NCJ Number
49219
Date Published
1975
Length
118 pages
Annotation
A COMMUNITY-BASED ALTERNATIVE TO INSTITUTIONALIZATION PROGRAM FOR ADULT MALE OFFENDERS WAS EVALUATED REGARDING CHANGES IN WORK ATTITUDES AND WORK-SUCCESS RECORDS.
Abstract
THE VOCATIONAL ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS, IS AN 8-WEEK PROGRAM DESIGNED TO OVERCOME ATTITUDE AND EMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS. THE COURSE STRIVES TO GET OFFENDERS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS, TO REALIZE THE CONSEQUENCES OF DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR AND TO INSTILL WORK SKILLS AND ATTITUDES THAT WILL IMPROVE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES. ONLY 37 SUBJECTS, 15 TO 44 YEARS OF AGE, GRADUATED FROM THE PROGRAM DURING THE EVALUATION PERIOD AND 10-WEEK FOLLOWUP. ALL HAD SEVERE PROBLEMS FINDING A JOB DUE TO THEIR INVOLVEMENT WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE MEN WERE EVALUATED THROUGH PRE- AND POSTCOURSE QUESTIONNAIRES AS WELL AS A REVIEW OF POSTCOURSE JOB-FINDING AND RECIDIVISM RECORDS. THREE ATTITUDE QUESTIONNAIRES SHOWED THAT THE PROGRAM MOVED THE CLIENTS TOWARD ATTITUDES ASSOCIATED WITH NONDELINQUENCY. HOWEVER, WORK ATTITUDES WERE NOT SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED. FOLLOWUP RECORDS SHOWED A SIGNIFICANT GAIN IN EMPLOYMENT AT 4 AND 8 WEEKS AFTER THE COURSE, COMPARED WITH THE CLIENTS' PREVIOUS JOB HISTORIES FOLLOWING CONVICTION. SIXTY PERCENT WERE WORKING AT 4 WEEKS AND 66 PERCENT AT 8 WEEKS; ONLY 5 PERCENT RETURNED TO PRISON. THERE WERE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE EVALUATION, INCLUDING THE SMALL SIZE OF THE GROUP, THE LACK OF CONTROLS, AND THE SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME FOR FOLLOWUP. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT A MORE THOROUGH STUDY BE MADE AT A LATER TIME. SURVEY DATA ARE PROVIDED, ALONG WITH A BIBLIOGRAPHY. THE RESULTS OF A LITERATURE REVIEW ARE PRESENTED. APPENDED MATERIALS INCLUDE A PROPOSED 1-YEAR PROGRAM FOR PUBLIC OFFENDERS, DETAILED OUTLINES OF ACTIVITIES TO BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE VOCATIONAL ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM, AND THE SURVEY INSTRUMENT. (GLR)