Efficacy of Protective Supervision for Resocialization as Applied to Recidivist Alcoholics (From Troisieme Seminaire regional du CICC en Europe centrale, 1976, V 1 - Les mesures post-penales, P 86-116, Alice Parizeau, ed. - See NCJ-70486)

• NCJ Number: 70490
• Author(s): A Balandynowicz; M Porowski
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 30 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: Canada

Annotation

The effectiveness of protective supervision in dealing with alcoholic recidivists in Poland is assessed.

Abstract

The study seeks to determine the influence of alcoholism on criminal behavior, whether and how alcoholism is considered in rehabilitation programs for delinquents, and what tactics may eliminate alcoholic tendencies of convicted offenders under protective supervision. The study group consists of 120 alcoholic recidivists placed under protective supervision after completion of their prison sentences in an attempt to prevent further offenses. Subjects are mostly male (97.5 percent), 26 to 45 years old, of working class origins (83.3 percent), and with little education. Most come from conflict-ridden families with low incomes. About half of the subjects were raised in families characterized by hostility, tension, poor social conditions, alcoholism, and criminal involvement. Subjects' records show poor school performance, chronic unemployment, alcoholism, and early criminal involvement. About 50 percent of the subjects are clearly socially maladjusted and another 40 percent exhibit adjustment deficiencies. Despite involvement in a total of 1018 offenses, mostly property, subjects' sentences have been light. The delinquency of 69.5 percent of the subjects can be associated with alcohol abuse, but only 11.3 percent have undergone detoxification during imprisonment and only 1.3 percent have been sent to special treatment centers. In almost 80 percent of the cases, alcohol abuse problems have become apparent during incarceration but have been virtually ignored by the prison administration. When connections were noted between the most recent offenses and alcohol abuse (72.5 percent), the courts nevertheless failed to order detoxification cures or to recommend changes in prison actions. Not until placed under protective supervision were subjects ordered to hold a regular job and abstain from alcohol use. However, 45 percent of the subjects have continued to abuse alcohol, without immediate reactions from either probation officers or courts. Supervision of the subjects is often delayed and irregular, but the contact with social workers must be viewed as a positive influence. Findings on the effectiveness of protective supervision show that 36.7 percent of the sample improve, while 63.3 percent make no progress or relapse. The success of protective supervision depends on the degree of social maladjustment produced by chronic alcohol abuse, the accuracy of the psychopedagogic diagnosis of the case, the extent to which that diagnosis is considered in the court decision, and adjustments made in the course of treatment. Tables are supplied.