Characteristics of adolescent felons in a prison treatment program

The entire population of inmates in a prison treatment program for youthful male offenders was studied (N = 43). Based on information from individual and group psychotherapy and from official files, and verified with another therapist, the following was found to be true for more than 50% of the offenders: they had anti-social, anti-authority values; did not know how to be anything other than be a criminal; had been subjected to physical, psychological or sexual abuse, usually by a family member; were members of a minority group, i.e., black or Hispanic; and these were gang members. Whites were less likely to be gang members, but those who were tended to be Skinheads or Stoners. The findings can be used to help professionals understand and work with inmates to alter their criminal lifestyle.