RURAL-URBAN ASPECTS OF ADULT PROBATION IN WISCONSIN

• NCJ Number: 59400
• Journal: Rural Sociology Volume: 5 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1940) Pages: 314-326
• Author(s): J L GILLIN; R L HILL
• Date Published: 1940
• Length: 13 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: University of Wisconsin
• Corporate Author: Texas A&M University
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PART OF A LARGER STUDY ENTITLED SUCCESS AND FAILURE OF ADULT PROBATIONERS IN WISCONSIN.

Annotation

THE PERSONAL BACKGROUNDS, CRIMINAL RECORDS, AND PROBATION BEHAVIOR OF RURAL AND URBAN PROBATIONERS IN WISCONSIN IN 1933, 1934, AND 1935 ARE EXAMINED IN A STUDY PUBLISHED IN 1940.

Abstract

THE PROBATIONERS WERE DIVIDED INTO THREE RESIDENTIAL AND OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS: (1) 574 RURAL-FARM (13.6 PERCENT PROBATION VIOLATIONS), (2) 1,127 URBAN-NONFARM (18.4 PERCENT VIOLATIONS), AND (3) 559 RURAL-NONFARM (15 PERCENT VIOLATIONS). THE GROUPS WERE COMPARED ALONG THE FOLLOWING DIMENSIONS: AGE AT CONVICTION, NUMBER OF SIBLINGS, MARITAL STATUS, NUMBER OF DEPENDENT CHILDREN, PARENTS' MARITAL STATUS, PREVIOUS ARRESTS, TYPE OF OFFENSE, LENGTH OF SENTENCE, NUMBER OF CONTACTS WITH PROBATION OFFICER, AND CHANGES OF RESIDENCE WHILE ON PROBATION. ALTHOUGH THE EFFECT WAS LESS NOTICEABLE AMONG RURAL PROBATIONERS, OLDER MEN GENERALLY WERE BETTER PROBATION RISKS THAN YOUNGER MEN. LARGE FAMILIES WERE ASSOCIATED WITH PROBATION SUCCESS, BROKEN HOMES WITH FAILURE. RURAL-FARM PROBATIONERS HAD LOWER VIOLATION RATES REGARDLESS OF MARITAL STATUS OR NUMBER OF DEPENDENT CHILDREN. A HISTORY OF PREVIOUS ARRESTS WAS ASSOCIATED WITH VIOLATION IN ALL THREE GROUPS, BUT MUCH LESS SO IN THE RURAL-FARM GROUP. AUTO THEFT WAS ASSOCIATED WITH VIOLATIONS IN ALL THREE GROUPS, BUT OTHER VIOLATION-RELATED OFFENSES DIFFERED AMONG THE GROUPS (FRAUD AND FORGERY FOR RURAL-FARM PROBATIONERS, SEX OFFENSES FOR RURAL-NONFARM PROBATIONERS, AND ROBBERY, BURGLARY, FRAUD, AND FORGERY FOR URBAN PROBATIONERS). RURAL-FARM PROBATIONERS RECEIVED SOMEWHAT LONGER AVERAGE SENTENCES THAN URBAN OFFENDERS, BUT VIOLATED PAROLE LESS OFTEN REGARDLESS OF LENGTH OF SENTENCE. RURAL PROBATIONERS RECEIVED LESS SUPERVISION THAN URBAN PROBATIONERS. IN ALL THREE GROUPS, VIOLATION RATES WERE HIGHER AMONG PROBATIONERS WHO CHANGED RESIDENCE WHILE ON PROBATION. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RURAL AND URBAN PROBATIONERS WERE FOUND IN MOST OF THE FACTORS CONSIDERED. THE DIFFERENCES WERE GREATEST BETWEEN RURAL-FARM AND URBAN-NONFARM PROBATIONERS. FURTHER STUDIES ARE NEEDED TO DETERMINE WHETHER RURAL-NONFARM PROBATIONERS SHOULD BE IDENTIFIED WITH EITHER THE RURAL-FARM OR URBAN-NONFARM GROUP, OR TREATED AS A SEPARATE GROUP. A TABLE SUMMARIZING FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH PROBATION FAILURE FOR EACH GROUP IS INCLUDED.