Survey of Minnesota
Prison Inmates
October
1994
Report
produced by MINNESOTA CITIZENS COUNCIL ON CRIME AND JUSTICE. Excerpts
are reproduced here electronically. Copies of the complete report are
available on request from:
Minnesota Citizens Council on Crime & Justice, 822 South Third Street,
Minneapolis, MN 55415
612/340-5432
University
of Minnesota Children, Youth and Family Consortium. Permission is granted
to create and distribute copies of this document for noncommercial purposes
provided that MINNESOTA CITIZENS COUNCIL ON CRIME AND JUSTICE and CYFC
receive acknowledgment and this notice is included.
Jane
F Gilgun, Ph D
Associate Professor, School of Social Work University of Minnesota Twin
Cities
Kay
Pranis
Restorative Justice Planner
Minnesota Department of Corrections
(formerly Director of Research Citizens Council)
Richard
C. Ericson
President
Citizens Council
Acknowledgments
This
report is made possible by funding authorized by the Minnesota State
Legislature to assess experiential and environmental factors in the
lives of Minnesota inmates. Senators Ellen Anderson and Jane Ranum were
the authors of the legislation and the project's leading advocates
The
Department of Corrections was commissioned to administer the study.
The Department's cooperation and counsel made possible an extensive
survey of Minnesota prison inmates which provides the central data base
for this study.
United
Way of Minneapolis Area, the University of Minnesota and Norwest Corporation
contributed significant resources that made it possible to incorporate
additional research and evaluation required for this report.
The
study and preparation of the report were directed by the Minnesota Citizens
Council on Crime and Justice in collaboration with the University of
Minnesota School of Social Work and the National Adolescent Health Resource
Center.
The
authors are grateful to members of the Project Advisory Group who contributed
hours of consultation on the construction of the inmate survey and the
interpretation of results. The Group represents many sectors of the
community and their names are shown in the Appendix of the technical
report.
Special
thanks to Randy Speer for his contributions to the design and presentation
of this document.
FACT
SHEET
Background
At
the urging of the United Way of Minneapolis Area, this study was commissioned
by the 1993 Minnesota Legislature to survey prison inmates in the state
about their childhood and adolescent experiences. The purpose was to
identify risk and protective factors that characterize prison inmates
in order to have data on which to base public policy.
The
Minnesota State Department of Corrections contracted with the Citizens
Council on Crime and Justice to conduct the survey. The survey was administered
in January of 1994 in all nine adult correctional facilities operated
by the Minnesota Department of Corrections. A written questionnaire
was distributed to all Minnesota state prison inmates. Forty-two percent
of the inmates responded to the survey (1700 out of 4,000).
The
study examined both risk and protective factors in the lives of inmates
primarily during adolescence. The findings among inmates were compared
to three other sample groups -- one group of adults, one group of adolescents
(students) in public schools, and a group of adolescents in juvenile
correctional facilities. The data indicate that most inmates had more
risks and fewer protective factors than the non-inmates.
The
following risk and protective factors are representative of the items
on which inmates were surveyed:
Risk
Factors
- adults
and peers in families and neighborhoods who model disrespect for
and violence against others
- few,
if any, close relationships that model pro-social behaviors and
values
- childhood
abuse and neglect
- poverty
- racism
and discrimination resulting in diminished opportunities for jobs
and education
Protective
Factors
- being
respected and accepted within families and other social institutions
such as neighborhoods, schools, religious organizations, playgrounds,
communities, etc.
- close,
on-going relationships with others who model pro-social behavior
and values, who are confidants and encourage emotional expressiveness
- witnessing
family members and others with whom we identify being treated with
respect and acceptance and as having economic opportunities
REPORT
Risks
and Protections
Picture
two boys growing up in the same neighborhood. Both are 10. Both are
physically abused and both live in poor families headed by mothers who
love them.
One
will grow into responsible adulthood: optimistic, a loving husband and
father, and a dependable employee. The other will become an inmate of
a Minnesota prison.
–What
creates the difference in these two lives?
Kevin
confided in a friend when his father beat him, and when he was worried
about school or money. He learned from his friend's father how to fix
electronic equipment and he tried to be like his friend's father. He
liked school and enjoyed playing with other kids.
As
Kevin grew older, his circle of friends widened, he developed hopes
and dreams for the future, and he kept a diary where he recorded secret
stuff about his feelings or girls or how the day went. He got drunk
at a party when he was 16, and didn't like the feeling of being out
of control; after that he drank only occasionally, and not too much.
Mark,
at the age of eight, confided in a teacher that he was beaten by his
father, who had joint custody with his mother. The teacher called his
father, who denied the beating. When Mark got home from school he was
beaten again for telling .
Mark
never confided in anyone again. Instead he tried to be tough, like men
he saw in the movies, TV shows and video games. They didn't feel hurt
or helpless. They took what they wanted; they were in charge.
By
the age of 10, Mark was stealing from stores and harassing other children,
physically and sexually. At 11 he joined a group who stole and sometimes
attacked others, who vandalized property and used alcohol and drugs.
When
Mark was 14 he was sent to a juvenile correctional facility. Five years
later he was convicted and sentenced for criminal sexual conduct.
Both
young men were at risk for committing violent acts. One had on-going
positive relationships while the other did not. Positive experiences
and relationships were protective factors. The other boy had some protective
factors but these were overwhelmed by a pile-up of risk factors. His
life might have taken a more positive direction had there been early
and effective intervention when he reported being physically abused
at home.
In
this study, we wanted to identify the risks and the protective factors
that characterize prison inmates. Just like these two 10- year-olds,
many people have risks, but only a small portion of those people go
on to commit crimes. We wanted to know what makes the difference.
Identifying
and quantifying those factors is the first step.
Executive
Summary
This
study measures risk and protective factors associated with prison inmates,
primarily during their adolescence. Risk factors are those expected
to be experienced more commonly by inmates than by the general population.
Protective factors are those expected to be experienced less commonly
by inmates than the general population.
The
data on risk and protection factors of inmates was compared with similar
data on two non-inmate samples and one sample of incarcerated juveniles.
It was found that both protective factors and risk factors distinguish
inmates from non-inmates. The data indicates that most inmates had more
risks and fewer protective factors than the non-inmates representing
the general population. Inmates' protections were overwhelmed by risks.
These
findings support widely assumed relationships between adult criminal
behavior and the experiences and circumstances of childhood and adolescence.
Inmates
were not without positive forces in their early years. For example,
most inmates reported feeling that their parents cared for them, and
did not differ significantly from non-inmates in this regard. Yet, feeling
cared for was not enough. What seems clear is that their many risks
overwhelmed whatever protective factors were present.
We
can learn from the lives of these inmates. Risk factors such as poverty,
abuse, the absence of fathers and out-of-home placement were reported
by a large portion of inmates. This suggests that the effective steps
to reduce crime must emphasize preventive measures during childhood.
The
data shows, for instance, that discussing personal problems during adolescence
is a powerful protective factor when practices, and a dangerous risk
when it is not. This insight could potentially guide social policies
and programs in new directions.
The
findings of this study do not excuse antisocial behavior, nor is it
unreasonable to hold people accountable for their choices. They do suggest,
however, that efficient use of public funds in reducing crime is investment
at the "front end" -- an investment in Minnesota's children.
Findings
Finding
1: Inmates and Students Felt Cared about by at Least One Parent During
Adolescence. High percentages of inmates, students and randomly selected
Minnesota adults reported feeling cared about by their parents (82%
to 90%).
Finding
2: More Inmates Did Not Want to Discuss Problems in Adolescence, and
Fewer Inmates than Students Did Discuss Problems and Found it Helped.
About one third of inmates reported that as adolescents they were reluctant
to discuss their problems with others, compared with only six percent
of students. Nearly one third of inmates reported they did discuss their
problems and felt that it helped them, while the percentage was significantly
higher for students (54%).
Finding
3: Inmates' Responses Indicate More Physical or Sexual Abuse in Childhood
and Adolescence. Questionnaires indicated inmates were physically and
sexually abused as adolescents in substantially higher percentages than
students.
Physical
Abuse
Male inmates 37%
Female inmates 46%
Male Students 5%
Female Students 14%
Sexual
Abuse
Male inmates 26%
Female inmates 53%
Male Students 2%
Female Students 16%
Finding
4: Fathers Were Absent More Often in Families of Inmates. Similar percentages
(56%/61%) of male and female inmates reported their fathers had been
absent form home during their adolescence. In both cases, the percentage
is significantly higher than that of male and female students (34%/38%).
Finding
5: Fewer Inmates' Parents Completed High School. Male and female students
reported in similar percentages that their parents did not complete
high school (10% or less). For male and female inmates the percentages
were significantly higher (19 to 26%).
Finding
6: More Families of Inmates Received Welfare. More than 30% of inmates
reported their families had been on welfare during their adolescence.
The percentage for students was less than five percent.
Finding
7: Drug and Alcohol Abuse Was More Common Among Inmates in Adolescence.
Heavy use of alcohol, and weekly use of marijuana and illegal drugs
was reported by a substantially higher percentage of inmates and institutionalized
juveniles than by students.
Finding
8: Felt Depressed/Suicidal. The percentage of inmates and institutionalized
juveniles who reported feeling depressed and attempting suicide was
much higher than the percentage reported by students. In all three populations,
females reported these feelings in greater portions than males.
Finding
9: Fewer Inmates Liked School and Were Concerned About School Work.
An almost equal percentage of students reported liking school and being
concerned about school. They reported liking school in somewhat higher
proportion than inmates, and a much higher percentage of students said
they were concerned about schoolwork.
Finding
10: Working Long Hours Was More Common Among Inmates in Adolescence.
About a quarter of inmates reported working more than twenty hours per
week, a point at which school grades drop off significantly, according
to a 1992 study of Minnesota education. Among students, only nine percent
of males and four percent of females reported working more than twenty
hours.
Finding
11: Frequent Shoplifting, Fighting, Vandalism More Common Among Inmates
in Adolescence. Inmates and institutionalized juveniles reported they
shoplifted, damaged property and fought with others in substantially
higher percentages than students.
Finding
12: Out of Home Placements During Childhood and Adolescence Common Among
Inmates. A large percentage of inmates reported that as adolescents,
they had been placed with a foster family, children's shelter, group
residence or other out-of-home facility.
Finding
13: Dropping out of School and Frequently Switching Schools Common for
Inmates During Adolescence. About a third of male inmates reported they
had dropped out of school or switched schools three or more times. For
females, the dropout rate was significantly higher (48%).
