Showing papers in "International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology in 1992"
TL;DR: The authors found that men who had been abused as children were three times more likely than nonabused men to engage in violent acts as adults, and specific forms of childhood abuse were associated with specific (and isomorphic) patterns of adult violence.
Abstract: We reviewed the extensive institutional files of 604 male federal inmates to determine the impact of various types of childhood abuse and neglect on violent and aggressive behavior in adulthood. Men who had been abused as children were three times more likely than nonabused men to engage in violent acts as adults. Moreover, specific forms of childhood abuse were associated with specific (and isomorphic) patterns of adult violence; for example, those who were physically abused were most likely to be physically violent, and those who were sexually abused were most likely to be sexually violent. These results are consistent with the cycle of violence hypothesis, which states that those who experience childhood abuse become more likely to abuse others as adults, probably due to vicarious learning through exposure to violent models.
174 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined three cases of patricide by adoptees in light of a unique pattern of psychopathology, the Adopted Child Syndrome, where an aspect of the self, experienced as "bad" and usually identified with the fantasized biological parents, is dissociated.
Abstract: Adoption is often the key to the psychopathology of adopted killers, yet its importance is rarely noted. Three cases of patricide by adoptees are examined in light of a unique pattern of psychopathology, the Adopted Child Syndrome. In this syndrome, an aspect of the self, experienced as "bad" and usually identified with the fantasized biological parents, is dissociated. Under conditions of loss or rejection, this dissociated part of the self may erupt in murderous violence against the adoptive parents and others. In extreme cases, the syndrome is akin to multiple personality disorder, and such a diagnosis could be warranted.
61 citations
TL;DR: In this article, cognitive-behavioural therapy and social skills training was provided to sex offenders incarcerated at a maximum security jail, where weekly two-hour sessions occurred over a five-week program.
Abstract: Cognitive-behavioural therapy and social skills training was provided to sex offenders incarcerated at a maximum security jail. Weekly two-hour sessions occurred over a five-week program. The sessions were educational in nature and designed to teach inmates methods of restructuring faulty thinking and improving social skills. The total population included inmates charged for sexual offenses and a control population for other assault-related offenses. Of the sex offenders, rapists showed an increase in self-esteem over the duration of the program. Anxiety levels of rapists and molesters significantly decreased over the five-week program. MMPI code profiles emerged indicating a difference between the sex offenders; however, these were not significant.
37 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the effects of utilizing a prepackaged social skills training program (SST) as part of a comprehensive treatment program with a group of outpatient offenders were examined.
Abstract: Treatment of the adolescent sex offender is a complex process often involving extensive therapeutic intervention. While empirically sound descriptive data concerning the adolescent sex offender is lacking, retrospective accounts frequently describe the youthful offender as possessing a social skills deficit. Drawing on this notion, an investigation was completed to examine the effects of utilizing a prepackaged social skills training program (SST) as part of a comprehensive treatment program with a group of outpatient offenders. The study had two purposes: (1) to determine whether or not the adolescent offenders participating in the experimental group would learn and incorporate into their repertoire the specific social skills taught in the program, and (2) to assess whether or not the combined effects of therapeutic intervention and social skills training resulted in perceived improvement on self-report and parent-report measures of variables associated with social competence, problem behaviors, and self...
31 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors review some statistical studies regarding the relationships between mental illness and criminal behavior prior to, and following, the deinstitutionalization period and support the common opinion that the jails of the United States house great numbers of the mentally ill.
Abstract: The authors review some statistical studies regarding the relationships between mental illness and criminal behavior prior to, and following, the deinstitutionalization period. This review supports the common opinion that since deinstitutionalization the jails of the United States house great numbers of the mentally ill. Even though mental illness, per se, is not synonymous with violence-prone behavior, the percentage of mentally ill in the jails is growing. Their offenses usually consist of misdemeanors, prompted by impulsivity and lacking both calculation and deviation. Chronic schizophrenics are highly represented among present day jail inmates, together with defendants suffering from antisocial personality disorder with polysubstance abuse or cocaine intoxication. The authors argue that a moral community, providing better social integration and stronger bonds among people will put a stop to this cyclical return of the past: the plight of the mentally ill and society's misdirected efforts and aims.
27 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors compared the effects of a multi-faceted intervention for juvenile court probationers with the effect of "standard" probation services, concluding that Project Explore was no more effective than probation services that allow caseworkers close and meaningful contact with clients.
Abstract: This study compares the effects of a multi-faceted intervention for juvenile court probationers with the effects of "standard" probation services. Approximately half of the subjects were randomly assigned to the intervention program (Project Explore) consisting of outdoor adventure, social skills training, and parent skills training components, and the other half were maintained on standard probation. Results indicate that while both groups showed substantial reductions in status and criminal offenses over a two-year follow-up period, there were no significant differences between the groups, suggesting that Project Explore was no more effective than probation services that allow caseworkers close and meaningful contact with clients.
26 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors found that contrary to Goffman's description of staff-inmate relations in total institutions, the social relations between prison staff members and prisoners are diverse and not necessarily fixed and/or hostile.
Abstract: The findings presented in the following paper suggest that contrary to Goffman's description of staff-inmate relations in total institutions, the social relations between prison staff members and prisoners are diverse and not necessarily fixed and/or hostile. The paper describes five relationship prototypes ranging from the Punitive Relations Prototype to the Integrative Relation Prototype. The prototypes are measured by staff perception of the inmates; orientation of the relationship; relation's model; and social distance. The findings were gathered and confirmed by three phases of research: participant observation; staff questionnaire; and inmate interviews.
22 citations
TL;DR: The psychological autopsy is an investigative technique used by behavioral scientists in cases of equivocal death as mentioned in this paper, where data is gathered from interviews, documents and other materials to determine the mode of death: natural, accident, suicide, or homicide.
Abstract: The psychological autopsy is an investigative technique used by behavioral scientists in cases of equivocal death. Data is gathered from interviews, documents, and other materials to determine the mode of death: natural, accident, suicide, or homicide. This paper examines procedures and problems in conducting a psychological autopsy and offers a case study as illustration.
19 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a method is proposed in which motivational, diagnostic, and treatment aspects of the offense are recognized and the authors believe that a thorough diagnosis and treatment of sexual offenders implies having attention for the personality of the offender as much as for the offense and the possible offense pattern.
Abstract: In the treatment of sexual delinquents in the Netherlands the personality of the offender has had a strong emphasis. The offense as such has played a minor part. In this article the importance of the offense as an object of treatment is underscored. A method is proposed in which motivational, diagnostic, and treatment aspects of the offense are recognised. The authors believe that a thorough diagnosis and treatment of sexual offenders implies having attention for the personality of the offender as much as for the offense and the possible offense pattern. Also the enhancement of treatment motivation requires major attention.
14 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyzed the relationship between factors identified in the presentence investigation and success or failure of first-time offenders while under probation supervision and made an attempt to isolate the factors with the strongest relationship to success and failure.
Abstract: The presentence investigation completed by an agent of the court provides considerable information concerning the felony offender. The present work analyzes the relationship between factors identified in the presentence investigation and success or failure of first-time offenders while under probation supervision. An attempt was made to isolate the factors with the strongest relationship to success or failure. After the factors were isolated, those showing the strongest relationship to supervision were organized into a rating scale to be used by probation officers when making sentencing recommendations related to first-time felony offenders.
12 citations
TL;DR: This article analyzed the recidivism rates for 55 youth who had been placed at a state juvenile correctional facility who had completed the Intensive Treatment Program for juvenile delinquents judged as having the most severe psychological and behavioral problems.
Abstract: This study analyzed the recidivism rates for 55 youth who had been placed at a state juvenile correctional facility who had completed the Intensive Treatment Program for juvenile delinquents judged as having the most severe psychological and behavioral problems. Rates of recidivism for 55 youth were determined two years after completion of the program. Approximately one half of the subjects were successfully maintained in community placements two years post discharge. The strong ecological approach combined with cognitive behavioral training, individualized contracts and family therapy was deemed successful.
TL;DR: The CHOICE program is a comprehensive residential drug treatment program for offenders who have been seriously involved with drugs in the past and is comprised of seven principal elements-Intake/Evaluation/Follow-Up, Drug Education, Skills Development, Lifestyle Modification, Wellness, Responsibility, and Individualized Counseling/Case Supervision.
Abstract: This article describes the CHOICE program, a comprehensive residential drug treatment program for offenders who have been seriously involved with drugs in the past. This ten-month program is comprised of seven principal elements or components-Intake/Evaluation/Follow-Up, Drug Education, Skills Development, Lifestyle Modification, Wellness, Responsibility, and Individualized Counseling/Case Supervision-each of which is discussed in the body of this paper. The individual strengths, weaknesses, and future research agenda of this residential program for drug-involved offenders are discussed in the conclusion of this preliminary report.
TL;DR: A pertinent review of statistical studies concerning the psychiatric disorders in jail populations and present their statistical analysis of a group of 272 mentally ill inmates seen for competency evaluation at the Milwaukee County Mental Health Forensic Unit during a period of three years.
Abstract: The authors offer a pertinent review of statistical studies concerning the psychiatric disorders in jail populations and present their statistical analysis of a group of 272 mentally ill inmates seen for competency evaluation at the Milwaukee County Mental Health Forensic Unit during a period of three years. The mentally ill pseudo-offenders have been divided by type of offense and typology of mental disorder using the DSM-III-R diagnostic manual. The discussion of the results of this study reveals, and statistically supports, the presence of the mentally ill in the Milwaukee County Jail and, by sound generalization, in other United States jails. Chronic schizophrenics and psychopathic drug abusers are highly represented. The authors' critical analysis points to the possibility of a new trend among mentally ill inmates: escapism from psychiatrization. They argue that the pseudo-offenders, inheritance of deinstitutionalization and the present day social climate, should be offered proper psychiatric-legal a...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present 13 hypothesized common structural characteristics of programs that have been found to be effective in teaching a variety of skills and propose that an ideal correctional rehabilitation program would contain these properties.
Abstract: This article presents 13 hypothesized common structural characteristics of programs that have been found to be effective in teaching a variety of skills. It is proposed that an ideal correctional rehabilitation program would contain these properties. References are made to examples of effective training programs in corrections and elsewhere and issues relevant to correctional rehabilitation are discussed.
TL;DR: For example, this paper found that with the exception of organized crime, which has a centuries-long tradition in Japan, the numbers of all other types of crime are markedly lower in Japan than in Western industrialized societies.
Abstract: Recent crime figures show that Germany holds a middle position between the USA and Japan. With the exception of organized crime, which has a centuries-long tradition in Japan, the numbers of all other types of crime are markedly lower in Japan than in Western industrialized societies. The reasons for this are found in the different societal structures: In Japan a high group consciousness and feeling of mutual obligation prevails and manifests itself in the population's strong support of the criminal justice system. These findings correspond with research that found that community sense and voluntary informal social control are the keys to a low crime figure. Community and society must be brought closer together to reach this goal.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors test a status model of heroin addiction and find that the psychological characteristics of prisoners are no more negative than those in a community-based treatment program or those of a non-addicted control group.
Abstract: This study is an attempt to test a status model of heroin addiction. It is hypothesized that the level of service/treatment (i.e., prison or community-based treatment) will be associated with the psychological characteristics of heroin addicts obtained from self-report data. For analysis purposes, 92 heroin and non-heroin addicts were studied. The findings show that the psychological characteristics of prisoners are no more negative (and in some cases are even more positive) than those in a community-based treatment program or those of a non-addicted control group. From a conceptual perspective, the status model used in this study presents an approach to explaining differences among heroin addicts and non-heroin addicts.
TL;DR: A statistical analysis of the crime rate in the city of Milwaukee from 1965 to 1990 is given in this article, which shows that the murder rate increased by 511% during the period studied and the authors believe that unemployment, inadequate education, media influences and inefficient and ineffective rehabilitation methods are some of the causative factors in the above increase.
Abstract: The authors, after stating that crime is more common among the underprivileged and marginalized people, briefly review statistical data from the Milwaukee Police Department and reportage from the Milwaukee media for the years 1989, 1990, and 1991. A statistical analysis of homicide, rape, robbery, and assault for the city of Milwaukee from 1965 to 1990 is given. The results show that the murder rate increased by 511% during the period studied. The authors believe that unemployment, inadequate education, media influences, and inefficient and ineffective rehabilitation methods are some of the causative factors in the above increase. They deal with the concept of social immaturity and incompetence as perpetuating factors in crime, but, most of all, they believe that the social and moral disintegration of the family in American society is the most important reason for soaring crime rates. They discuss the inconsistencies of the present-day judicial system as well as counterproductive measures against crime. T...
TL;DR: In this paper, crime trends and patterns in Puerto Rico and assesses the effects of selected measures of social change in explaining crime on the island using data from the Uniform Crime Reports and the International Police Organization.
Abstract: This report examines crime trends and patterns in Puerto Rico and assesses the effects of selected measures of social change in explaining crime on the island using data from the Uniform Crime Reports and the International Police Organization. It is concluded that violent and property crime levels are rising even though property crimes have increased at a faster pace than violent crimes. The data showed that the 1970's were characterized by low crime rates compared to the period after 1980. Burglary, the major property crime for the first 15 years of the period covered, has been replaced in the last two years by larceny-theft, while robbery and aggravated assault are the most frequently committed violent offenses. The results of the regression analysis revealed that overall, the measures of social change were very effective in predicting both violent and property crime rates in Puerto Rico.
TL;DR: Results indicated that self-reported frequency of prostitution was significantly and positively related to knowledge about AIDS, and continuing education is of paramount importance in the community's struggle against AIDS.
Abstract: Literature has documented a positive relationship between prostitution and sexually transmitted diseases. There have been efforts to educate prostitutes regarding sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS. To determine whether female prostitutes are more knowledgeable about AIDS than female non-prostitute arrestees, a comparison was made of their scores on a standard AIDS knowledge test. Results indicated that self-reported frequency of prostitution was significantly and positively related to knowledge about AIDS. Comparisons were also made between the two groups in terms of demographic characteristics, condom use, sexually transmitted disease rates and other related issues. The findings of this study highlight that continuing education is of paramount importance in the community's struggle against AIDS.
TL;DR: In 1986/7, an empirical study of Aboriginal criminality in Central Australia was conducted as discussed by the authors and the high crime rate had often been attributed to reasons that disregard the conflict between the Aboriginal and white cultures.
Abstract: In 1986/7, an empirical study of Aboriginal criminality in Central Australia was conducted. The high crime rate had often been attributed to reasons that disregard the conflict between the Aboriginal and white cultures. This conflict manifests itself in the difficulty in applying the white criminal justice system to the Aborigines. The merger of the two cultures and the implementation of tribal justice as a means of reconciliation and diversion of formal criminal proceedings are key issues to an improvement of the situation.
[...]
TL;DR: The authors provide insight into the history of riot research, underlying psychological and sociological patterns, and the presentation of riots in the mass media, and give an overview of recent causation theories and suggest various ways of controlling riots.
Abstract: Riots have become a regular feature of our news programmes. Yet, modern riot research is faced with a host of problems. The article allows insight into the history of riot research, underlying psychological and sociological patterns, and the presentation of riots in the mass media. It also gives an overview of recent causation theories and suggests various ways of controlling riots.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors review the crime rate in major United States cities during the past decade and present a statistical analysis of the murder rate in eight American cities from 1965 to 1990.
Abstract: After an historical introduction to the problem of violence in society, and a short review of some important socio-juridical developments that took place during the first part of the 20th century, the authors review the crime rate in major United States cities during the past decade. They then present a statistical analysis of the murder rate in eight American cities from 1965 to 1990. The results reveal an appalling increase in the crime rate for that period. The result of this longitudinal analysis confirms that crime is rampant in American cities, that there is an interplay between mobility and crime rate, and that the widespread use of crack-cocaine coincides with the upsurge of the crime rate from 1985 to the present. In their reflections and suggestions the authors analyze socio-psychological factors leading to violent crime and discuss the apparent present impotence of societal agencies, the police, and the courts in dealing with crime. They also offer some of their views regarding the conflicting ...
[...]
TL;DR: Evidence that behavioural self-help manuals are effective in reducing drinking in nonoffender populations suggests that young offenders may benefit from this type of intervention, and suggestions are made for the design of a self- help manual for male young offenders who wish to reduce their alcohol consumption and related crime.
Abstract: Male young offenders are heavy drinkers and many report a relationship between their drinking and offending, as well as other alcohol-related problems. Evidence that behavioural self-help manuals are effective in reducing drinking in nonoffender populations suggests that young offenders may benefit from this type of intervention. Preliminary studies, using reconviction as the dependent variable, have shown no significant effect of a self-help manual. Methodological problems are addressed. Additional research into self-change strategies and alcohol-related expectancies is described and suggestions are made for the design of a self-help manual specifically for male young offenders who wish to reduce their alcohol consumption and related crime.
TL;DR: This author from his study of probationers regarding their socioeconomic conditions in West Bengal, India, asks: "Is rehabilitation essential in Probation Service?"
Abstract: All the Probation Service Agencies adopt a rehabilitation programme to help the probationers for their ultimate return to normal life. This author from his study of probationers regarding their socioeconomic conditions in West Bengal, India, asks: "Is rehabilitation essential in Probation Service?" The study is based on (1) official data, (2) house-to-house survey, and (3) field observations.