NCJ Number
209130
Journal
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume: 40 Issue: 1/2 Dated: 2004 Pages: 133-146
Date Published
2004
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study examined how client characteristics may be associated with successful community re-integration program completion.
Abstract
Offender recidivism is one of the major issues facing the criminal justice system; empirical data suggest that as many as 62.5 percent of released prisoners will be rearrested within 3 years of their release. As such, community reintegration programs have emerged across the country to assist released prisoners re-establish themselves in their communities and remain crime free. The current study compared the client characteristics associated with successful re-integration program completion with the client characteristics of program dropouts. Study participants were 160 randomly selected Chattanooga Endeavors, Inc. (CEI) clients (43 percent graduates and 37 percent dropouts) who completed a self-report demographic survey as well as 3 psychometric instruments measuring substance dependence risk, level of education, employment or school status, and parole risk classification. Information was also drawn from client case files and from the Tennessee Department of Corrections. Results of statistical analyses indicated that program graduates had lower substance dependence and parole risk classifications compared with CEI dropouts. Graduates also had higher levels of education than client dropouts. Further research is called for on the needs of this population in order to provide more direction for organizations running reintegration programs. Tables, references