U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

WHAT WORKS? QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT PRISON REFORM (FROM CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE, 1975, BY J A GARDINER & M A MULKEY - SEE NCJ-30660)

NCJ Number
37759
Author(s)
R MARTINSON
Date Published
1975
Length
35 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY, BASED ON A REVIEW OF 231 STUDIES ON OFFENDER REHABILITATION PROGRAMS, COMES TO THE CONCLUSION THAT NOT MUCH, IF ANYTHING, WORKS, AND EVEN IF SUCCESS WAS FOUND, THE CLIENT GROUP'S MAKEUP MIGHT HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE.
Abstract
THE REPORT CONCLUDES BY FINDING THAT WITH FEW AND ISOLATED EXCEPTIONS, THE REHABILITATIVE EFFORTS REPORTED SO FAR HAVE HAD NO APPRECIABLE EFFECT ON RECIDIVISM. THIS GOES FOR EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR INMATES, INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING FOR INMATES, INSTITUTIONAL ENVIRONMENT CHANGES, MEDICAL TREATMENT (ONE NOTABLE EXCEPTION IS CASTRATION OF SEX OFFENDERS), SENTENCING, COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS, PSYCHOTHERAPY, INTENSIVE SUPERVISION, AND PROBATION AND PAROLE. COMMUNITY TREATMENT, IT WAS FOUND, WHILE NOT NECESSARILY MAKING OFFENDERS BETTER, DOES NOT, AT LEAST, MAKE THEM WORSE.

Downloads

No download available

Availability