NCJ Number
131415
Date Published
1991
Length
55 pages
Annotation
Information from 132 prison inmates who were released from prison and placed in therapeutic communities or foster homes in Sweden starting in September or October 1989 formed the basis of an analysis of the planning for these sojourns, their outcomes, and possible improvements.
Abstract
The placements were authorized under Section 34 of the Prison Treatment Act and were designed to improve the offenders' adjustment after release. Most of the inmates had long criminal careers and were drug-dependent. Just over half of the inmates were over age 30, and 8 percent were female. Seventy percent had no previous experience of a Section 34 sojourn. Seventy-two percent were placed in therapeutic communities, one-fifth in foster homes, and six of the remaining eight in military service. Fifty-five percent completed their sojourns successfully. The family placement had a higher rate of completions than the therapeutic communities, possibly because of an easier adjustment to the new setting. Both prisoners and staff agreed that the sojourns improved their living skills. Tables, figures, and 8 references