NCJ Number
32898
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 22 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1976) Pages: 192-200
Date Published
1976
Length
9 pages
Annotation
REVIEW OF MAJOR FINDINGS ON FORMAL METHODS OF REHABILITATION IN THE COURTS AND CORRECTIONS AND COMPARISON WITH RATINGS OF EFFECTIVENESS ASSIGNED TO AN INFORMAL METHOD, THE USE OF VOLUNTEERS.
Abstract
AN EVALUATION WAS MADE OF OVER 250 REPORTS, MONOGRAPHS, MEMOS, PURPORTING TO EVALUATE VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS. EACH STUDY WAS ANALYZED FOR (1) SPECIFICITY OF PROGRAM STRUCTURE, (2) RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF THE MEASUREMENT PROCEDURES EMPLOYED, (3) STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE RESEARCH DESIGN, AND (4) UTILITY OF THE EVALUATION RESULTS FOR POLICY RELATIVE TO DECISIONMAKING. ONLY TEN REPORTS DEALING WITH IMPACT ON CLIENTS WERE FOUND TO HAVE POLICY UTILITY. VOLUNTEERS WERE FOUND TO BE AT LEAST AS EFFECTIVE IN ACCOMPLISHING THEIR OBJECTIVES (REDUCING RECIDIVISM, IMPROVING SELF-CONCEPT, AS FORMAL METHODS OF REHABILITATING OFFENDERS. SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS OF RESEARCH ARE OFFERED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)