NCJ Number
49468
Journal
Bewaehrungshilfe Volume: 25 Issue: 2 Dated: (1978) Pages: 115-127
Date Published
1978
Length
13 pages
Annotation
TWENTY-EIGHT WEST GERMAN LIFE PRISONERS, PARDONED AND UNDER PROBATION SUPERVISION FOR 5 YEARS, WERE STUDIED TO IDENTIFY THEIR REINTEGRATION DIFFICULTIES AND PROBLEMS IN COOPERATING WITH THEIR PROBATION OFFICERS.
Abstract
RECORD CHECKS AND INTERVIEWS WERE USED TO GATHER DATA ON THE 20 MEN AND 8 WOMEN SUBJECTS. MOST OF THE PROBATIONERS COMMITTED THE SENTENCING OFFENSE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 22 AND 30; MURDER AND ROBBERY WERE THE MOST FREQUENT CRIMES. THE RELEASE PERIOD OCCURRED BETWEEN 1968 AND 1977 AFTER PRISON TERMS FROM 15 TO 25 YEARS. BASED ON THE PROBATION OFFICERS' LAST CONDUCT REPORT, REINTEGRATION WAS EXPECTED TO PROCEED SMOOTHLY WITH NINE PROBATIONERS; SIX WERE PROBLEMATIC. FOR THE PERIOD OF SUPERVISION, 18 HAD ADAPTABILITY DIFFICULTIES AND 6 WERE LATER JUDGED AS NOT YET RESOCIALIZED. DURING THE INTERVIEW, ALL EXPRESSED POSITIVE THOUGHTS ABOUT THE HELP THEY RECEIVED FROM THEIR PROBATION OFFICERS. AFTER RELEASE, 21 FOUND HOUSING WITH FAMILY MEMBERS OR ACQUAINTANCES. GENERALLY, THE FIRST JOB SECURED WAS THROUGH PUBLIC AGENCIES. REGARDING THE FAMILY SITUATION AND PARTNER RELATIONSHIP, FIVE EXPERIENCED AN ALTERED FAMILY STATUS THROUGH DIVORCE AND TWO MARRIED DURING IMPRISONMENT. THERE WERE FOUR DIVORCES DURING THE PROBATION PERIOD. SPECIAL ATTENTION WAS DEVOTED TO THE SO-CALLED STIGMA SYNDROME: HOW THE STIGMA 'SENTENCED FOR LIFE' AFFECTS SOCIAL IDENTITY AND ALL INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS ON RELEASE. OF THE 28, 8 FELT PARTICULARLY BURDENED BY THEIR LIFE SENTENCE. ALTHOUGH HALF INDICATED THAT THE FEAR OF BEING DRAWN BACK INTO CRIMINALITY WAS MANIFEST DURING THE FIRST YEAR, ONLY FIVE DID IN FACT COMMIT NEW CRIMES. ALSO, AFTER RELEASE, HALF ADMITTED TO DISTURBED SEXUAL FUNCTIONING, GENERALLY ASSOCIATED WITH CONTACT DIFFICULTIES. TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED. --IN GERMAN.