Measuring Impact of a Juvenile Correctional Institution by Perceptions of Inmates and Staff

The impact of a correctional institution on the inmate is still enigmatic. While failure a year or more after release is often used to measure the results of institutional stay, clearly this measurement is fraught with numerous variables which are unre lated to the particular institutional experience of the cases.

Likewise, success during or after the parole period, as measured by absence of negative or presence of positive evaluations of the releasee by the aftercare officer, or by lack of involvement in delinquency or crime (plus favorable adjustments in the com munity) is probably independent of the impact of the institutional stay on the parolee's behavior.

¹The early studies are summarized in an article by Walter C. Reckless, "The Impact of Correctional Programmes on Inmates," British Journal of Delinquency, 6:138-47, (September, 1955). Reference herein is made to the initial studies of impact under Pro fessor Reckless' direction: E. J. Galway, "A Measurement of the Effectiveness of a Reformatory Program," Ph.D. dissertation, Ohio State University, (1948); M. S. Sabnis, "A Measurement of Impact of Institutional Experience on Inmates in a Training School," Ph.D. dissertation, Ohio State University, (1951); M. R. Moran, "Inmate Concept of

Self in a Reformatory Society," Ph.D. disser tation, Ohio State University, (1954); H. Zibners, "The Influence of Short-Term Insti tutionalization upon Emotionally Disturbed and Delinquent Children," M.A. thesis, Ohio State University, (1954). Jon E. Simpson, Thomas G. Eynon, and Walter C. Reckless, "Institutionalization as Perceived by the Juvenile Offender," Sociology and Social Re search, 48(1):13-23, (October, 1963); Thomas Eynon and Jon E. Simpson, "The Boy's Perception of Himself in a State Training School for Delinquents," The Social Service Review, 39(1):31-37, (March, 1965).

²Summarized from a descriptive statement of TICO (1967) by Harry E. Zibners, a Director of Guidance at TICO, which in cluded clinical services, the services of social workers, and the services of cottage leaders.

³The actual number of different items was 59 rather than 60 — one item was duplicated.

⁴Note that a high score is in the unfavor able direction.