NCJ Number
52470
Journal
CORRECTIVE PSYCHIATRY AND JOURNAL OF SOCIAL THERAPY Volume: 17 Issue: 3, Dated: (1971) Pages: 35-42
Date Published
1971
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE EFFECT OF THE HOUSING SETTING ON THE ATTITUDES OF PARTICIPANTS IN A WORK RELEASE PROGRAM WAS EXAMINED BY GIVING ATTITUDE QUESTIONNAIRES TO 37 OFFENDERS BEFORE AND AFTER PLACEMENT.
Abstract
A WORK RELEASE PROGRAM WHICH HOUSED OFFENDERS IN A COMMUNITY FACILITY IS CONTRASTED WITH A SIMILAR PROGRAM WHICH HOUSED CLIENTS IN THE WASHINGTON, D. C. REFORMATORY. THE 17 YOUNG MEN IN THE COMMUNITY FACILITY WERE SIMILAR TO THE 20 IN THE REFORMATORY IN TERMS OF AGE, EDUCATION, MARITAL STATUS, RACE, AND NUMBER OF PREVIOUS OFFENSES. THE TWO PROGRAMS WERE ALMOST IDENTICAL, ALTHOUGH THOSE IN CHARGE OF THE COMMUNITY-BASED FACILITY WERE MORE SOCIAL SERVICES ORIENTED THAN THE CORRECTIONAL STAFF AT THE REFORMATORY. THE ATTITUDE MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENTS, WHICH ARE DESCRIBED, WERE GIVEN BEFORE PLACEMENT AND AFTER PLACEMENT. NO DIFFERENCE WAS FOUND IN ATTITUDES TOWARDS SELF OR TOWARDS THE FUTURE. HOWEVER, THE COMMUNITY GROUP WAS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE POSITIVE TOWARD THE CONCEPT OF WORK RELEASE AND THE POTENTIAL OF WORK RELEASE TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE INMATE'S LIFE. COMMUNITY PLACEMENT ALSO LED TO GREATER ATTEMPTS TO EVALUATE PERSONAL POTENTIAL. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT TYPE OF WORK RELEASE PLACEMENT CAN HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE AMOUNT AND THE KINDS OF THINKING SHOWN BY THE CORRECTIONAL CLIENT. TABLES PRESENT STUDY DATA. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)