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ABSCONDING FROM OPEN PRISONS

NCJ Number
30234
Author(s)
C BANKS; P MAYHEW; R J SAPSFORD
Date Published
1975
Length
97 pages
Annotation
ANALYSIS OF DATA FOR ENGLAND AND WALES, 1962-1972, INDICATES THAT FEW PRISONERS ESCAPE FROM OPEN PRISONS, DESPITE THE EASE OF DOING SO, AND THAT CERTAIN CHARACTERISTICS DISTINGUISH THOSE MOST LIKELY TO DO SO.
Abstract
FOR 1969 AND 1970, ONLY THREE PERCENT OF OPEN PRISON INMATES ESCAPED. OF THOSE, ONLY 13 PERCENT WERE REPORTED TO HAVE COMMITTED OFFENSES WHILE AT LARGE. AGE, CURRENT OFFENSE, SENTENCE, NUMBER OF PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS AND EXTENT OF PREVIOUS SENTENCES WERE FOUND TO BE RELATED TO THE LIKELIHOOD OF ABSCONDING. THIS RELATIONSHIP IS NOT TO BE SO STRONG AS TO PROVIDE A METHOD FOR PREDICTION, SO THAT CONTINUATION OF PRESENT SELECTION METHODS FOR OPEN PRISONS IS SUGGESTED.