Control variables. One benefit with the subsample of the Returning Home dataset was the inclusion of both males and females. Prior work had shown that females were far more likely than males to maintain contact with their family during incarceration and the reentry process was different for men and women. To account for differences in family dynamics between men and women, researchers included a dummy variable representing males (female contrast). To account for variations by race and ethnicity, researchers included dummy variables in the analysis representing Black, Hispanic, Asian, or other race respondents. Researchers also included a variable which captured the age of the respondent, with a mean of approximately 36 years, ranging from 18
…show more content…
First, prior work has shown that individuals with mental health issues possibly experienced difficulty in reestablishing family ties upon release. For that reason, researchers included a binary variable indicating that the respondent self-reported that he or she had any form of mental health condition (21.6% ) Next, researchers accounted for the primary type of conviction. Researchers created four variables representing four possible categories of convictions: property, violent, drug and alcohol, and other. Property crimes encompassed burglary, theft, car theft, and fraud or forgery. Violent offenses included homicide, rape, robbery, assault, other sex offense, and weapons offense. Drug and alcohol offenses included drug dealing, drug possession, and DWI or DUI. Other offense included prostitution or other offenses not listed. As drug and alcohol offenses were the most commonly reported offense (52.2%), researchers used this variable as the contrast and included the other three variables in the regression model. To conclude, researchers accounted for prior incarcerations and prior convictions as they possibly influenced family relationships upon release. Individuals were asked to report the total number of prior prison or state jail terms they had served, measured as a frequency. This variable had a mean of 1.49 and a range of 0 to 19. The variable measuring the total number of prior convictions had a mean of 4.37, with a SD of 4.70, and a range of 0 to
First, prior work has shown that individuals with mental health issues possibly experienced difficulty in reestablishing family ties upon release. For that reason, researchers included a binary variable indicating that the respondent self-reported that he or she had any form of mental health condition (21.6% ) Next, researchers accounted for the primary type of conviction. Researchers created four variables representing four possible categories of convictions: property, violent, drug and alcohol, and other. Property crimes encompassed burglary, theft, car theft, and fraud or forgery. Violent offenses included homicide, rape, robbery, assault, other sex offense, and weapons offense. Drug and alcohol offenses included drug dealing, drug possession, and DWI or DUI. Other offense included prostitution or other offenses not listed. As drug and alcohol offenses were the most commonly reported offense (52.2%), researchers used this variable as the contrast and included the other three variables in the regression model. To conclude, researchers accounted for prior incarcerations and prior convictions as they possibly influenced family relationships upon release. Individuals were asked to report the total number of prior prison or state jail terms they had served, measured as a frequency. This variable had a mean of 1.49 and a range of 0 to 19. The variable measuring the total number of prior convictions had a mean of 4.37, with a SD of 4.70, and a range of 0 to