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Prisoners and Their Vocational Interests

NCJ Number
90347
Author(s)
G A Pinton
Date Published
1983
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Vocational preference tests given to persons in prisons or other controlled environments may not reflect their real or permanent likes and dislikes.
Abstract
Thirty-seven presentenced inmates of a community correctional center completed the Career Assessment Inventory developed by Charles Johannson of the National Computer Systems in Minneapolis. Most of the inmates were between ages 22 and 29. Questions covered the respondents' reported levels of interest in 151 activities, 43 school subjects, and 111 occupations. The most preferred activities were travel to new places, camping trips, playing a musical instrument, and meeting new people. The most disliked activities were giving tickets for overtime parking, shampooing hair in a beauty salon, waiting on tables in a restaurant, and marching in a band. The preferred school subjects were music, photography, and woodworking, while the most disliked school subject was geology. The preferred occupations were actor, computer operator, musician, supervisor, and photographer. The most disliked occupations were gas station attendant, waiter, receptionist, florist, and butcher. Data tables and the study instrument are supplied.