NCJ Number
51099
Date Published
Unknown
Length
49 pages
Annotation
UNEMPLOYMENT AND ALCOHOL USE ARE EXPLORED AS CORRELATES OF CRIME AND RECIDIVISM IN A STUDY OF 131 INMATES (HALF THE INMATE POPULATION) AT HEADINGLY CORRECTIONAL CENTER, NEAR WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA.
Abstract
THE SUBJECTS RESPONDED TO A 115-ITEM QUESTIONNAIRE ADMINISTERED BY INTERVIEWERS. THEIR RESPONSES SHOW THE FOLLOWING: 60 PERCENT WERE OUT OF WORK AT THE TIME OF THE MOST RECENT OFFENSE; 20 PERCENT HAD BEEN REFUSED EMPLOYMENT BECAUSE OF THEIR CRIMINAL RECORDS; 82 PERCENT HAD NOT RECEIVED JOB PLACEMENT HELP WHEN LAST RELEASED FROM AN INSTITUTION; 14 OF THE 23 SUBJECTS WHO HAD RECEIVED SUCH HELP WERE SATISFIED WITH THE WORK FOUND FOUND FOR THEM; 52.7 PERCENT WERE NOT SATISFIED WITH JOBS AVAILABLE TO THEM ON RELEASE; AND MANY REPORTED NOT HAVING THE EDUCATION (58 PERCENT) OR TRAINING (68 PERCENT) REQUIRED TO GET THE JOB THEY WANTED. THE FINDINGS ALSO SHOW THAT 67 PERCENT WERE DRINKING AT THE TIME THE MOST RECENT OFFENSE OCCURRED, 56 PERCENT REPORTED BEING DRUNK AT THE TIME, ONLY 10 PERCENT SAID THEY HAD THOUGHT OF COMMITTING THE OFFENSE BEFORE THEY STARTED DRINKING, AND 61 PERCENT HAD BEEN DRINKING AT THE TIME OF A PRIOR OFFENSE. A QUESTION-BY-QUESTION BREAKDOWN OF RESPONSES IS PROVIDED, AND IMPLICATIONS FOR INMATE EDUCATION/TRAINING PROGRAMS, PRERELEASE SERVICES, AND SERVICES TO EX-OFFENDERS ARE DISCUSSED. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT A CENTRAL AGENCY BE ESTABLISHED TO COORDINATE THE ACTIVITIES OF THE VARIOUS GROUPS PROVIDING SERVICES TO OFFENDERS, THAT THE INMATES THEMSELVES BECOME MORE INVOLVED IN PROGRAMS CONCERNING THEM, AND THAT AN ALCOHOLISM TREATMENT PROGRAM FOR INMATES BE ESTABLISHED.