Program and Service Needs of Federally Incarcerated Métis ...

Figure 5
Some or Considerable Need - at Admission
and Upon Release
Personal/Emotional
Substance Abuse
Employment
Associates
M arital/Family
Attitude
Community
Functioning
0 20 40 60 80 100
%
At Admission
Upon Release
A complementary analysis was conducted to determine whether changes in need
across time were meaningful. Findings indicated that the need for substance abuse
programming (M=3.8 versus M=3.4) and interventions addressing personal and
emotional issues (M=3.7 versus M=3.4 3 ) were significantly lower at release. While
need in other criminogenic areas changed, differences between intake and release
were non-significant. In sum, results suggest that a large proportion of Métis offenders
have considerable need for correctional programming prior to their re-entry into the
community. However, some offender needs appear to be addressed in the correctional
institution.
Needs identified through the intake assessment process were also apparent in offender
interviews. Métis offenders in Saskatchewan reported a multitude of personal
difficulties at the point of entry to federal facilities (see Table 12). The largest proportion
reported having problems associated with alcohol use (58%) and being involved in a
criminal lifestyle (48%). However, considerable proportions also reported difficulties
3 Means are calculated using a 4 point scale, with 1 indicating “an asset”, 2 indicating “no need”, 3
indicating “some” need and 4 indicating “considerable” need.
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