XN000022-1979-07-15 — Page 2

SUNDAY, JULY 15, 1979

HIGH PERCENTAGE OF PROBATIONERS SUCCESSFULLY REHABILITATED

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A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF PROBATIONERS AND INMATES OF CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS UNDER THE CARE AND SUPERVISION OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT ARE SUCCESSFULLY REHABILITATED.

THIS WAS REVEALED IN A RECENT REPORT ON RECIDIVISM OF PROBATIONERS AND INMATES OF THE DEPARTMENT'S CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS COMPILED BY THE RESEARCH AND EVALUATION UNIT OF THE DEPARTMENT.

THE REPORT, BASED ON A SAMPLE STUDY OF 453 PROBATIONERS AND INMATES, SHOWED THAT ONLY ABOUT 64 PEOPLE OR 14 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL TURNED BACK TO CRIME AFTER COMPLETING THEIR PROBATION OR DISCHARGE.

A SUCCESSFUL CASE IS DEFINED IN THE REPORT AS ONE IN WHICH PROBATIONER DOES NOT FALL BACK TO CRIME ONE YEAR AFTER THE PROBATION PERIOD OR, FOR AN INMATE, ONE YEAR AFTER HIS DISCHARGE FROM AN INSTITUTION.

THE STUDY ALSO LOOKED INTO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE OFFENDERS' PERSONAL AND FAMILY BACKGROUND AND THEIR RELAPSE TO CRIME.

ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, OFFENDERS WITH LOWER EDUCATION STANDARD ARE MORE LIABLE TO RELAPSE TO CRIME.

IT SHOWED NONE OF THE PROBATIONERS WITH FORM 4 - 6 EDUCATION WAS RE-CONVICTED WHILE 14.8 PER CENT OF THOSE WITH PRIMARY SCHOOL EDUCATION WENT BACK TO CRIME.

THE REPORT SAID EMPLOYMENT IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT FACTOR AFFECTING RECIDIVISM. IT POINTED OUT THAT PROBATIONERS AND INMATES WITH JOB STABILITY, PLEASURE OF WORK AND GOOD REASONS TO CHANGE JOBS ON THEIR OWN ACCORD ARE LESS LIKELY TO RELAPSE THAN THOSE WITHOUT.

FOR EXAMPLE, RECIDIVISM RATE AMONG THOSE WHO LIKE THEIR JOBS IS 9.2 PER CENT AS AGAINST 16 PER CENT AMONG THOSE WHO DO NOT, AND 20.5 PER CENT AMONG STEADY WORKERS COMPARED TO 24.5 PER CENT OF THE UNEMPLOYED.

DRUG ADDICTION AND TRIAD ASSOCIATION ALSO HAVE STRONG BEAR ING ON RECIDIVISM.

THE STUDY FOUND THAT DRUG ADDICTS WITH TRIAD ASSOCIATION HAVE A RELAPSE RATE OF 38.1 PER CENT AS COMPARED TO 6.9 PER CENT AMONG THOSE WHO ARE NOT UNDER THIS INFLUENCE.

MOREOVER, RECIDIVISM RATE IS HIGHER AMONG OFFENDERS WITH

PREVIOUS CONVICTION.

F THOSE WITH FIRST CONVICTION, THE RATE IS 11.8 PER CENT AS AGAINST 28.6 PER CENT OF THOSE WITH TWO PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS.

/ON THE