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Prior evidence shows that prisoners’ beliefs and perceptions have profound implications for their postprison success. This study shows which prisoners are more or less optimistic about their postrelease employment prospects and for what reason. Specifically, this study examines how pessimistic prisoners are about finding a job, finding an unskilled job, and finding a minimum-wage job. It also reveals whether variables drawn from labelling and human capital theories can explain between-individual differences in these perceptions. Using survey data on 154 Romanian prisoners, we find substantial differences in optimism. These differences are partly explained by prisoners’ criminal history and human capital, but more so by prisoners’ expectations about the importance of these characteristics in the hiring process. Policy implications are discussed.

Studies that have examined absconding have pointed to the relevance of factors related to demographics, situational, and social characteristics, as well as criminal history variables as predictive of offenders’ decision to abscond. This study contributes to this literature by extending factors that have been explored for criminal justice outcomes such as recidivism to predict the likelihood of absconding. In particular, this study incorporates the Level of Service Inventory-Revised (LSI-R) risk assessment instrument and types of violations to examine their impact on the likelihood of absconding. Using a large sample of parolees from Colorado ( n = 30,181), the findings in this study indicate that the largest predictors of absconding were substance abuse problems and education. In addition, variables measuring the components of the LSI-R and specific nonabsconding parole violations moderately predict absconding. The implications of the findings and recommendations for future research are discussed.

The comparison of the South Korean male and female homicide offenders’ characteristics and crime scene behaviours is presented in this study. A total of 537 cases of homicide offenders prosecuted in Korea between 2006 and 2010 were analyzed in terms of offenders’ characteristics, victim–offender interaction, places of crime, and crime scene actions. Significant differences between male and female offenders were revealed in prior criminal history, offenders’ personal characteristics, choice of victim, crime scene behaviours during and after the homicide, and choice of weapon. The parallel with the gender differences in homicides found in Western countries is discussed as well as the possible explanations for the gender-related characteristics found in this study.

Occupational functioning is an important factor in the success of offenders reentering society. Yet few studies have empirically examined the factors influencing job obtainment of offenders. This study endeavors to begin to fill this gap by examining attitudes in hiring applicants charged with a crime. To accomplish this goal, 275 college students read a job description for a cashier position and then read 1 of 12 descriptions of an applicant varied by criminal history, qualifications, and race. Participants rate the applicants across dimensions relevant to hiring decisions. Results indicate that applicants with drug possession charges and low qualifications were less likely to be referred for hire. Severity of charges influences employability. Among applicants with a misdemeanor, qualifications increase employability, but qualifications have no influence for applicants with a felony. Implications of these findings for policy and vocational rehabilitation programming are discussed.

Population-based surveys suggest that methamphetamine use and abuse may be rising in the United States. However, little is known about methamphetamine use in eastern sections of the United States, particularly nonurban areas. The purpose of the present study was (a) to explore reported methamphetamine use and its correlates among Kentucky drug court clients and(b) to determine whether differences exist between methamphetamine users by drug court location. Of the 500 drug court clients surveyed, approximately 32% n = 161) reported lifetime methamphetamine use. Methamphetamine users and nonusers differed in their drug-use profiles, self-reported criminal history, and number of criminal offenses. Nonurban and urban methamphetamine users differed in their drug-use profiles, psychological functioning, self-reported criminal history, and number of criminal offenses. These results suggest that differences exist between these populations and clinicians, and criminal justice officials may need to consider these differences when planning treatment and rehabilitation strategies.

Race relations is an issue of great concern to correctional administrators. Prior correctional research has examined only tangentially the impact of race and other sociodemographic variables on inmate perceptions of the institutional experience. Virtually no research has been conducted on Hispanic inmates, one of the fastest growing inmate populations. This research builds on prior research on the impact of race on inmate adjustment patterns, and adds to the literature by including other significant sociodemographic and criminal history variables as well as including a significant number of Hispanic subjects. The authors surveyed 775 recently released Texas inmates, or exmates. Exmates were asked their perceptions of race relations in prison. The relationship between selected sociodemographic and criminal history characteristics and exmate perceptions of race relations is examined.

The relationship between religiosity and crime has been the subject of much empirical debate and testing over the past 40 years. Some investigators have argued that observed relationships between religion and crime may be spurious because of self-control, arousal, or social control factors. The present study offers the first investigation of religiosity, self-control, and deviant behavior in the prison context. We use survey data from a sample of 208 recently paroled male inmates to test the impact of religiosity and self-control on prison deviance. The results indicate that two of the three measures of religiosity may be spurious predictors of prison deviance after accounting for self-control. Participation in religious services is the only measure of religiosity to significantly reduce the incidence of prison deviance when controlling for demographic factors, criminal history, and self-control. We conclude with implications for future studies of religiosity, self-control, and deviance in the prison context.

Sex offender recidivism risk is a multifaceted phenomenon requiring consideration across multiple risk factor domains. The impact of treatment involvement and subsequent recidivism is given limited attention in comparison to other forensic mental health issues. The present analysis is a retrospective study of sex offenders treated at a secure facility utilizing a cognitive-behavioral program matched with an untreated correctional sample. Variables studied included demographic, criminal history, offense related, and treatment progress. Recidivism was assessed through arrest data. Multivariate analysis suggests that recidivism is significantly related to quality of treatment involvement, offender demographics, offense characteristics, and criminal history. Successfully treated offenders were significantly less likely to subsequently reoffend. Recidivists were also significantly younger, less likely married, had engaged in more victim grooming or less violent offending behavior, and had significantly more prior property charges. The authors discuss the clinical and policy implications of the interrelationship between treatment involvement and recidivism.

Two groups of male serving prisoners, 37 violent and 32 sex offenders with no history of violent crimes, were compared on measures of hostility, self-consciousness, fear of negative evaluation, criminal history and family background. The intent of the study was to identify factors which may have some value for predicting risk for violent or sex-related crimes. Sex offenders, in general, reported more social anxiety, fear of negative appraisal, and indirect hostility than assaultive individuals. A multiple regression analysis showed that three factors: total hostility, fear of negative criticism and social skill deficits, were the "best" predictors of total violent crimes; whereas total sex crimes could not be predicted by any factor. The article discusses the possible links between hostility, self-consciousness and criminal behavior.