Showing papers in "Journal of Offender Rehabilitation in 2001"

You Can't Go Home Again: Women and Criminal Recidivism

Abstract: In the past decade there has been a 132% increase in the number of women being supervised on parole Nearly all of what is known about recidivism comes from research on male offenders which may not accurately nor adequately explain the post-prison experiences of females that lead to re-incarceration This study reports findings from interviews with 38 women who had served multiple prison sentences Findings from these interviews illustrate the role that drug relapse, inadequate employment, and relationships with children and other family members play in the post-prison adjustment of female recidivists The implications of these findings for programs and policy are discussed

Predictors of engagement in court-mandated treatment: Findings at the Brooklyn Treatment Court, 1996-2000.

Abstract: Past research indicates that more time in treatment yields better post-treatment outcomes, with 90 days of treatment often identified as a minimum threshold for achieving positive results, thus making it important to identify factors that predict meaningful engagement in treatment and to devise policies to assist subgroups facing a high risk of dropping out. Although a literature currently exists on voluntary treatment programs, fewer studies examine dynamics specific to court-mandated programs such as drug courts. Those programs use legal coercion applied via the threat of incarceration, coupled with ongoing court supervision, to motivate participants to succeed. Results were analyzed at the Brooklyn Treatment Court. Analyses looked at retention for at least 90 days of treatment, and engagement, defined as completing four consecutive months of drug-free and sanction-less participation. Multivariate analyses revealed that the level of legal coercion measured by expected incarceration time in the ...

Family Programming for Incarcerated Parents: A Needs Assessment among Inmates.

Abstract: The current exploratory study was undertaken to investigate the needs, as perceived by the offender, of families with incarcerated individuals. The aim of the research was to determine inmates' family and parenting issues and concerns, and to assess their interest in formal and informal family services. Respondents were 136 inmates (99 male, 37 female) who ranged in age from 18 to 49. Inmates requested information about child rearing, better visitation for their children, and help with issues of trust and communication. The results demonstrate that male and female inmates have differing concerns. However, both incarcerated mothers and fathers seem to value their parental identity and family commitments.

Crime, Delinquency, and Social Status: A Reconsideration

Abstract: This article summarizes the findings from 273 studies of the relationship between social status and criminal/delinquent behavior. The present review differs from others published on the same topic in recent decades partly in terms of comprehensiveness, both in terms of the total number of studies reviewed and in terms of our efforts to include research from all countries, not just the United States and other English-speaking industrialized nations. This review also explicitly separated studies according to the types of the operational measures used in defining offending and social status. The review suggests that individual social status is much more closely associated with criminal/delinquent behavior than is parental social status, particularly when offending behavior is persistent. Parental social status was found to be especially unlikely to be significantly correlated with offending probabilities in the case of self-reported offenses. Most surprising of all was that not a single study of sel...

Releasing Sex Offenders into the Community Through “Circles of Support”-A Means of Reintegrating the “Worst of the Worst”

Abstract: Using the philosophy of restorative justice, the Mennonite Cen tral Committee, Ontario, has created a program entitled Circles of Support which endeavors to reintegrate sex offenders back into the community in a productive, supportive fashion while still holding the ex-offender account able. Most ex-offenders appear to join a Circle as a means of self-protection. All seemed aware of the reality that often surrounds the release of a high pro file sex offender. A critical motivating factor for participating in Circles, for many volunteers, is the perceived benefit to the community. The majority of volunteers felt that the community derived enhanced safety or the community benefited from the reintegration of the offender. Circle members felt that Circles of Support were able to assist the ex-offender both emotionally and practically. Ex-offenders themselves indicated that they would have returned to a lifestyle or situation conducive to re-offending had it not been for the existence of Circles.

Prison Nursery 2000: A Five-Year Review of the Prison Nursery at the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women.

Abstract: This paper reports on the development and current status of one of the two state-sponsored live-in nursery programs for women inmates in the U.S. Established in November of 1994 in Nebraska, this program has had forty-two women participate in this innovative program in the past five years. The program is highly praised by inmates, visitors, and the media. Initial results have shown a decrease in misconduct reports by participating inmates and reduced recidivism by those who complete the program. Costs of establishing and maintaining the program are shown to assist other state correctional departments in preparing to implement similar programs.

Empathy and Attachment in Relation to Violent vs. Non-Violent Offense History Among Jail Inmates

Abstract: One hundred nineteen male and 67 female violent and nonviolent offenders incarcerated in the New York City jail system completed questionnaires measuring affective and cognitive empathy, history of attachment and current attachment. They were compared to a control group of 63 males and 67 females enrolled in general equivalency diploma courses in New York City. Multiple analysis of variance was used to compare the groups and the dependent variables and the Pearson r correlation coefficient was used to assess the relationship between empathy and attachment. The male offenders as a whole scored higher on affective empathy than the control group with the nonviolent male offenders scoring significantly higher on affective empathy than the control group males. However, after age was used a covariate, the groups were no longer significantly different on affective empathy. No significant differences were found among the female groups on cognitive and affective empathy. There was also no relationship fou...

From Adolescent "Serious Offender" to Adult Felon: A Predictive Study of Offense Progression.

Abstract: This study of 248 adolescents who had been in a Serious Offender Program in the Arkansas Division of Youth Serivces (DYS) was designed to examine the relative predictiveness of (a) a common risk assessment tool, (b) a battery of psychological tests, and (c) a combination of demographic and theoretical factors. The criterion outcome or measure of recidivism was entry into the Arkansas correctional system for adults within a two-year follow-up period. Logistic regression procedures indicate that the following are significant predictors (in order of predictiveness): prior commitments to DYS, male, gang members, carry weapons, peers present during committing of-fense(s), age of first offense, age first used illicit drugs, persons of color, those who had been neglected or abused, youth from larger families, higher scores on the chemical abuse scale, higer scores on alienation, mother used illicit drugs, those who scored high on social maladjustment, more siblings, youth from families where one biologi...

Compliance with Mandated Child Abuse Reporting: Comparing Physicians and Teachers

Abstract: Despite being mandated to report child abuse, there is often a decision by physicians and teachers not to report suspected abuse. Fifty-six recently trained physicians and teachers were compared on rates and knowledge of child abuse reporting and responses to case vignettes of sexual abuse. T-tests demonstrated differences between the groups with physicians making significantly more reports and assisting in child abuse reporting more often than teachers. The training of both professionals was compared, and in general, the physicians reported receiving more adequate preservice and professional training in child abuse. These findings have implications for the development of future educational experiences for these professionals.

Executive Function and Personality in Adolescent and Adult Offenders vs. Non-Offenders

Abstract: A comparison of young offenders, adult offenders and their respective reference groups was completed with a battery of psychometric tests to assess executive functioning and personality. Ancillary cognitive testing was performed to ascertain a baseline of functioning. These scores were included in statistical procedures to determine their significance in the presence of other variables. Four stepwise linear discriminant function analyses were run to differentiate the groups. Significant differences were found in executive functioning and personality, as offender groups demonstrated lower executive capacity andmaladaptive personality characteristics. More specifically, offender groups were significantly impaired in the domain of social competency, judgement, foresight and perspective taking while demonstrating higher levels of impulsivity, immaturity and aggression.

The Effect of Drug Treatment on Inmate Misconduct in Federal Prisons

Abstract: This paper employs a large sample to empirically evaluate the Federal Bureau of Prisons' substance abuse treatment program's effectiveness in reducing prisoner misconduct. Results show that program graduates are 74 percent less likely to engage in misconduct over a 14-month period than a comparison group. This benefit is shared by male and female inmates alike. The substantial magnitude of the effect shows that prison-based substance abuse treatment programs provide an effective management tool to correctional administrators.

Treatment “Dosage” Effects in Drug Court Programs

Abstract: This study assessed whether greater duration of involvement in a drug court program affected criminal justice outcomes. The major research hypothesis was that the length of participation in drug courts would be directly related to outcomes obtained during follow-up. Participants consisted of 226 individuals who entered two Florida drug court programs in Escambia and Okaloosa counties between June 1993 and June 1996. This sampling strategy was developed to insure that at least a one-year follow-up period was provided for each participant after discharge from the drug court program. Results indicate that the duration of time spent in a drug court program is significantly related to criminal justice outcomes, with greater time in the program associated with lower rates of follow-up arrest, and clearly support the importance of lengthy involvement in drug court programs and of expanded efforts to retain participants in these programs.

Differences Between Male and Female Juvenile Of fenders as Measured by the BASC

Abstract: Female juvenile delinquency has largely been ignored throughout the juvenile justice field Juvenile justice research, programming and interventions have focused al most exclusively on male delinquency with little attempt to understand the gender specific needs of female juvenile offenders The present study is an initial examination of behavioral and emotional differences between male and female juvenile offenders using an omni bus self-report personality inventory Differences between male and female juvenile offenders were found on six of fourteen comparisons Of the six, fourwere clinical scales (Anxiety, Depression, Social Stress and Locus of Control) and two were adaptive scales (Relations with Parents and Self-Esteem) A greater frequency of females in the at-risk/clinical range were found than males on three scales (Anxiety, Locus of Control, and Social Stress) The findings provide support for differential treatment planning in addressing the needs of female juvenile offenders

The Impact of In-Prison Therapeutic Community Programs on Prison Management

Abstract: In 1992, the California Department of Corrections established, under legislative authorization, the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility (CSATF). With a treatment capacity of 1,478, the CSATF is currently the largest in-prison therapeutic community in the state, and one of the largest in the country. A number of measures from a process evaluation of the program suggest that the presence of a therapeutic community within a prison is associated with significant advantages for management of the institution-including lower rates of infractions, reduced absenteeism among correctional staff, and virtually no illicit drug use among inmates. These objective data are further supported by responses from inmates and correctional staff at the institution who participated in focus groups.

Revised Validity Scales for the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS)

Abstract: The Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS) was developed to assess the eight thinking styles presumed to play a leading role in maintaining criminal patterns of interaction. In order to identify response styles and sets capable of altering a person's responses on the thinking style portion of the PICTS, two validity scales-one to measure confusion (Cf) and the other defensiveness (Df)-were constructed and incorporated into the PICTS. However, research has shown that the internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and preliminary validity of these two scales are well below the levels attained by the eight thinking style scales. The two validity scales have therefore been revised by omitting several items from each scale and replacing them with items from the thinking style item pool. These revised scales demonstrate improved internal consistency, test-retest stability, and criterion validity on par with results recorded previously with the eight thinking style scales.

Employment Issues Among Drug Court Participants

Abstract: The overall goal of the current study, which was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (Grant #DA13076), was to develop and evaluate an enhanced Drug Court employment intervention with the goals of improving drug treatment retention and reducing recidivism. Focus groups were conducted with Drug Court clients in order to gain a better understanding of employment needs in order to target and refine the enhanced employment intervention. As expected, findings indicate that Drug Court participants encounter a variety of employment issues. Perhaps the major theme that emerged is the consistent difficulty expressed by participants in balancing work and treatment involvement. Implications from this study provide important insights for developing employment interventions, as well as for further research.

Issues of Race and Gender in Court-Ordered Substance Abuse Treatment.

Abstract: In the last decade Drug Courts have been developed in hundreds of American communities. Little attention in the research has been given to the retention of diverse client groups who have been subject to legal inducement for treatment through Drug Courts. This article examines a Drug Court that offered culturally specific programming as a strategy to enhance retention in the treatment of female and African-American male substance abuse offenders. The study found that mandating treatment is insufficient to foster client engagement. Retention was significantly enhanced by treatment that recognized cultural differences among client populations.

Attitudes of Male Prisoners Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help

Abstract: Several variables have been associated with the tendency to seek psychological help. For example, attitudes, psychological distress, and treatment fearfulness have all been associated with mental health professionals and whether individuals seek help from counsellors. The aims of this study were: (1) to examine whether individuals seek help from mental health professionals, and (2) to assess the validity and utility of a short form of the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale (ATSPPHS) for assessing prison inmates' helpseeking attitudes. In addition, the relative impact of components of treatment fearfulness and psychological distress on helpseeking attitudes was assessed. Results were consistent with previous research, and indicated that male inmates (N= 173) have similar scores on the ATSPPHS to other male samples. Stigma-related treatment fears and psychological distress were significant unique predictors of attitudes toward professional psychological helpseeking. Fact...

Perceived Vulner ability and Fear of Crime

Abstract: Crime rates are at twenty year lows across the country, but levels of fear of crime have not dropped com men surately. In this research, we test a model that explains Fear of Crime as a function of perceived risk of being caught in gang crossfire or being shot by a criminal. This perceived risk of victimization is, in turn, hypothesized to be in fluenced by perceptions of gun victim characteristics. Specifically, we hypothesize that, controlling for demographic influences, perceptions that a preponderance of gun victims are criminals or innocent people caught in crossfire will relate to increased perceived personal risk of being shot by a criminal, which will lead to heightened fear of crime. Data from 143 participants' responses to a telephone survey confirmed our proposed model. Implications for social policy are discussed.

Effectiveness of an Anger Management Program for Women Inmates

Abstract: The effectiveness of an anger management program in a mixed security (minimum and medium security) institution was evaluated using a sample of 33 female inmates (19 treatment and 14 control). A significant within-participant effect revealed statistically significant decreases in anger and aggression variables as measured by the Novaco Anger Scale and the Aggression Questionnaire, respectively. As well, significant reductions in the number of institutional charges at post-test were obtained for the treatment group but not the control group. Inmate surveys also indicated moderate levels of program impact and satisfaction. Although the present findings support the effectiveness of the current program, the magnitude of the results is conservative in comparison to those currently reported in the literature. Implications and recommendations for future anger treatment research are discussed.

Women Prisoners' Mental Health: Vulnerabilities, Risks and Resilience

Abstract: Incarcerated women have substantial mental health needs that are often unrecognized, misidentified, and inadequately treated This study of 49 incarcerated women examines the complex relationships among women's criminal history, victimization, relational supports, personal strengths and their mental health Intensive interviews were conducted with sentenced women volunteers A cluster analysis produced four typologies that shape recommendations for assessment and treatment (with the “types” labeled, respectively, “spirited,” “inured,” “troubled” and “volatile”) Findings suggest that women with the greatest mental health needs have the greatest childhood violence risk, greatest proclivity for violent crime and the weakest social supports

Meeting the Health Care Needs of the New Woman Inmate

Abstract: The number and characteristics of women in prison have changed dramatically in recent years. Prisoners are older, more likely minor ity, and more likely to be substance abusers than in the past. We surveyed 65 state and federal prisons for women to assess health care personnel and ser vices available to meet the needs of the present inmate population. Institutions generally reported that basic health care staff, like physicians and registered nurses, was located on-site. However, specialists, such as gynecologists and dieticians, were often located off-site, whereas there was a reported need for various other specialties. Similarly, most respondents reported that basic health care services were available. On the other hand, the availability of ser vices for chronic disease, disability, and mental health care, all conditions that disproportionately occur among the changing female inmate population, was less consistent. Our national survey provides insights for health care providers preparing to me...

Recidivism as a Function of Day Reporting Center Participation

Abstract: Day reporting centers have developed as an important approach to providing treatment and rehabilitation opportunities. This exploratory study first examined rearrest among clients in two day reporting centers that serve high risk/high need probationers with substance abuse problems. Logistic regression models indicated that completion of the DRC program was associated with a lower chance of rearrest. Next, models compared DRC clients to two comparison groups of probationers. Rearrest was related to the commonly found personal characteristics of age, offense, and prior record, rather than factors important to DRC program participation. Because of the small sample sizes and exploratory nature of the study, the results are suggestive and impressionistic rather than definitive.

Age, Gender, and Treatment Attendance Among Forensic Psychiatric Outpatients

Abstract: The records of 1,185 female and 5,114 male forensic psychiatry outpatients, within the age range of 15-44 years, were used to evaluate absenteeism from treatment in relation to age and gender. Age was divided into the 3 age groups 15-24, 25-34, and 35-44. Females had a significantly higher absentee rate than males in all age groups (p < .05). This gender difference is likely due to varying social roles as well as differential perceptions of treatment relevance. For both males and females, missed appointments declined significantly with age (p < .05). This age effect likely results from the decline in risk-taking and impulsivity with age. Because the efficacy of any treatment lies in a client's continued participation, it is important to address program attendance barriers and commitment to treatment issues. Commitment to treatment can be increased by active follow-up on non-attendance and by providing a positive therapy experience.

Family Empowerment Intervention: Conceptual Foundations and Clinical Practices.

Abstract: This article presents a detailed overview of the Family Empowerment Intervention (FEI), a systems-oriented intervention delivered in-home by well-trained nontherapists A clinical trial of the FEI, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, targeted arrested youths and their families The following topics are covered: the theoretical foundations of the FEI; the goals of the FEI; structural intervention strategies; the phases of the intervention; engaging and moving families through the FEI to graduation; the role, selection, and training of Field Consultants who deliver the intervention; efforts to ensure the integrity of intervention services; crisis intervention; and staff and family safety issues

Using Logic Modeling to Focus Evaluation Efforts

Abstract: ABSTRACT De spite con siderable ad vo cacy for the prin ci ples of the - ory-based eval u a tion, in prac tice such ap proaches are of ten more con cep - tual than op er a tional. This ar ti cle ex plores how the ory-based eval u a tion can ad vance be yond the ideo log i cal stage through the ve hi cle of logic mod el - ing. Il lus tra tions from cor rec tional in ter ven tions are used to dem on strate how pro gram the ory, in ter ven tion pro cesses, and eval u a tion meth od ol ogy can be united through mod els that vi sually dis play hy pothesized causal link ages. Both the prag matic and the the o ret i cal util ity of logic mod el ing are ad dressed, par tic u larly in terms of how it can help to bridge gaps be - tween re search ers and ad min is tra tors, guide op er a tional im prove ments, and more ef fec tively align pol icy-mak ing with re search find ings, thereby con - trib ut ing to the on-go ing pro cesses of both the ory-build ing and pol icy de - vel op ment.

Long-Term Impact of a Family Empowerment Intervention on Juvenile Offender Recidivism

Abstract: We report the results of a study of the long-term impact of a Family Empowerment Intervention (FEI) on recidivism among all 303 youths processed at the Hillsborough County Juvenile Assessment Center who entered the project. The FEI seeks to improve family functioning by empowering parents. Families involved in the project were randomly as signed to either receive an Extended Services Intervention (ESI) or the FEI. Families in the ESI group received monthly phone contacts and, if indicated, referral information; FEI families received three one-hour, home-based meetings per week over a 10-week period from a clinician-trained para-professional. The results provide support for the sustained effect of FEI services in reducing recidivism. Analysis indicated that youths who completed the FEI experienced marginally statistically significant, lower rates of new charges and new arrests than youths who did not complete the FEI. The results add to the findings of our earlier 12-month recidivism analyses, whi...

Perceptions of Punishment and Rehabilitation Among Inmates in a Medium Security Prison

Abstract: Inmate perceptions are examined in relation to punishment and rehabilitation as goals of prison. The results from a random sample of inmates in a medium security prison appear to show that inmate perceptions of punishment and rehabilitation are independent of one another but are simultaneously related to different types of inmate relationships with others in the prison. Additionally, inmate perceptions of punishment appear to be related to the physical environment of the prison. This paper discusses structural and policy implications of these findings. It seems that, because perceptions of punishment and rehabilitation are independent it may be possible to increase inmate perceptions of rehabilitation while keeping perceptions of punishment high. There are important implications for reduction of recidivism and increasing positive inmate reentry into society without the illusion of pampering criminals.

The Efficacy of Coerced Treatment for Offenders: An Evaluation of Two Residential Forensic Drug and Alcohol Treatment Programs.

Abstract: This article reviews the history of community-based treatment for offenders with drug and alcohol addiction. The authors describe the treatment regimen in two residential programs for offenders with drug and alcohol problems-one that treats state offenders, and one that treats county offenders. The authors include a description of the components of the residential treatment model utilized in these two programs that employs a progressive Level System, group and individual therapy, as well as educational and employment interventions that support community reintegration. Findings support the efficacy of coerced drug and alcohol residential treatment for forensic clients that receive state or county sentences.

Development of a Fear-of-Change Scale for the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS)

Abstract: A Fear-of-Change (FOC) scale for the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS) was derived from a set of 24 candidate items. Responses supplied by 100 male medium security federal prisoners and 100 female minimum security federal prison camp inmates were used to construct and initially evaluate an 8-item FOC scale. The scale displayed a moderate degree of internal consistency and moderately high test-retest stability after 2 and 12 weeks, and correlated significantly with a previously administered measure of existential fear. It is concluded that while the FOC is an internally consistent and reasonably stable measure with some evidence of preliminary validity, more research is needed to determine whether it actually assesses fear of change.