Classification, program assignment and recidivism.

Abstract

This study examined the efficacy of a classification system, Case Management Strategies (C.M.S.), for federally-incarcerated male offenders in Ontario penitentiaries. Three research questions were asked: (1) How appropriate are program recommendations made by Case Management Officers (C.M.O.s) using C.M.S.?; (2) To what extent are these recommended programs completed by the offenders?; and, (3) Is recidivism influenced by either (a) completion of recommended programs; (b) completion of recommended programs and degree of appropriateness of these recommendations; or, (c) completion of programs which actually address the offenders' needs? The results of this study found that: (1) only about half of the program recommendations made by the C.M.O.s were judged to be appropriate; (2) only a small proportion of the recommended programs had actually been completed by the offenders; and, (3) although there was a small statistically significant effect of the percentage of recommended programs completed on recidivism, recidivism was not affected by the percentage of recommended "treatment/training" programs which were completed; percentage of recommended programs which were completed and appropriate, nor by the degree to which the offenders' needs were addressed by the programs completed. These results raised some serious questions about the efficacy of classification as part of a rehabilitation process.