NCJ Number
206193
Date Published
November 2000
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Based on a review of previous research that has focused on the interaction between rehabilitation-program effectiveness and the psycho-social environment (PSE) of the prison in which the program is delivered, this report discusses how to assess the prison PSE, critical research questions that must be answered, the research methodologies that should be considered, the rehabilitation intervention and the prison setting, and the evaluation of program outcomes.
Abstract
Regarding the assessment of prison PSE, this study notes that in previous research PSE has been a poorly defined and multidimensional construct that has included but is not exhausted by concepts of prisonization, inmate subculture, staff perceptions of and attitudes toward inmates, staff-prisoner relationships, inmate perceptions of and attitudes toward staff, broader inmate perceptions of the prison environment, and organizational definitions of values and roles. The social climate of prisons is a crucial factor, a major contributor to which is the quality of staff-prisoner relationships. Some critical research questions that must be answered are as follows: How can existing measures of social environment and staff-prisoner relationships be adapted and refined for use in an Australian setting? Is rehabilitation more effective when conducted in positive social environments in prison settings? Can PSE's be improved through an intervention? In examining whether the PSE of prisons has an impact on the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs offered in prisons, the two research designs that should be considered are a quasi-experimental design and an experimental design. Each of these designs is described in this paper. Regarding the rehabilitation intervention and prison setting to be considered in research, this paper advises that the investigation should focus on a rehabilitation program that is widely used in the prison environment, is plausible, has a research and theoretical base, is readily implemented in a standard way, is relatively brief and easily delivered, and for which reliable and valid measures of change are available. The paper recommends a pilot study that would investigate prison anger management programs with generalist, adult inmates in one State. A study that focuses on variations within the prison setting would be useful. Regarding the evaluation of program outcomes, "clinical" outcomes would be supplemented by recidivism measures over the long term. The addition of qualitative measures would also be useful. A 30-item bibliography