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In this paper we used a monthly calendar data set to analyze the legitimate and illegitimate earnings of a sample of 204 Canadian federal inmates during the three years prior to their admission. Our main finding is that their social class background has a direct and positive effect on offenders illegal earnings throughout the window period: the more resourceful their background, the higher the odds that offenders will reap substantial net benefits from their involvement in crime. Various attainment models are explored to account for this robust finding. Analyzing criminal achievements emerges as a useful approach that provides new insights on current and past controversies over the myth of the social class and crime relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main reasons given for the study of co-offending is that it is believed to be a mechanism by which non-offenders become offenders: that is, the onset of the criminal career may be facilitated by co-offending with older and more experienced offenders. This paper explores the role of co-offending and co-offenders in the onset of the delinquent and criminal careers of two cohorts of Canadian offenders born in 1987 and 1990. The data come from the Incident-Based Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, drawn from the information systems of police forces serving approximately half of Canada's population. Three propositions are investigated: (1) that the offender's first (recorded) offence is more likely than subsequent offences to involve co-offenders; (2) more generally, that early offences in the career are more likely than later offences to involve co-offending; and (3) that the first co-offence in the career - and more generally, co-offences occurring early in the career - are more likely to involve co-offenders who are older and more experienced than ego. The investigation of these propositions takes into account the possible confounding effect of ego's age at the time of the incident. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classification of offender populations is one of the most important functions of any correctional agency. Actuarial tools have demonstrated superiority over clinical judgment in accomplishing classification goals; in general, they are both more liberal and more accurate than the clinical method (Meehl, 1954; Grove & Meehl, 1996). However, objective security classification measures in use for female inmates have invariably been developed for males, despite evidence that measures derived from samples of male offenders may overclassify women, resulting in frequent use of overrides by correctional staff (Van Voorhis & Presser, 2001). The current research initiative involved the development and validation of a gender-informed security reclassification scale that used multiple samples of Canadian federal female offender case files. Results showed that the scale is a reliable and valid tool for the security classification of Canadian federal female inmates. Compared to the current offender security level (OSL) classification method (i.e., structured clinical review), the scale placed fewer cases at maximum security, and more cases at minimum security. The SRSW was significantly more predictive of institutional misconduct than the structured clinical method (OSL) currently in use. Results are discussed in terms of both theoretical and operational implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact on children of paternal incarceration has been relatively neglected and information obtained directly from children about their feelings and experiences is scant. In this Canadian study, face to face interviews were conducted with the children of incarcerated fathers as well as their legal guardians and practitioners who work with such children and their families. Although extant research indicates that shame and stigma is a problem experienced by family members of incarcerated offenders, our study shows that fear of shame and stigma is a much more dramatic impediment than was expected - much more so than the actual stigma they experience. In addition, attempts to protect the children from shame and stigma do not shelter them from the negative consequences of parental incarceration on their behaviour. In fact, trying to keep the parental offender's incarceration secret proves to be detrimental in that both the children and the legal guardians tend to become highly isolated. This isolation was indicated not only by the legal guardians but directly by the children, a majority of whom demonstrated a reluctance to communicate to others about their parents' incarcerated status, leaving them with few expressive outlets and other forms of social support. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Safe reintegration of Aboriginal offenders to the community through the delivery of effective interventions is one of five Correctional Service Canada (CSC) priorities. A major objective for CSC, then, is to narrow the gap in the rate of re-offending between Aboriginal offenders and non-Aboriginal offenders through the application of effective reintegration interventions, such as the delivery of culturally-appropriate treatment programs that aim to address the offence patterns and unique need characteristics of Aboriginal offenders.Over 90% of the Aboriginal men in federal custody require substance abuse intervention. In response to this need, CSC introduced the Aboriginal Offender Substance Program (AOSAP) in 2004. This presentation will explain the challenges, such as correctional policy, cultural diversity and institutional environments, encountered in designing and implementing the AOSAP. Program content and method of delivery will also be reviewed as well as lessons learned from this demonstration project.Preliminary results show that AOSAP is responsive in addressing the needs of Aboriginal men with a substance abuse problem. Participants of the program developed a stronger connection to their Aboriginal roots, were more motivated to change their behaviour, and developed greater insight into how to mange their substance abuse problems by using a blend of traditional and contemporary approaches. Of the group of Aboriginal offenders who successfully participated in AOSAP, a substantial number remained in the community after 18 months of follow-up in comparison to those Aboriginal men who successfully completed a non-Aboriginal mainstream substance abuse program and Aboriginal men who did not participate in an institutional program. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]