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Effectiveness of a Shock Incarceration Program and a Minimum Security Prison in Changing Attitudes Toward Drugs

NCJ Number
168993
Journal
Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice Volume: 13 Issue: 2 Dated: (May 1997) Pages: 114-138
Author(s)
F E Lutze; O Marenin
Date Published
1997
Length
25 pages
Annotation
This study compared the attitudes of inmates in a minimum security facility (n=103) and inmates in a prison boot camp (n=267) toward alcohol, marijuana, and hard drugs (measured by acceptability scales) over a 6-month period.
Abstract
Subjects were asked to complete a self-report questionnaire within 2 weeks of their arrival (Time 1) at the institution and again after approximately 6 months (Time 2). Results of this study are based on selected measures from a larger questionnaire. Subjects were asked to provide information on a variety of background characteristics, including age, race, marital status, occupation, education, prior arrest, prior incarceration, offense, and length of time served in prison. Inmates were also asked to provide information on the use of specific drugs and alcohol during the year prior to their arrest. Three groups were also developed based on the type of drug used. Attitudes toward alcohol and drugs were measured by the Drug Attitudes Scale. The findings show that shock incarceration apparently was effective in changing attitudes toward the use of alcohol but had little impact on attitudes toward illicit drug use. An inmate's history of alcohol and drug use had a greater influence on attitudinal change than did prison setting. 7 tables, 8 notes, and 60 references

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