The Effectiveness of Correctional Treatment

Book excerpt: This is a compilation of descriptions of English-language research studies, conducted between 1945 and 1967 to evaluate the treatment of criminal and juvenile offenders. Each of the 231 studies has been annotated and classed into categories. Study findings are classified according to eleven treatment methods (independent variables) and seven desired areas of change (dependent variables). The independent variables include imprisonment, parole, casework and individual counselling, milieu therapy, and medical methods. The dependent variables discussed are recidivism, institutional adjustment, vocational adjustment, educational achievement, drug and alcohol re-addiction, personality and attitude change, and community adjustment. (Source: NCJRS, adapted).