Research on the prisoners' motivation toward rehabilitation

Abstract

In correctional facilities, the motivation toward rehabilitation is a critical factor in the treatment of inmates. Measurement of the motivation allows the psychologists to make the accurate assessment, provide the effective treatment, and evaluate the treatment effectiveness. Drawing a sample from young male inmates incarcerated in the prison, this study developed the motivation toward rehabilitation scale based on the stages of change model. Reliability and validity of the scale were examined by Cronbach's coefficient alpha and the correlation with the existing motivation scale. The factor analysis showed the stages of change model partly supported the inmates' process toward rehabilitation. Based on the scale developed in this study, the offenders' motivation toward rehabilitation and the treatment according to their stage of change were discussed.