Date of Conferral
2021
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Psychology
Advisor
Leslie L. Barnes-Young
Abstract
AbstractJuveniles in many countries around the world were incarcerated during the 1980s and 1990s due to countries’ legislating tough-on-crime policies against juveniles. Community-based alternative sentencing options have since been found to be more effective than prisons for developmental and rehabilitative needs of juveniles. However, there is a dearth of research on how these programs have impacted the lives of their graduates. In this study, five male graduates of an alternative sentencing program on the island of Grenada were interviewed to examine how they applied skills and knowledge gained from the program. The theory of change model based upon Prochaska’s Transtheoretical model guided this research. Four research questions determined whether graduates demonstrated self-awareness, managing conflict, showing an understand social power dynamics, and demonstrated social responsibility and accountability. Using a qualitative research inquiry method, participants were interviewed, using a self-designed instrument. Responses from each interview were coded using sentences, categories, and themes. Graduates indicated that the program impacted their lives significantly in areas such as conflict resolution, self-control, anger management, improved communication skills and decision making, self-soothing, and self-awareness. Similar alternative programs could be used for positive social change as a model to initiate such programs in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
Recommended Citation
Romain, Wendy Margaret, "Male Graduates' Experiences Following an Alternatives Sentencing Program in Grenada" (2021). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 10843.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/10843
