WHAT WORKS? QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT PRISON REFORM (FROM CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE, 1975, BY J A GARDINER & M A MULKEY - SEE NCJ-30660)

• NCJ Number: 37759
• Author(s): R MARTINSON
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 35 pages
• Corporate Author: D C Heath and Co
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS STUDY, BASED ON A REVIEW OF 231 STUDIES ON OFFENDER REHABILITATION PROGRAMS, COMES TO THE CONCLUSION THAT NOT MUCH, IF ANYTHING, WORKS, AND EVEN IF SUCCESS WAS FOUND, THE CLIENT GROUP'S MAKEUP MIGHT HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE.

Abstract

THE REPORT CONCLUDES BY FINDING THAT WITH FEW AND ISOLATED EXCEPTIONS, THE REHABILITATIVE EFFORTS REPORTED SO FAR HAVE HAD NO APPRECIABLE EFFECT ON RECIDIVISM. THIS GOES FOR EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR INMATES, INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING FOR INMATES, INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT CHANGES, MEDICAL TREATMENT (ONE NOTABLE EXCEPTION IS CASTRATION OF SEX OFFENDERS), SENTENCING, COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS, PSYCHOTHERAPY, INTENSIVE SUPERVISION, AND PROBATION AND PAROLE. COMMUNITY TREATMENT, IT WAS FOUND, WHILE NOT NECESSARILY MAKING OFFENDERS BETTER, DOES NOT, AT LEAST, MAKE THEM WORSE.