NCJ Number: 186994
Title: Burglary Specialization Within a Parole Cohort: Criminal Lifestyle or Moonlighting?
Journal: Journal of Crime and Justice Volume:23 Issue:2 Dated:2000 Pages:95-108
Author(s): Shawn L. Schwaner Ph.D.
Editor(s): J. M. Miller
Date Published: 2000
Page Count: 14
Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
Format: Article
Language: English
Country: United States of America
Annotation: This research used the work of Wright and Decker (1994) and Holzman (1982) on burglary to generate questions on the relationship between burglary and specialization within a cohort of parolees.
Abstract: Wright and Decker's study of burglars was based on findings from intensive interviews of active burglars derived through snowball sampling. This study found about 95 percent of the sample used burglary to meet a pressing need for cash. Holzman found burglars were essentially self-employed business persons who were semi-skilled and had few marketable job skills. Based on the work of Wright and Decker and Holzman, three questions were formulated in the current research: (1) whether there was a group of burglar specialists within the cohort of parolees; (2) whether an original incarceration for burglary predicted a subsequent return to prison for a burglary offense; and (3) whether an original burglary increased the timing of and the odds there would be a subsequent burglary offense. Data were collected by the Department of Research at the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction on a population of 3,373 male inmates released on parole in 1989. Findings demonstrated that, within the parole cohort, 406 or 12 percent were originally incarcerated for a burglary offense, 132 or 3.9 percent were returned to prison for burglary, and 42 or 1.2 percent were burglary specialists incarcerated two consecutive times for burglary. For those originally committed to prison for burglary, 10.3 percent were returned to prison for a subsequent burglary, whereas only 3 percent of non-burglars were returned to prison for burglary. This suggested that, within the burglary category, there was a small but substantial group of persistent burglars. Predictors of an original burglary and burglary recidivism differed. An original burglary was significantly related to race, county of commitment, arrest within 5 years prior to current commitment offense arrest, age at first felony arrest, and age at commission of current offense. Predictors of burglary recidivism included time served, drug-related issues, age at admission for current offense, and original incarceration for burglary. Additional research is recommended to examine specific lifestyle measures and more detailed drug use measures of parolees in the context of burglary. 17 references and 3 tables
Main Term(s): Criminology
Index Term(s): Burglary; Criminal justice research; Ohio; Parolees; Recidivism; Recidivists; Theft offenses
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