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Probationers at Risk: Parental Alcoholism

NCJ Number
136227
Journal
American Probation and Parole Association Perspectives Volume: 15 Issue: 4 Dated: (Fall 1991) Pages: 14-18
Author(s)
J E McGaha
Date Published
1991
Length
5 pages
Annotation
A survey was conducted of 96 probationers from substance abusing families to determine the extent of family dysfunction.
Abstract
A random sample of 96 adults on probation for felony offenses in a midwest, medium-sized State probation and parole office were administered a series of questionnaires about their early childhood by the Southeast Missouri State University. The results show that probationers from substance abusing families experienced significantly more family dysfunction than offenders from non-substance abusing families on almost every variable studied. In particular, 43 or 45 percent of these offenders were from homes where alcoholism and/or chemical dependency was a serious problem. Of these, only three to seven percent scored within the normal range on FACES III regarding level of family functioning. On the violence subscale, 49 percent of the offenders from chemically-dependent families reported a high range of family violence. In response to these family problems, the probationers became runaways and committed significantly more offenses. In addition, the adult probationers from chemically dependent homes reported being arrested 26 percent more often than those from non-chemically dependent homes. Neglect was the only variable that was not statistically significant in a comparison of the two groups. 7 tables and 20 references