An examination of government reports on penal facilities in the United States, published since 1880, reveals that the rate of incarceration in federal, state, local, and juvenile correctional institutions has increased. Changes in offense distribution are increases in the proportion of persons reported to be incarcerated for robbery and drug…

Conducted individual interviews with 20 inmates and 10 female correctional officers at a woman's medium security facility to examine the styles used by inmates and officers to settle disagreements, how the prison context created conflict and made its resolution challenging, and the level of social reasoning employed by both groups to make sense of…

Compared three statistical procedures to determine their ability to predict delinquents' return to juvenile prison after first release. Logit analysis, predictive attribute analysis, and a Burgess procedure were tested. No significant differences were found between statistical procedures in prediction. (Author/NB)

In response to Osberg's 1986 article on teaching psychology in prisons, Dodd offers a more critical perspective to those considering prison teaching. States that, while students are enthusiastic, their poor writing and reading comprehension skills hinder achievement. Addresses obstacles to teaching such as a sub-standard educational environment…

Examines prerelease stress in male and female inmates (N=98) at a minimum-security federal correctional institution through behavioral measures, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory scores, and Mood States Questionnaire. Results suggest that prerelease stress exists for some inmates; additional research is needed to determine other…

Administered the Psychological Screening Inventory to prisoners at reception centers within the Wisconsin Correctional Facilities to assess potential psychological maladjustment. Of 1,707 male prisoners evaluated at one correctional facility, 82 were transferred to mental hospitals during incarceration. Transferred inmates scored significantly…

Examines Kubler-Ross' five stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance) as they are experienced not by terminally ill persons, but by 20 criminal offenders and their families during incarceration. Concludes that shock of arrest and incarceration stimulates reactions similar to those of persons coping with terminal diagnosis.…

All seven variables of containment theory were operationalized for questionnaires. Data were collected from 677 adolescents in a variety of high schools and correctional institutions, and divided into categories by race and sex. Factor analysis indicated that the structure of the relationships among the seven containment variables and delinquency…

Investigated the degree to which the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and the California Psychological Inventory (CPI) could predict criteria of adjustment to prison in 1,313 inmates. Results showed that neither the MMPI or CPI scales were accurate enough to be used alone for individual actuarial prediction. (LLL)

Until very recently, most social studies materials contained little discussion of prison reform. Inclusion of this vital subject in the curriculum is discussed. (JB)

Professional staff at an institute for juvenile delinquents report an approach which encouraged houseparents to participate in program planning and to use their creative potentiality. This resulted in houseparents encouraging boys in their charge to do the same. (NH)

Conducted national surveys (instrument included) of directors (N=52) of correctional institutions to assess progress of two community-based programs, study release and home furlough. The number of participants has remained small despite low "abscondence" rates. Both programs have gone little beyond token levels found in correctional…

Delineates the needs of handicapped youngsters in correctional institutions, cites problems in meeting those needs, and suggests ways in which special vocational needs personnel can aid correctional educators. (JOW)