NCJ Number
236371
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 39 Issue: 5 Dated: September/October 2011 Pages: 385-393
Date Published
2011
Length
9 pages
Annotation
A total of 1,031 adult men convicted in Texas in 1993 and sentenced to a boot camp program were surveyed about their expectations regarding how they would be treated in the community after they were released, with a focus on whether they expected to be stigmatized or reintegrated.
Abstract
Study results suggest that at least at the beginning of a criminal career, offenders may be more resistant to stigmatization and more optimistic about reintegration than has been theorized. Regarding stigmatization, only 12.3 percent felt their families had abandoned them, or that they will be "all alone in the world" when they are released (16.8 percent), or that their only friends will be "other criminals" (10.3 percent). Slightly more expect to have trouble finding a job (21.8 percent). The only predominantly negative outlook was the level of agreement with "the whole world being against me" (33.5 percent). Regarding reintegration, most offenders expected to be reintegrated upon release. Over 90 percent expect that their families will still support them; their friends will still like them; and they will be able to adjust back into society without too much difficulty. Just under 80 percent expect that their friends will be able to help them find employment. The findings suggest that many young adult offenders are ideal candidates for restorative justice. They appear to have a desire for reintegration that may make them open to accepting responsibility for their law-breaking, participating in victim-offender conferences, and building relationships that will move them away from crime. 3 tables, 4 notes, and 70 references