Showing papers in "International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology in 1988"
TL;DR: The Reasoning and Rehabilitation Project comprised an experimental test of the efficacy of an unorthodox intervention program in the rehabilitation of high-risk adult probationers The program was derived from a series of sequential studies of the principles of effective correctional programs as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The Reasoning and Rehabilitation Project comprised an experimental test of the efficacy of an unorthodox intervention program in the rehabilitation of high-risk adult probationers The program was derivedfrom a series of sequential studies of the principles of effective correctional programs These studies indicated that many offenders evidence deficits in cognitive skills which are essential for pro-social adjustment and that training in these skills is an essential ingredient of effective correctional programs Compared to regular probation and life skills training, cognitive training provided by probation officers led to a major reduction in re-arrest rates and incarceration rates among adult high-risk probationers
340 citations
TL;DR: In this article, 40 inmates ranging in age from 63 to 80 were tested and interviewed to determine the degree to which they perceived the prison environment as stressful, and compared on measures of anxiety, anger, and curiosity with a group of younger inmates and with a standardization group.
Abstract: Forty inmates ranging in age from 63 to 80 were tested and interviewed to determine the degree to which they perceived the prison environment as stressful. They were compared on measures of anxiety, anger, and curiosity with a group of younger inmates and with a standardization group. Their responses on these measures were similar to those of the younger inmates but significantly different from those of the standardization group. The interview, designed to assess the subjects reactions to incarceration, indicated that these older inmates tend to create afacade of adjustment. This normal appearance, which results from a denial and suppression of their feelings, masks their stress and anger. This phenomenon of adjustment tends to inhibit development of programs to cope with this problem.
34 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined how wives' continuing relationships with their incarcerated husbands are shaped by prison policies concerning telephone calls and home furloughs and found that within the constraints of telephone calls, relationships can be strengthened or undermined as prisoners and their wives attempt to resume remnants of their pre-prison marital patterns.
Abstract: This article examines how wives' continuing relationships with their incarcerated husbands are shaped by prison policies concerning telephone calls and home furloughs. A combination of data sources were used to construct an ethnographic account of the experiences of thirty women married to men incarcerated in two prisons. Findings show that within the constraints of telephone calls and home furloughs, relationships can be strengthened or undermined as prisoners and their wives attempt to resume remnants of their pre-prison marital patterns. Analysis reveals that prison policies believed functional for the prison treatment programs can have dysfunctional consequences for prisonerwife interaction.
28 citations
TL;DR: The controversial criminal personality described by Yochelson and Samenow is diagnosed by DSM-III-R criteria as suffering from four personality disorders: Antisocial, narcissistic, borderline and histrionic as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The controversial Criminal Personality described by Yochelson and Samenow is diagnosed by DSM-III-R criteria as sufferingfromfourpersonality disorders: Antisocial, narcissistic, borderline and histrionic. Additionally, the Criminal Personality meets most criteria of the Cleckley psychopath, the Kernberg psychopath, and the DSM-II antisocial personality disorder. The congruence of the Criminal Personality with other criminal typologies provides modest validity to the construct. The interrelationship of the DSM-III-R quadruple diagnoses implies a shared pathogenesis of these disorders. The clinical and research implications of differentiating between subtypes of antisocial personality based upon multiple Axis II diagnoses are discussed.
25 citations
TL;DR: The results of the efforts to employ more women staff on secure wards in a forensic hospital are reported, directed at creating equal employment opportunities as well as enhancing the resocialization of patients through more positive ward atmospheres.
Abstract: The results of the efforts to employ more women staff on secure wards in a forensic hospital are reported. These efforts were directed at creating equal employment opportunities as well as enhancing the resocialization of patients through more positive ward atmospheres. Ten ward atmosphere qualities identified by Moos were used as measures. The study concentrated on ratings of patients from two wards which had higher and lower concentrations of women staff. Patients in the ward having more women staff members rated their ward significantly higher on several relationship and systems maintenance dimensions but lower on the amount of aggression permitted.
16 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a descriptive framework for the context analysis of sexual fantasy was developed by examining the verbatim reports of fantasies of sexual offenders and non-sexual offenders, and two fantasy themes, subsumed under five major categories of sexual fantasies, were identified.
Abstract: A descriptiveframeworkfor the context analysis of sexualfantasies was developed by examination of the verbatim reports of fantasies of sexual offenders and non-sexual offenders. Twenty-two fantasy themes, subsumed under five major categories of sexual fantasies, were identified. Application of the scale to a sample of fantasies elicited from 103 offenders revealed differences in the frequency of occurrence of various fantasy themes and categories between the sex offenders and non-sex offenders. In addition to demonstrating the diversity of the content of erotic imagery, the study results suggest that the scale may have use in the discrimination of differences relevant to the understanding of sexual deviancy.
16 citations
TL;DR: This article examined the relationship between the Japanese homicide rate and penalty structures during the past half century and found that the single most important factor explaining the decline in homicide in Japan is the secular trend.
Abstract: This article uses the economic approach to examine the relationship between the Japanese homicide rate and penalty structures during the past half century. The empirical results give some support for the hypothesis that potential criminals are deterred by sanctions (proxies for the certainty and severity of punishment are inversely related to the homicide rate.) Virtually no support is found for the hypothesis that the decline in the Japanese homicide rate resulted directly from economic growth. The results indicate that, even after taking into account changes in the Japanese penalty structure, the single most important factor explaining the decline in homicide in Japan is the secular trend. This contrasts sharply with other industralized countries which have experienced secular trends toward higher homicide rates. Factors that caused Japan's secular trend to be so different from other industralized nations need further clarification and investigation.
10 citations
TL;DR: This paper reviewed the development of deterrence thought through four historical epochs, delineating the context and assumptions of each, and summarized and critiqued the theoretical and empirical advance of the last two decades.
Abstract: Research on deterrence has proliferated in recent years. This article reviews the development of deterrence thought through four historical epochs, delineating the context and assumptions of each. Theoretical and empirical advance of the last two decades are summarized and critiqued.
9 citations
TL;DR: This research profiles the 472 patients hospitalized during an an-nual period at Central New York Psychiatric Center, which is the sole provider of hospitalization for any of New York State's 40,000 sentenced inmates who require acute inpatient psychiatric care.
Abstract: This research profiles the 472 patients hospitalized during an an-nual period at Central New York Psychiatric Center, which is the sole provider of hospitalization for any of New York State's 40,000 sentenced inmates who require acute inpatient psychiatric care. Patient characteristics are compared with those of the State's general prison population. Application of this form of analysis may prove useful elsewhere, as overrepresentation of patients with particular characteristics can be seen to hold implications for the planning and development of relevant programs to address the needs of this clientele. Demographic and criminal justice characteristics examined include age, sex, race, marital status, religion, educational level, disabilities other than mental illness, crime of conviction and sentence length.
7 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the evolution, causes, rationale, nature and characteristics of this phenomenon, suggestions for lessening this type of criminal homicide are tendered, and some incidents of ritual killings in Nigeria are reported.
Abstract: Some incidents of ritual killings in Nigeria are reported. The article discusses the evolution, causes, rationale, nature and characteristics of this phenomenon, suggestions for lessening this type of criminal homicide are tendered.
7 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, an exploratory study focused on elderly offenders on probation is presented, which deals with the characteristics of elderly probationers, the issues connected with their handling by the criminal justice system in general, and the probation in particular.
Abstract: This exploratory study focuses on elderly offenders on probation. It deals with the characteristics of elderly probationers, the issues connected with their handling by the criminal justice system in general, and the probation in particular. Among other variables the study shows that there are relatively few elderly people on probation; more than half of them have a previous record; among males a large percent committed sex related offenses; generally their educational level is low; most have a manual or semi-skilled occupational background; about one-third of them have a very low income; and many have health problems.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined 41 juvenile correctional workers using the Maslach Burnout Inventory and a Juvenile Worker Interaction instrument and found that staff anger accounted for a large percentage of burnout.
Abstract: The present study supports the conclusion that there is a positive relationship between perceived inmate exploitation and juvenile correctional worker burnout. The research examined 41 juvenile correctional workers using the Maslach Burnout Inventory and a Juvenile Worker Interaction instrument. In addition, comparisons were made between respondent and non-respondent groups. Findings showed no significant difference between respondent and non-respondent groups. Measured by the six scales of Maslach 's Burnout Inventory, stress levels of the respondents fell within the moderate range. Staff anger accountedfor a large percentage of burnout.
TL;DR: In this paper, the assumed connection between exhibitionist acts and indecent telephone calls is reviewed and questioned, and four case vignettes are provided where indecent telephone call were made without the expression of other sexually deviant behaviors.
Abstract: The assumed connection between exhibitionist acts and indecent telephone calls is reviewed and questioned. Four case vignettes are provided where indecent telephone calls were made without the expression of other sexually deviant behaviors.
TL;DR: In the early 1980's, preventive social welfare intervention programmes for juveniles 'at psycho-social risk' were developed in the Netherlands as discussed by the authors, which reduced family malfunctioning, delinquent behavior and the amount of returns to police notice.
Abstract: In the early 1980's, preventive social welfare intervention programmes for juveniles 'at psycho-social risk' were developed in the Netherlands. This article presents the evaluation of one of these programs-the Prejop prevention experiment in the Hague. Relevant aspects of the method of assistance used in this programme are: early detection of juveniles 'at risk' by detectives of the juvenile police in close collaboration with social workers of the prevention programme, start of social assistance directly after the police contact, quick referral to a branch of the mental health system most capable of handling the problems at hand.For Dutch juveniles the programme reduced family malfunctioning, delinquent behavior and the amount of returns to police notice. For juveniles from ethnic minorities the programme was less beneficial.It is concluded that early social welfare intervention is a promising perspective in the area of delinquency prevention.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present an ethnographic material on the creation of a reality concerning AIDS by inmates in prison and examine how this relates to inmate understandings, beliefs, and definitions for their situation.
Abstract: This article consists of the presentation of ethnographic material on the creation of a reality concerning AIDS by inmates. The primaryfocus is on the examination of social discourse and how this relates to inmate understandings, beliefs, and definitions for their situation. The narrative reveals that a considerable amount of misinformation, and fractured information is employed to define their situation, and in turn, create a reality regarding AIDS in prison.
TL;DR: The authors examined the offender characteristics between mentally disordered and non-mentally disordered inmates within two distinct subgroups of high rate offenders: "repeat" and "recidivist" offenders.
Abstract: This article examined the offense characteristics between mentally disordered and non-mentally disordered inmates within two distinct subgroups of high rate offenders: "repeat" and "recidivist" offenders. The results indicated that the mentally disordered recidivists were charged more with minor crimes than the non-mentally disordered recidivists. This finding, coupled with the social differences found among non-serious repeat offenders, suggests that career criminals are not as homogenous-as a group than is generally assumed in the literature.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors proposed that the sentencing structure and the amount of discretion it affords decisionmakers may have a profound influence on both decision goals and data selection, emphasizing two main goals: retributive evaluations of present offense severity and risk predictive assessments of post-release behavior.
Abstract: The research literature on parole decisionmaking contains numerous inconsistencies across studies concerning the relative influence of legal, institutional and socioeconomic background variables on board members' actions. In part, this can be traced to methodological differences in defining and conceptualizing the variables, especially the dependent (outcome) measures. More recently, however, several studies highlighted the importance of parole board members' decision goals as a factor mediating information use. This paper proposes that the sentencing structure and the amount of discretion it affords decisionmakers may have a profound influence on both decision goals and data selection.The first section reviews the literature in terms of aframework emphasizing two main goals: retributive evaluations of present offense severity and risk predictive assessments of post-release behavior. The results are next presentedfrom an empirical study that contrasted two systems (in Israel and a northeastern American st...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe a primary psychological defense of antisocial personalities which "splits" perception of social reality into two components, one affectionate and one aggressive, and suggest that the uniquely supportive matching of the penitentiary environment with pathological aspects of the antisocial personality provides an unconscious, characterological appeal to many inmates, promoting expression of rebellious "prisonized" attitudes.
Abstract: Both prisonization and recidivism have been studied as if they were effects of external, generally social, influences acting on the offender. It is unlikely that satisfyingly comprehensive explanations for these phenomena can be achieved without considering internal motivational states of the antisocial personalities involved. Based on observations made in psychotherapy, this article presents unconscious motivations common to chronic offenders. Specifically, the article describes a primary psychological defense of antisocial personalities which "splits" perception of social reality into two components, one affectionate and one aggressive. Penitentiary operations inadvertently validate this pathological perspective. The article suggests that the uniquely supportive matching of the penitentiary environment with pathological aspects of the antisocial personality provides an unconscious, characterological appeal to many inmates, promoting expression of rebellious "prisonized" attitudes and increasing the chan...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss necessary variables when considering the need for sex offender treatment programs; the number of offences; recidivism; and the higher number of physical and emotional problems associated with the offender population.
Abstract: Few rehabilitation programs have been effective for sex offenders in Scandinavian countries. In contrast, the number of treatment programs in the USA has rapidly increased. The author discusses necessary variables when considering the need for sex offender treatment programs; the number of offences; recidivism; and the higher number of physical and emotional problems associated with the offender population.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined whether delinquents' general aptitude test scores would predict attrition in a vocational preparation focused program and found that completers and non-completers were significantly differentiated on general learning ability, verbal, numerical and spatial aptitudes, with completers displaying higher levels of functioning.
Abstract: Client attrition in community-based programmes for delinquent youths is a serious and widespread problem. The current study examined whether delinquents' general aptitude test scores would predict attrition in a vocational preparation focused programme. Results showed that completers (n = 26) and non-completers (n = 15) were significantly differentiated on general learning ability, verbal, numerical and spatial aptitudes, with completers displaying higher levels of functioning. Numerical and, to a lesser degree, spatial aptitudes emerged as the best discriminators between the two groups. The derived discriminant function produced a correct prediction ("hit") rate of 71%, accurately predicting almost all of the non-completers (13 out of IS). However, it mis-classified 10 of the 26 completers. In view of this tendency to overpredict the number of non-completers, low aptitude scores alone appear to be limited in their usefulness to predict attrition in individual youths. It is suggested that future research ...
TL;DR: Fourteen state prison inmates were evaluated using a structured diagnostic interview, the Psychiatric Diagnostic Interview (PDI), by one of two staff psychologists and an outside psychologist, and subjects were then re-interviewed with the PDI by anoutside psychologist from 14 to 29 weeks later.
Abstract: Fourteen state prison inmates were evaluated using a structured diagnostic interview, the Psychiatric Diagnostic Interview (PDI), by one of two staff psychologists. These subjects were then re-interviewed with the PDI by an outside psychologist from 14 to 29 (M = 16.7) weeks later. A third PDI interview was conducted by the same staff psychologist who administered the first PDL This third interview took place .5 to 1.6 (M = 1.1) weeks after the second interview. Interrater agreement varied little as afunction of time (16.7 vs 1.1 weeks) or rater (staff vs outside psychologist) and was slightly higher for Lifetime diagnosis (K =.58 to .72) than it was for Current diagnosis (K =.46 to.56).
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors view the actions of the modern mercenary as a form of social banditry and point out the need for further research into the mercenary and other types of social bandits to assist adequate theories of criminal and deviant behavior can be constructed.
Abstract: This preliminary study views the actions of the modern mercenary as aform of social banditry. It concludes by pointing out the needfor further research into the mercenary and other types of social bandits to assist adequate theories of criminal and deviant behavior can be constructed.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated changes in the MMPIfollowing a Court appearance by a young man charged with fratricide and found that such an effect has therapeutic implications.
Abstract: Court appearances theoretically are expected to have a strong impact on the offender. This can be related to their anxiety and guilt evoking effect. It is questionable if such an effect has therapeutic implications. The present study investigates changes in the MMPIfollowing a Court appearance by a young man charged with fratricide.