NCJ Number
41429
Journal
OFFENDER REHABILITATION Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: (WINTER 1976-1977) Pages: 37 - 141
Date Published
1977
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE BRIEFLY REPORTS THE RESULTS OF A TIME SERIES COMPARISON OF THE RECIDIVSM RATE OF PERSONS CONVICTED OF MISDEMEANORS PRIOR TO EXPANSION OF SERVICES WITH A SIMILAR GROUP FOLLOWING THE EXPANSION.
Abstract
RECENT PUBLICITY SUGGESTS THAT CORRECTIONS IS NOT 'CORRECTING' AND AS A RESULT THE TAXPAYER IS BEING 'RIPPED OFF'. CORRECTIONS BRINGS MUCH OF THIS CRITICISM UPON ITSELF BY ITS PREOCCUPATION WITH ITS MOST SERIOUS CLIENTS. TO COUNTERACT THIS TREND OF STUDYING ONLY THE MOST SERIOUS OFFENDERS, THIS RESEARCH FOCUSED ON MISDEMEANANTS IN THE SALT LAKE COUNTY (UT) AREA. THE COMPARISON OF RECIDIVISM RATES BETWEEN A GROUP OF MISDEMEANANTS RECEIVING SERVICES AND A SIMILAR GROUP NOT RECEIVING SERVICES INDICATED THAT PROVIDING MISDEMEANANT SERVICES DOES REDUCE RECIDIVISM AND THAT THE AMOUNT OF REDUCTION IS CLOSELY RELATED TO THE TYPE OF SERVICE. THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES THAT CONDEMNING CORRECTIONS FOR FAILING TO 'REHABILITATE' THE MOST HARDENED CRIMINALS SEEMS SOMEWHAT ANALOGOUS TO CONDEMNING DOCTORS FOR FAILING TO CURE THE MOST ADVANCED CANCERS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...DMC