INMATE SELF-GOVERNMENT AND ATTITUDE CHANGE - AN ASSESSMENT OF PARTICIPATION EFFECTS

• NCJ Number: 50184
• Journal: EVALUATION QUARTERLY Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: (AUGUST 1978) Pages: 455-479
• Author(s): J L REGENS; W G HOBSON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 25 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Western Interstate Cmssn for Higher Education; National Science Foundation
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: AN EARLIER VERSION OF THIS PAPER WAS PRESENTED AT THE 34TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MIDWEST POLITICAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, APRIL 29 - MAY 1, 1976

Annotation

THE EFFECTS OF PARTICIPATION IN AN INMATE SELF-GOVERNMENT PROGRAM ON INMATES' SELF-ESTEEM, SELF-COMPETENCE, ACCEPTANCE OF OTHERS, AND ACCEPTANCE OF LAW AND AUTHORITY ARE EXAMINED.

Abstract

THE STUDY FOCUSES ON THE ATTITUDINAL CHANGES ATTRIBUTABLE TO PARTICIPATION IN AN INMATE SELF-GOVERNMENT PROGRAM INITIATED IN 1971 AT THE MAXIMUM SECURITY PENITENTIARY IN WALLA WALLA, WASH. THE PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED TO GIVE INMATES ACTUAL POLICYMAKING RESPONSIBILITIES THROUGH A SYSTEM OF COLLABORATIVE MANAGEMENT. THE PRINCIPAL COMPONENT OF SELF-GOVERNMENT WAS AN INMATE-ELECTED 11-MEMBER COUNCIL RESPONSIBLE FOR FORMULATING POLICY OBJECTIVES AND FOR COORDINATING INMATE PARTICIPATION. A PRETEST-POSTTEST DESIGN WAS USED TO EVALUATE THE PROGRAM'S EFFECTS ON A STRATIFIED RANDOM SAMPLE OF 173 MALE INMATES. EVALUATION DATA REVEAL THAT PARTICIPATION CONSISTENTLY FOSTERED A MORE POSITIVE SENSE OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AMONG INMATES, WHEREAS THE ATTITUDES ASSOCIATED WITH SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (PARTICULARLY ACCEPTANCE OF LAW AND AUTHORITY) DETERIORATED CONSISTENTLY AMONG INMATES WHO DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN SELF-GOVERNMENT. SUPPORTING DATA, STUDY INSTRUMENTS, AND A LIST OF REFERNCES ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)