DOI: 10.3886/icpsr09224.v1
title: Sandhills [North Carolina] Vocational Delivery System Evaluation Project, 1983-1987
title: Version 1

description: This data collection was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a vocational training program on post-release vocational skills, employment, and recidivism of youthful male inmates 18 to 21 years old. The study used an experimental design to examine the differences in post-release activities among three inmate groups. A comprehensive inmate data base was created to describe inmates' confinement history, employment history, and their criminal records. The contextual data files provide additional information relevant to inmates' post-release activities.
description: Datasets: 
 
 DS0: Study-Level Files 
 DS1: Inmate Activity File 
 DS2: Sandhills Inmate Enrollment File 
 DS3: Polk/Harnett Inmate Enrollment File 
 DS4: Inmate Post Release File 
 DS5: Inmate Unemployment File 
 DS6: County Crime Rate File 
 DS7: County Population File 
 DS8: Inmate Confinement File 
 DS9: Inmate Recidivism File 
 DS10: Inmate Probation Record File 
 DS11: Inmate Jail Education File 
 DS12: Inmate Arrest File 
 DS13: Inmate Wage Data File
description: Some variables in this collection have undocumented codes. Also, the data for several variables are inconsistent with formats or code descriptions provided in the documentation. Files and variables presented in this collection include: (1) Inmate Activity File: type of activity received, amount of time spent in activity, scores at beginning and completion of activity, reason for ending activity, vocational and academic programs, drug and alcohol counseling, and in-prison work assignments. (2) Sandhills Inmate Enrollment File: enrollment date, demographic characteristics, employment history, type of current offenses committed, sentence length, highest grade completed at confinement, and date and rule violation. (3) Polk/Harnett Inmate Enrollment File: enrollment date, demographic characteristics, employment history, type of current offenses committed, and sentence length. (4) Inmate Post Release File: current activity, present job, job satisfaction rating, number of hours worked, length of job search, other job in last period, and why left previous activities. (5) Inmate Unemployment File: monthly county unemployment rates during June 1983-December 1985. (6) County Crime Rate File: county crime rates for five semiannual periods July 1983-December 1985. (7) County Population File: monthly population in Sandhills Youth Center and Cameron Morrison Youth Center between June 1983 and March 1987. (8) Inmate Confinement File: date of admission, type of conditional release, custody level, gain time rate, parole records, type of offense committed, type of offender classified, sentence results, type of work release, and work rating. (9) Inmate Recidivism File: date of admission, time from enrollment to new admission, type of new offense, number of prior sentences, and total consecutive maximum-minimum sentence. (10) Inmate Probation Record File: supervision level assigned, supervision costs charged, type of assessment, total needs score, type of conviction, sentence type, type of release, probation status, attitude of parole, social identification, and risk items verified. (11) Inmate Jail Education File: date and type of training, education completed in prison, and complete scores. (12) Inmate Arrest File: arrest sequence number, date and location of arrest, offenses charged, and disposition of arrest. (13) Inmate Wage File: date released, number of employers in each quarter during 1983-1987, and wages paid in each quarter during 1983-1987.
description: Youthful inmates 18-21 years old in North Carolina.
description: Three study groups were formed in two stages of the study: an external comparison group, an internal control group, and an internal experimental group. A random sample was internally selected from two diagnostic centers: Polk and Harnett Youth Centers for Youthful Inmates ages 18 to 21 in North Carolina. The sample was divided into two categories: an external comparison group and an experimental-control group designated for transfer to the Sandhills and Cameron Morrison Youth Centers. The transferred group members were screened by additional criteria for sample selection. Qualified members were then randomly assigned to either the experimental group or to the internal control group. These three groups resulted in 295 experimental group cases, 296 internal control group cases, and 236 external comparison group cases.