FOR ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS LEHIGH UNIVERSITY - DOCTORAL DISSERTATION

Annotation

MALE DELINQUENTS WERE TESTED AT THE TIME OF APPREHENSION, AFTER ADJUDICATION, AND FOLLOWING 6 MONTHS IN A MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTS OF INCARCERATION ON INTELLIGENCE, ACHIEVEMENT, AND PERSONALITY.

Abstract

DELINQUENTS IN DETENTION FACILITIES ARE OFTEN ADMINISTERED A BATTERY OF TESTS WHICH THEN ARE USED TO SELECT AN APPROPRIATE CORRECTIONAL PROGRAM. THE DISSERTATION'S HYPOTHESES STATED THAT NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES WOULD OCCUR BETWEEN THE INITIAL TESTING AND THOSE ADMINISTERED AFTER A PERIOD OF INCARCERATION. INTRODUCTORY CHAPTERS DISCUSS THE EXTENT OF DELINQUENCY IN THE UNITED STATES AND PENNSYLVANIA, VARIOUS PHILOSOPHIES OF TREATMENT, AND DEFINITIONS OF CONFINED DELINQUENTS' RIGHTS. THE LITERATURE REVIEWED CONCERNS HISTORICAL TRENDS IN REHABILITATION METHODS, CONTEMPORARY TREATMENT PROGRAMS, AND RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN DELINQUENCY, INTELLIGENCE, ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, AND PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS. THE SAMPLE WAS COMPRISED OF 30 MALES BETWEN 16 AND 18 YEARS OF AGE WHO WERE RANDOMLY SELECTED FROM DAUPHIN COUNTY, PA., JUVENILE COURTS. MOST WERE FROM THE CITY OF HARRISBURG AND WERE BLACK. ALL HAD PREVIOUS RECORDS OF JUVENILE CRIME. PARTICIPANTS WERE TESTED BY THE WECHSLER ADULT INTELLIGENCE SCALE, THE WIDE RANGE ACHIEVEMENT TEST, AND THE BENDER-GESTALT TEST. RESULTS WERE COMPARED USING THE CORRELATED 'T' PROCEDURE. A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT OCCURRED IN ALL TEST SCORES BETWEEN DETENTION AND INCARCERATION EVEN THOUGH PARTICIPANTS HAD NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACADEMIC PROGRAMS. THE STUDY CONCLUDED THAT TEST SCORES COMPLETED WHILE IN A DETENTION FACILITY CAN BE DEPRESSED BY THE ABRUPT CHANGE IN ENVIRONMENT AND ANXIETIES REGARDING THE UNKNOWN FUTURE AND THUS CONTRIBUTE TO AN INAPPROPRIATE PLACEMENT. FURTHER RESEARCH IS NEEDED TO EXPLORE ADDITIONAL TIME VARIABLES AND UTILIZE CONTROL GROUPS TO EXAMINE THE EFFECTS OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY TREATMENT CENTERS. THE APPENDIXES CONTAIN A GLOSSARY, CHARTS OF INDIVIDUAL TEST SCORES, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY. (MJM)