La motivation aux interventions et programmes correctionnels chez les détenus canadiens des pénitenciers fédéraux

Despite the importance of inmates’ motivation for retention in programs designed to rehabilitate them, knowledge about their motivation remains insufficient. Past studies have limitations affecting their potential for generalization and comparison. Factors associated with motivation are not systematically explored and are sometimes inconsistent. In addition, the understanding of motivation among Canadian inmates is limited by the fact that Correctional Service Canada (CSC) does not use instruments that exclusively evaluate motivation for interventions. CSC’s evaluations of motivation have rarely been considered in research and have not been examined interactively. Detailed review of the literature on motivation in correctional institutions and methodology of the thesis are first described. The study has two parts and includes 562 male inmates who were sentenced to a first or new sentence of two years or more. These inmates were incarcerated for various offenses across all federal penitentiaries in Quebec. In the first part, mental health assessments were conducted using several clinical instruments. In the second part, data collection was undertaken within correctional files to obtain information about services received in institutions. For example, correctional programs targeting violence prevention, family violence prevention, sex offending, substance abuse, living skills and community maintenance were taken into account. The first article explores the association and coherence between measures of motivation towards correctional interventions and programs, the evolution of motivation during programs, as well as the impact of motivation on program completion and rehabilitation. The second article targets the identification of motivation’s main predictors for interventions. Results show (1) the link and difference between measures of motivation towards interventions with different targets while evaluated by different professionals, (2) increased motivation within a completed program, (3) the similarity in motivation between programs targeting the same issue, (4) the difference in motivation between programs targeting distinct issues, (5) the prediction of program completion and success by the motivation evaluated before program, (6) the prediction of revocation by the motivation evaluated after program completion and, (7) after considering several elements that were related to inmates’ motivation in previous studies, the identification of more than fifteen predictors of inmates’ motivation while establishing their respective importance in models considering CSC’s measures of motivation. Various implications are then discussed. For example, this thesis provides guidance on how motivation towards interventions could be considered and assessed throughout incarceration to encourage the success of programs. It also helps identify predictors of motivation that could be targeted to motivate inmates and aid in selection of those requiring motivational interventions before and during programs. Finally, it identifies directions for future research.

Keyphrases: Motivation, Inmates / Offenders, Prison / Penitentiary, Interventions, Correctional programs, Revocation / Recidivism