Amenability to rehabilitation among prison inmates

Abstract In the face of studies criticizing the effectiveness of rehabilitation, several researchers proposed in the 1970's that certain public offenders were more suited to treatment than others. This amenable offender was described as anxious, intelligent, and less involved in crime. The purpose of this study was to determine if and by what means inmates participating in a voluntary counseling program at the Hamilton, Alabama Correctional Facility could be distinguished from those not volunteering for counseling. Results showed that it was possible to discriminate between these two groups of inmates based upon IQ, certain demographic factors, and two personality variables.