ABSTRACT

This chapter examines the experience of the army with released felons during World War II. For the Illinois Felon Study, five hundred cases were interviewed in 1951, 1952, and 1953. Most of these interviews took place in the free community. A comparison was made between the work the men did upon release from the army and the work they did at the time of the interview. Comparison of the nature of marital relationships of the cases was based on the men's own statements. The chapter explores various aspects of social contacts of the ex-felons to persons other than family members. Those that did not discriminate between the two groups of ex-felons were: marital status of contacts; sources of contacts; major social activities; and knowledge of criminal record by friends or associates. The three aspects of social contacts which were significant were the following: having friends; exposure to criminal influences; and organizational membership.