Instructors' Ratings of Delinquents after Outward Bound Survival Training and Their Subsequent Recidivism

After participating in an Outward Bound survival training course, 60 male delinquents were evaluated by patrol leaders. Successful students were awarded a certificate and all Ss were then paroled. A significant association was found between nonrecidivism within a 5-yr. period and the awarding of a certificate. Principal components analysis of a 40-item rating scale completed by the patrol leaders yielded six factors. Significant correlations were found between the factor scores of Maturity, Leadership, and Effort, with nonrecidivism. Results suggest that a rating based on Outward Bound performance can provide a long-term prediction of recidivism.