Preparing Incarcerated Parents for Reintegration in Families: An Evaluative Study

Undergraduate Research SP Award 2005Throughout the history of the correctional system, recidivism, or a relapse into crime, has been a problem that has plagued policy makers. Not only is the prison population rapidly expanding, but research has shown that more than two-thirds of inmates will be re-arrested within three years of their release (Gadsden 2003). In light of statistics such as these, the common consensus among researchers is that a great deal of reform is necessary in the corrections system. In recent years, states have begun to implement offender rehabilitation programs, with the objective of equipping offenders with the skills they need to become productive members of society after being released from prison. Increasingly, an emphasis has been placed on reuniting offenders with family members, and on strengthening the relationships between offenders and their families, especially their children. As an example, Ohio has recently established a reentry program with considerable emphasis on the parenting role of fathers. The Children of Incarcerated Parents (CIP) program provides parenting and life skills training and focuses on establishing positive relationships between the offenders, their parenting partners, and their children before the offenders are released. My research is based on a study conducted by researchers at the Ohio State University in 2005. While this prior study was a process evaluation of the CIP program, the objective of my research is to determine whether certain factors, such as existing parenting skills and a desire to change, had a significant impact on whether or not an offender successfully completed the CIP program. The sample consisted of 24 offenders, 15 of which successfully completed the program and 9 who were terminated from the program before completion. The methodology for this project was twofold. The first step consisted of analyzing the scores on the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire (APQ) and the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment scale (URICA) to determine if there was a correlation between higher test scores and successful completion of the program. Although the scores for the group that completed the program were higher overall, the results were not found to be statistically significant. The next phase of the research consisted of an analysis of the offenders’ levels of participation in the sessions, and their assessment of what they gained from the program. This was accomplished through analyzing both evaluations conducted by the facilitators and feedback forms completed by the offenders after each session. The objective of the second phase of research was to determine whether the offenders who successfully completed the program were those who the facilitators considered to be active participants, and conversely whether offenders whose assessments were more serious and positive were more likely to be successful. A comparison of feedback forms for terminated and non-terminated offenders suggest that those who were more actively involved in sessions were more likely to complete the program, and completers were more likely to reference positive gains from their participation. Unfortunately, I am unable to assess whether offenders released from prison successfully reintegrated into their families, and avoided engaging in criminal activity. However, it is encouraging that none of the offenders have returned to prison thus far, but it is too early to draw conclusions based on this fact