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But Some of Them Don’t Come Back (to Prison!)

Resource Deprivation and Thinking Errors as Determinants of Parole Success and Failure

Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, Camp Hill

Gary Zajac

Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, Camp Hill

This article reports on a study of the causes and correlates of parole success and failure in Pennsylvania. Surveys, interviews, and focus groups were conducted with parole violators and parole successes. Data were collected on employment, housing, social relations, supervision, and parolees’ responses to parole challenges. The primary correlates of parole failure were found to be antisocial attitudes, poor problem-solving and coping skills, and unrealistic expectations about life after release from prison. Contrary to expectations, this study found little evidence that job acquisition or housing were significant parole challenges. The greatest problem for parolees was managing themselves in a prosocial manner while facing demands from their environment.

Key Words: parole violators • parole successes • antisocial attitudes • coping skills

This version was published on September 1, 2009

The Prison Journal, Vol. 89, No. 3, 239-264 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0032885509339504


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