Understanding Crime Causation - An Integral Predecessor for Successful Evaluation of Correctional Education (From Correctional Education - A Focus on Success, 1983, Helen E Pecht, ed. - See NCJ-95891)

• NCJ Number: 95896
• Author(s): D Plecas
• Date Published: 1983
• Length: 6 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A 1982 survey of 182 correctional officers attending a refresher course given by the Correctional Services of Canada (CSC) in British Columbia revealed that some negative attitudes expressed by officers toward correctional policies and practices were related to their lack of understanding of crime causes.

Abstract

Half of the 4-hour workshop focused on giving the officers a simple understanding of the causes of crime and the CSC's role in reducing recidivism. Few officers indicated they had little knowledge of crime causes, and their attitudes differed greatly from those of the remaining officers. They were more likely to feel that prison should be punishment-oriented and that parole and temporary absence programs should be abolished. This group tended to be less educated, although attitudinal differences were still apparent when the analysis was controlled for levels of educational attainment. Workshop evaluations indicated the officers themselves realized the importance of their having a good understanding of crime causation. These findings suggest that correctional educators may reduce undue skepticism about their efforts by ensuring that persons who question the value of good educational programs hold a basic understanding of criminal causality. The survey instrument is appended.