EXAMINATION OF RECIDIVISM TRENDS IN RELATION TO ORGANIZATIONAL RATHER THAN PROGRAM DIFFERENCES

• NCJ Number: 63840
• Journal: Journal of Offender Counseling, Services and Rehabilitation Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Dated: (FALL 1979) Pages: 63-80
• Author(s): K N WRIGHT
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 18 pages
• Corporate Author: Haworth Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: EARLIER VERSION OF THIS PAPER PRESENTED AT THE ACADEMY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SCIENCE MEETINGS, MARCH 8-10, 1977

Annotation

RESULTS ARE REPORTED FROM A STUDY THAT EXAMINES THE EFFECT ON RECIDIVISM OF ORGANIZATIONAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

Abstract

EVALUATIONS OF INMATES TREATMENT MODALITIES HAVE TYPICALLY OVERLOOKED OR DEEMPHASIZED THE EFFECT OF INSTITUTIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND CLIMATE ON PROGRAM OUTCOMES. THIS STUDY IS INTENDED TO FIND IF THIS NEGLECT OF ORGANIZATIONAL INFLUENCES AS A VARIABLE THAT DETERMINES PROGRAM OUTCOME IS WARRANTED. QUESTIONNAIRES DESIGNED TO MEASURE ORGANIZATIONAL VARIABLES WERE ADMINISTERED TO INMATES AND RESIDENTS IN EIGHT STATE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM ORGANIZATIONS--SIX COMMUNITY TREATMENT CENTERS AND TWO STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS. THE VARIABLES MEASURED WERE ORGANIZATIONAL COHESION, ORGANIZATIONAL UNCERTAINTY, ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT, AND STAFF SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT. ONE-WAY ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE TESTS REVEALED THAT THE EIGHT ORGANIZATIONS DIFFERED ON ALL FOUR OF THE VARIABLES. THE SECOND PHASE OF THE RESEARCH EXAMINED WHETHER THE CORRECTIONAL ORGANIZATIONS PRODUCED CHARACTERISTIC RECIDIVISM RATES WITH RECIDIVISM BEING DEFINED AS PAROLE FAILURE. RECIDIVISM AND BACKGROUND WERE MEASURED FOR SELECTED SAMPLES FROM EACH OF THE EIGHT CORRECTIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. FINDINGS INDICATED THAT THE ORGANIZATION HAD DIFFERENT OUTCOME RATES AND DIFFERENCES IN SUBJECTS' BACKGROUND ACCOUNTED FOR ONLY A SMALL PORTION OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL OUTCOME DIFFERENCES. ALTHOUGH THE STUDY HAS METHODOLOGICAL LIMITATIONS, THERE IS STRONG EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT ORGANIZATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS SHOULD BE A VARIABLE IN ANY EVALUATION OF TREATMENT MODES IN A GIVEN INSTITUTION. TABULAR AND GRAPHIC DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)