Reducing Recidivism: People on Parole and Probation
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
California State University, San Bernardino CSUSB ScholarWorks Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations Office of aduateGr Studies 7-2020 REDUCING RECIDIVISM: PEOPLE ON PAROLE AND PROBATION Noe George Gutierrez California State University - San Bernardino Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd Part of the Criminology and Criminal Justice Commons Recommended Citation Gutierrez, Noe George, "REDUCING RECIDIVISM: PEOPLE ON PAROLE AND PROBATION" (2020). Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations. 1120. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd/1120 This Project is brought to you for free and open access by the Office of aduateGr Studies at CSUSB ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of CSUSB ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. REDUCING RECIDIVISM PEOPLE ON PAROLE AND PROBATION A Project Presented to the Faculty of California State University, San Bernardino In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Social Work by Noe George Gutierrez July 2020 REDUCING RECIDIVISM PEOPLE ON PAROLE AND PROBATION A Project Presented to the Faculty of California State University, San Bernardino by Noe George Gutierrez July 2020 ApProved by: Teresa Morris, Faculty SuPervisor, Social Work Armando Barragan, M.S.W. Research Coordinator © 2020 Noe Gutierrez ABSTRACT Continuing criminal justice aPProaches have led to Persistent recidivism among Parolees and Probationers. This study investigates the observed influence recidivism has on individuals on Parole and Probation. This research Project aimed to shed more light on the attitudes of Parolees and Probationers and to Provide more insight into recidivism and its contributing factors. Focus grouPs were held to Provide the data for this research. Also a survey was distributed to 13 male and 4 female Parolees and Probationers over the age of 18 who were Previously or currently on Probation and/or Parole. The emphasis was on ParticiPant PercePtion and not on Professional rePorts because of underrePorting and lack of attention to their oPinions. Incarceration was found to negatively affect Perceived reintegration. The attitudes and feelings of Parolees/Probationers were deemed minimally important when deciding to return a Parolee/Probationer to Prison/jail. OPPortunities for suPPort and treatment continue to be limited and seldom achieved. Implications include a desire for rehabilitation and the intention for Parolees to avoid recidivist behaviors. Based on data from the survey administered, Parolees and Probationers do not feel they should be returned to Prison or jail for a relaPse to drug or alcohol use. Rather, they feel that more helP is needed in order to remain out-of-custody. They rePort an improvement in their quality of life when active in services. Social workers are an integral Part in helPing to Promote the continued advocacy of Parolees and Probationers and Providing them suPPort in accessing available resources. The central finding of iii this study was that recidivism can be reduced without Punitive measures. In substantiating this claim, the research critically comments on the hoPe and determination that Parolees and Probationers Possess. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research has been a Passion of mine because of my years of working with this special PoPulation. I am mindful of the Plight Probationers and Parolees endure while attempting to obtain or maintain recovery from substance abuse and mental illness. I am also aware of their journey to seek redemption for their criminal transgressions. First and foremost, I want to thank those Persons who agreed to ParticiPate in this study. I have learned over the years that these human beings are special because they have been through a lot and have hit some very low Points in their lives. My hoPe is that with this research we can continue to treat them as individuals and not statistics. The one social worker who has influenced me the most has been Christina Bartlett, Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She has Provided me the example that I will follow for the rest of my career. She has demonstrated to me how to Provide empathy to consumers and create hoPe for them when there is none. Tina, you are my forever mentor. I would like to thank the entire California State University San Bernardino School of Social Work faculty and suPPort staff. I would like to especially express my gratitude to Rachel Allinson, L.C.S.W. who believed in me and my journey to rid myself of Procrastination. You were the motivating factor in my success. I would like to thank staff at Eisenhower Medical Center, Pitzer College and the Office of Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. for Providing me the learning environments to better hone my social work skills. Finally, I would like to thank all those Riverside University Health System Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse Prevention v and Treatment Programs staff who I have had the blessing and honor to work alongside for the Past 28 years. You have challenged me and Provided the leadershiP necessary for someone like me to Pursue higher education, Provide high quality services, and ParticiPate in building my community. vi DEDICATION I would not have had the ability to complete this without the love and suPPort of my girlfriend Emily Kanoski Coy. Emily, you have been by my side in this educational journey the last two years and I love you for it. You never complained and were unconditional in sharing your love and sensitivity. To my children, Ruben JosePh Gutierrez and Sofia Grace Gutierrez, you two have been the biggest inspirations and blessings in my life. Although you may not have always understood what dad was doing, you remained respectful and Patient. Ruben, you came into my life when you were two years old and I knew then that I would be your dad forever. It has been an honor to be your Parent since that first time we Played on that McDonald’s Play ground. You are relentless in everything you do and you motivate me to Push myself. Sofia, I met you at six months old. You Provide me so many oPPortunities to be haPPy and Proud of you. You have the biggest heart I know and your love inspires me. To Ayden Alexander Coy, you have etched a Place in my heart that moves me. Your Personality has been a bright spot for me when I’ve been overstressed. You three are my biggest inspirations to reach for the stars. My only hoPe is that you go above and beyond what I have been caPable of. To my mom, Mary Ellen Gutierrez, Registered Nurse, thank you for showing me early on what it meant to helP others. You are a real-life suPer hero. My late father, Steven George Gutierrez, for showing me that we must show our fellow humans compassion and helP others when we can. You’re in my heart daily and forever Dad. My sister Valerie Gutierrez for suPPorting me in my endeavors, remaining Positive and tormenting me like only you can. My nePhew StePhen JosePh Gutierrez, you don’t know this but you have inspired me to keeP Pressing forward and I know you will aspire to great things. I’m Proud of you. I feel Proud of the work i Put into this Project. I am dedicated to helPing others, so to be able to concentrate my efforts and arrange it in such a Professional manner is rewarding. During my quest I have had to sacrifice time away from my friends and family and I would like to thank them all for any sacrifices they made in suPPorting me. If you do choose to include it, it is to have no Page number listed, and is also not to be counted in the Pagination of the document. That means the Preceding acknowledgements Page is to be, for example, Page iv, the dedication Page is to have no Page number, and the Page following the dedication is to be Page v. Additionally, the dedication Page is not to aPPear in the table of contents. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................................... v CHAPTER ONE: ASSESSMENT .......................................................................... 1 Introduction ................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. Research Focus .......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Paradigm and Rationale for Chosen Paradigm .......................................... 4 Literature Review ........................................................................................ 6 Theoretical Orientation ............................. Error! Bookmark not defined.1 Contribution of Study to Micro and Macro Social Work Practice ........ Error! Bookmark not defined.2 Summary ................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.3 CHAPTER TWO: ENGAGEMENT ....................................................................... 14 Introduction ............................................................................................... 14 Research Site ........................................................................................... 14 Engagement Strategies for GatekeePers at Research Site ...................... 15 Self-PreParation ........................................................................................ 16 Diversity Issues ......................................................................................... 17 Ethical Issues ...........................................................................................