NCJ Number
16199
Journal
Criminology Volume: 12 Issue: 2 Dated: (AUGUST 1974) Pages: 241-248
Date Published
1974
Length
8 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A STUDY WHICH TESTED THE EFFECTS ON COMPLIANCE WITH PAROLE CONDITIONS WHEN POSITIVE CONTINGENCIES OF REINFORCEMENT WERE USED IN THE FORM OF CONTINGENCY CONTRACTS.
Abstract
INSTEAD OF APPLYING THE USUAL NEGATIVE SANCTIONS SUCH AS INCARCERATION OR ADDITIONAL FINES TO MOTIVATE PROBATIONERS, THIS STUDY PROPOSES THE USE OF POSITIVE CONTINGENCIES. A CONTINGENCY CONTRACT IS DEFINED HERE AS THE WRITTEN SPECIFICATIONS OF WHAT REINFORCERS WILL BE GIVEN IF AND WHEN CERTAIN BEHAVIORS OCCUR. TWENTY SUBJECTS, MALE JUVENILE PROBATIONERS RANGING IN AGE FROM 14 TO 17 YEARS, WERE SELECTED RANDOMLY FROM A POPULATION POOL OF 86 BOYS PLACED ON PROBATION. EACH OF THESE BOYS WAS ON PROBATION FOR THE FIRST TIME AND WAS ORDERED TO PAY FINES BY WORKING AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNSELING HOUSES. THE BOYS WERE ASSIGNED TO FOUR GROUPS - A CONTROL GROUP, A GROUP WHERE A CONTINGENCY OF TIME OFF PROBATION WAS APPLIED FOR WORK DONE, A GROUP WHERE ACTIVITIES WERE THE CONTINGENCIES FOR WORK DONE, AND A GROUP WHERE BOTH TIME OFF PROBATION AND ACTIVITIES WERE THE CONTINGENCIES FOR WORK DONE. THE BOYS WERE ALLOWED TO WORK ANY TIME THE CENTERS WERE OPEN. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CONTROL GROUP HAD A GROUP TOTAL TIME OF 6 HOURS AND 45 MINUTES, THE TIME OFF GROUP HAD 50 HOURS AND 30 MINUTES, THE ACTIVITY GROUP HAD 127 HOURS AND 45 MINUTES, AND THE COMBINATION GROUP HAD 187 HOURS AND 30 MINUTES. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THESE REINFORCING CONTINGENCIES PROVIDE A MEANS TO ENCOURAGE PROBATIONERS TO MEET THE WORK CONDITIONS SET BY THE COURT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)