NCJ Number
80523
Journal
Journal of Offender Counseling, Services and Rehabilitation Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: (Winter 1980) Pages: 47-60
Date Published
1981
Length
14 pages
Annotation
The perceptions of preparolees (inmates), parole officers, and parole supervisors are examined to determine how each group perceives certain components of the criminal justice system.
Abstract
The study sample consisted of 26 inmates, 60 parole officers, and 24 parole supervisors or managers from 1 correctional system. Inmates from one institution who had received a parole release date but had not yet been released (preparolees) were asked to participate in the study. Preparolees were first offenders with nondrug-related offenses. All subjects were asked to rate criminal justice concepts on a semantic differential, an instrument generally used to measure the meaning of words or concepts. Subjects rated each concept (policemen, correctional officers, parole, courts, parole officers, and parolees) by checking a point on a linear scale that was most descriptive of the subject's feelings toward the concept. With the exception of correctional officers, preparolees gave the most negative ratings to parolees, irrespective of the meaning dimension being rated. Preparolees rated parole officers the highest, suggesting that the inmate about to be released on parole is viewing his parole experience with positive anticipation. Parole officers and supervisors, on the other hand, give their least favorable rating to parolees, suggesting that past experience with parolees does not predispose parole personnel to anticipate success with new parolees. It is possible that parolees become involved in technical violations of parole within the first 3 months of parole because they fail to interpret the demands of the parole officer and the environment in appropriate ways. Clearer communication between parole officers and parolees regarding values and attitudes with respect to parole is needed. Tabular data and 26 references are provided.