An Empirical Examination of Competing Theories in Predicting Recidivism of Adult Offenders Five Years After Graduation from Boot Camp

Distinguishing graduates from dropouts and dismissals: Who fails boot camp?

“…Gang members may adapt in boot camp because they are accustomed to living with conflict, coercion, and aggression. These offenders, however, have a high recidivism rate (Benda et al, 2003a(Benda et al, , 2003b, which raises the question of appropriateness of a brief intervention. Certainly, a systemic examination of what precisely is being accomplished with these offenders in boot camp is long overdue.…”

“…Gang members often sell drugs and regularly carry weapons (Blumstein & Wallman, 2000;Lizotte et al, 2000;Valdez & Sifaneck, 2004). Based on prior research and experiential observations, it was hypothesized that gang members who sold drugs and regularly carried weapons would be among those identified as graduates in this study (Benda, 2003;Benda, Toombs, & Peacock, 2003b). The reason for this counterintuitive hypothesis was that gang members seemed to be relatively comfortable in the hyper-masculine environment (Lutze & Bell, 2005) of boot camps (Benda et al, 2003a).…”

The Influence of Social Bonds on Recidivism: A Study of Texas Male Prisoners

“…Two studies, however, do evaluate the importance of fulltime employment and job stability in predicting recidivism (Benda, Harm, & Toombs, 2005;Benda, Toombs, & Peacock, 2003). Benda et al (2003Benda et al ( , 2005 found full-time employment to be the second-strongest discriminator between recidivists and nonrecidivists, second only to marriage.…”

“…Since 1990, researchers have generally found that marriage decreases the likelihood of committing further crimes (Benda et al, 2003;Benda, Harm, & Toombs, 2005;Horney, Osgood, & Marshall, 1995;Laub, Nagin, & Sampson, 1998;Sampson & Laub, 1990;Warr, 1998). Sampson and Laub (1990) found that marriage between the ages of 17 and 25 decreases the likelihood of committing a crime between the ages of 25 and 32.…”

Exploring theoretical linkages between self-control theory and criminal justice system processing

“…Specifically, 37 percent failed to report to their officer, 24 percent failed urinalysis tests, and 11 percent failed to pay fines or restitution. Similarly, several investigators (e.g., Anderson, Schumacker, & Anderson, 1991;Benda, 2003;Benda & Tollett, 1999;Benda, Toombs, & Peacock, 2003;De Li, Priu, & MacKenzie, 2000;Griffin & Armstrong, 2003;MacKenzie & De Li, 2002) examined the relationships between the local life circumstances of conventional offenders and recidivism. The results were consonant with self-control theory.…”