NCJ Number
68599
Journal
Monatsschrift fuer Kriminologie und Strafrechtsreform Volume: 62 Issue: 6 Dated: (DECEMBER 1979) Pages: 357-365
Date Published
1979
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THE RESULTS OF A COMPARATIVE STUDY EXPLORING THE RECIDIVISM RATES OF MALE ADULT OFFENDERS RELEASED FROM THREE HAMBURG CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS (WEST GERMANY) ARE REPORTED.
Abstract
THE SAMPLE POPULATION OF 463 OFFENDERS RELEASED FROM 1971 TO 1973 CONSISTED OF FOUR GROUPS: 324 OFFENDERS RELEASED FROM THE CONVENTIONAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION FUHLSBUETTEL, 38 FROM THE TREATMENT ORIENTED INSTITUTION BERGEDORF, 69 OFFENDERS FROM A HALFWAY HOUSE AND TREATMENT CENTER, AND 32 OFFENDERS WHO WERE RETURNED TO NORMAL INSTITUTIONS AFTER TREATMENT ATTEMPTS FAILED. THE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE RECORDS OF 398 PROPERTY OFFENDERS INDICATES THAT 60.1 PERCENT OF NON-TREATED OFFENDERS RECEIVED SUBSEQUENT JAIL TERMS (AN ADDITIONAL 12.5 PERCENT PAID FINES) AS COMPARED TO 34.2 PERCENT JAIL TERMS (15.2 PERCENT FINES) AS COMPARED TO 34.2 PERCENT JAIL TERMS (15.2 PERCENT FINES) FOR OFFENDERS FROM THE TREATMENT CENTERS. OF THE OFFENDERS WHO WERE RETURNED TO THE ORDINARY CORRECTIONAL PROCESS, 77.4 PERCENT RECEIVED ADDITIONAL JAIL SENTENCES (NO FINES). A FINAL STEP OF THE RESEARCH CONSISTED OF MATCHED PAIR ANALYSIS IN WHICH 77 OFFENDERS FROM ORDINARY FACILITIES IN TERMS OF AGE AT THE TIME OF RELEASE, THE PROPORTION OF AGE AND TIME SPENT IN PRISON, AND PREVIOUS PRISON RECORD. THE RESULTS OVER A STUDY PERIOD OF 2 YEARS INDICATE A RECIDIVISM RATE OF 26 PERCENT FOR TREATED OFFENDERS AND 36 PERCENT FOR NON-TREATED OFFENDERS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT TREATMENT ORIENTED INSTITUTIONS AND HALFWAY HOUSES ARE SUCCESSFUL IN LOWERING RECIDIVISM RATES AND THAT EVEN BETTER RATES COULD PROBABLY BE ATTAINED IF THE TREATMENT PROGRAMS AND THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN INSIDE AND OUTSIDE SOCIAL SERVICES WERE IMPROVED. THE ARTICLE IS SUPPORTED BY STATISTICAL CHARTS. --IN GERMAN.