Shelley Johnson Listwan

The Pains of Imprisonment Revisited: The Impact of Strain on Inmate Recidivism

Recent research suggests that imprisonment may increase subsequent levels of offending, but it is not clear why this is the case. Drawing on general strain theory (GST), this study examines whether exposure to the strains associated with imprisonment affects recidivism. These strains include direct victimization, the perception of a threatening prison environment, and hostile relationships with correctional officers. Consistent with GST, data from a sample of 1,613 recently released inmates in Ohio suggest that certain types of these strains do increase the likelihood of recidivism. These results challenge specific deterrence theory and claims by public officials that painful prisons will reduce reoffending.

A General Strain Theory of Prison Violence and Misconduct: An Integrated Model of Inmate Behavior

Explanations of prison violence and other forms of misconduct have been dominated by three competing models: (a) the deprivation model, (b) the importation model, and (c) the coping model. We propose that these three seemingly competing models can be integrated within Agnew’s general strain theory (GST). GST enriches the deprivation model by revealing three distinctive categories of strain. GST encompasses the importation model in hypothesizing that criminal cultural values and affiliations will structure the response to the strains of imprisonment. And GST incorporates the coping model in its emphasis on how social support, social capital, and human capital can blunt the effects of potentially criminogenic strains. Finally, GST is sufficiently broad to include factors (e.g., emotions, self-control) in the explanation of prison maladjustment not covered by the three main models of prison inmate behavior. In short, GST offers a general integrated framework for reconceptualizing our understanding of prison violence and misconduct.

The Effect of Drug Court Programming on Recidivism: the Cincinnati Experience:

The impetus of the drug court movement can be traced to a number of factors, such as the social and organizational costs of imprisonment and the literature surrounding the effectiveness of community-based treatment. Regardless of its origins, however, drug courts have altered the way in which court systems process drug cases and respond to drug-dependent offenders. Evaluations of U.S. drug courts are beginning to emerge, and although the outcome results are encouraging, not all courts are showing a reduction in rearrest rates. Despite the rapid expansion of drug courts, their growing prevalence, and popularity, little is known about the drug court models ability to achieve its objectives in a variety of circumstances. This research adds to the literature on drug courts by examining the effect of drug court programming on multiple indicators of recidivism. Results of the study are mixed; however, the drug court treatment group did perform better when examining arrest for a drug-related offense.

The Georgia Cognitive Skills Experiment A Replication of Reasoning and Rehabilitation

Effects of the Georgia Cognitive Skills Program, a replication of Ross and Fabiano’s Reasoning and Rehabilitation, were examined for 468 parolees randomly assigned to treatment and comparison groups between May 1997 and July 1998. The evaluation tested the effects on arrests/revocations, technical violations, and employment at 9 months and returns to prison at 18 to 30 months. Survival analysis found slightly lower (statistically insignificant) recidivism rates for experimental participants than comparisons. No significant differences were found between experimental and comparison participants on technical violations and employment. Statistically controlling for offender risk factors, program completers had significantly fewer rearrests/revocations and returns to prison and more favorable employment outcomes than comparisons and dropouts. Results were similar for low-risk and medium/high-risk parolees.

VICTIMIZATION, SOCIAL SUPPORT, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING A Study of Recently Released Prisoners

The effect of violence on individual behavior has been well documented. However, the empirical literature surrounding the relationship between coercive prison environments and inmate well-being is limited. This is important not only for correctional administrators but also for reentry planning. Using a sample of 1,616 recently released male inmates, this study examines the psychological effect of victimization and of perceptions of threat and coercion arising from the prison environment. The study also examines whether social support affects cognitions and psychological symptoms and whether it moderates the effect of victimization and coercion. The findings reveal that coercion and social support are related to posttraumatic cognitions and trauma symptoms; however, social support does not provide a moderating effect.

Drug abusing women in the community: the impact of drug court involvement on recidivism

Developing community-based options for drug abusing women is important for a variety of reasons. One option that shows promise is the treatment-oriented drug court. Although drug courts enjoy considerable empirical support, relatively few studies have examined the efficacy of this model for women. The current study uses a quasi-experimental design to compare outcomes between a sample of moderate to high-risk drug court participants (n=91) and probationers (n=80). Over the course of an average two year follow-up period, female drug court participants were found to have significantly lower rates of recidivism than their probation counterparts. The results of an event history analysis confirmed that drug court participants were significantly less likely to recidivate even after controlling for differences in length of follow-up. These findings provide support for the ability of drug court programs to successfully treat drug-involved women.

Recidivism Among a White-Collar Sample: Does Personality Matter?:

Abstract With the exception of correctional research, the role of personality has been understudied in criminology in general and in the study of white-collar crime in particular. The usefulness of personality has typically been restricted to use as a diagnostic tool in differentiating among offenders for correctional classification purposes. The current research focuses on a sample of white-collar offenders who were convicted in federal courts to explain what role personality plays in explaining their rates of recidivism. Using the Jesness Inventory as a measure of personality, findings reveal that personality type is a significant predictor of offender recidivism with neurotic personality type significantly predicting probability of rearrest.

Personality, Criminal Behavior, and Risk Assessment Implications for Theory and Practice

The present study explores the relationship between personality and long-term recidivism. A longitudinal design is used that examines recidivism rates for a cohort of federal prison inmates during a period of 10 to 12 years. The study explores whether personality, as measured by the Jesness Inventory, is related to recidivism, defined as any new arrest and arrest for a specific charge including drugs, property offenses, or violence. The Jesness Inventory types are collapsed into four groups: neurotics, aggressives, dependents, and situationals. Findings from the survival analysis indicate that personality (e.g., neurotics and aggressives) is related to recidivism. The analysis pertaining to type of charge concludes that personality (e.g., neurotics) is significant in the models predicting drug offenses. The research explores whether corrections should extend personality research beyond its traditional focus (e.g., responsivity) to a greater consideration of personality as a risk factor.

Outcomes Among Drug Court Participants: Does Drug of Choice Matter?

The link between drug and alcohol abuse and criminal behavior is clearly illustrated in the literature. The options of how to respond to these offenders, however, has widely fluctuated over time. Currently, many states have reconsidered their “get tough” approach to one that is more rehabilitative in nature. One particular community-based intervention that has gained in popularity is the drug court model. The literature on drug courts is generally supportive; however, there is a need to examine effectiveness by target population. The purpose of this study is to explore recidivism rates of drug court clients by drug of choice. Using a 2-year follow-up period, this study finds that drug of choice does not significantly influence either successful graduation or arrest. Policy implications are discussed.

Methamphetamine Users in a Community-Based Drug Court: Does Gender Matter?

Abstract This paper examines men and women methamphetamine (meth) users who participated in a community-based drug court. The treatment of female drug users is a particularly salient issue because of the concerns with relapse and recidivism. For the current study, we studied the impact of the drug court by gender on a group of high-risk/high-need meth users. The results of the multivariate analysis models indicate that men have a higher probability of failure over an 18-month follow-up period. These findings suggest that a comprehensive drug court can be an effective strategy for women meth users even with an assortment of needs.