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Wilderness Experience Program - Final Evaluation

NCJ Number
75392
Author(s)
R O Kimball
Date Published
1979
Length
102 pages
Annotation
The Wilderness Experience Program under the New Mexico Statewide Forensic Treatment System for mentally disordered first offenders is evaluated through a combination of the participants' narrative accounts and psychometric testing.
Abstract
Beginning with the first Outward Bound School in Colorado in 1962, wilderness adventure training has proven to be an effective treatment for delinquent populations, as indicated by a review of the research literature on the large number of existing programs. New Mexico's Wilderness Experience Program, modeled upon the concepts of Outward Bound, provided criminal offenders with an intensive 17 to 21-day confinement with their physical, emotional, and social boundaries through such high-stress activities as backpacking, cooperative group living, rock climbing, river rafting, rappeling, and wilderness survival solos. Preliminary data gathered on 30 clients indicated statistically significant positive treatment effects: clients returned less depressed, paranoid, tense, worried, and egocentric. The program has treated 103 adults (average age-22.3 years, composed of 30 percent Anglo, 55 percent Spanish, 10 percent Black, and 5 percent American Indian) and 109 juveniles (average age-16.1 years, composed of 38 percent Anglo, 53 percent Spanish, 5 percent Black, 2 percent American Indian, and 2 percent other). For adults, the recidivist rate is 8 percent based on reconviction and a return to the penitentiary within 9 months. The rate for juveniles is 10 percent recidivist at 3 months and 17 percent at 9 months. Course failure has been a 100 percent predictor of recidivism for both juveniles and adults. Cost per day, per client in the wilderness is $47.99, but there are hidden cost benefits due to diversionary and early release/resocialization referrals. It is concluded that the program offers a therapeutically effective alternative to the costs of long-term incarceration. Client narratives are presented in a separate chapter, and eight recommendations are made for program improvements. Twelve tables and 21 references are provided. Author abstract modified.