VANIER CENTRE FOR WOMEN - AN EXAMINATION OF THE SOCIAL MILIEU

• NCJ Number: 19889
• Author(s): L R LAMBERT; P G MADDEN
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 81 pages
• Corporate Author: Ontario Dept of Correctional Services
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: Canada

Annotation

THE CENTER IN BRAMPTON, ONTARIO, CANADA KEEPS IN CUSTODY AND PROVIDES TREATMENT TO ALL WOMEN ASSIGNED BY THE COURT TO SERVE UP TO TWO YEARS IN A PROVINCIAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION.

Abstract

THE SOCIAL CLIMATE (I.E. ENVIRONMENTAL MOOD) OF THE CENTRE DURING THE PERIOD OF MAY, 1970 THROUGH AUGUST, 1972, WAS MEASURED VIA ANALYSIS OF COTTAGE SURVEYS COMPLETED BY RESIDENTS AND BY COTTAGE-RELATED STAFF EVERY FIVE WEEKS. THESE SURVEYS EXAMINED THE PERCEPTIONS THE RESPONDENTS HAD OF THE TOTAL COMPLEX AND SPECIFIC LIVING UNITS, INCLUDING THE PEOPLE, PROGRAMS, AND INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCES THEY ENCOUNTERED. RESULTS SHOWED THAT WHILE STAFF WERE, AS EXPECTED, MORE POSITIVE THAN RESIDENTS, THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE CONGRUENCE IN PERCEPTIONS OF BOTH GROUPS ON MANY ISSUES, PARTICULARLY ON VIEWS TOWARD THE OTHER RESIDENTS. RESIDENTS, ON THE AVERAGE, WERE MORE POSITIVE THAN NEGATIVE IN PERCEPTIONS. MANY VARIABLES WERE SHOWN TO BE RELATED TO THE SOCIAL CLIMATE OF THE CENTRE. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OF THESE WAS WHETHER COTTAGE STAFF HAD PERSONAL DISCUSSIONS WITH RESIDENTS. ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT FINDING PERTAINS TO THE LENGTH OF TIME IN ONE SETTING. A SHARP DROP IN THE PERCEPTIONS WOMEN HAD OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT APPEARED AMONG THOSE WHO HAD SPENT 6 MONTHS OR MORE IN THE COTTAGE, THIS BEING PRONOUNCED AMONG THE WOMEN FROM THE OTHERWISE MORE POSITIVE UNITS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)