NCJ Number
173897
Date Published
1996
Length
19 pages
Annotation
The ability of a prison industry program to affect recidivism in Canada was examined by means of an analysis of the relationship between inmate participation in CORCAN offender employment programs and outcomes after release.
Abstract
Information came from a sample of adult male offenders who had started and completed a prison work program during 1992-94 and who had participated in a CORCAN program for at least 6 months. The 300 offenders selected from the total of 2,026 offenders had all been employed within 1 month of their return to the community. Further selection criteria produced a sample of 277 offenders who had been released and were available for at least a 1-year follow-up. Information was collected regarding background characteristics, the work program, and recidivism after release. About three-fourth were serving their first Federal term of incarceration and serving a sentence of less than 5 years. Their overall rate of readmission to Federal custody was 39.5 percent, compared to 37.1 percent for the general offender population. However, former CORCAN participants released on full parole and statutory release appear to have fared considerably better than the general population in terms of any return to Federal incarceration, but did not do as well as the general population on day parole. Findings indicated that uninterrupted participation in prison work programs immediately prior to release may have some positive impact on recidivism, particularly for lower-risk offenders. Tables and 15 references