NCJ Number
41001
Journal
New England Journal on Prison Law Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: (FALL 1974) Pages: 155-166
Date Published
1975
Length
12 pages
Annotation
THIS DESCRIPTION OF THE USE OF TOKEN ECONOMIES AND FORMALIZED POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT PROGRAMS IN FEDERAL CORRECTIONS HIGHLIGHTS THE START (SPECIAL TREATMENT AND REHABILITATIVE TRAINING) PROGRAM.
Abstract
DEVELOPED AT THE MEDICAL CENTER FOR FEDERAL PRISONERS, SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI, DURING OCTOBER 1972, START WAS AN ATTEMPT TO PROVIDE A MORE EFFECTIVE APPROACH FOR DEALING WITH A SMALL GROUP OF OFFENDERS WHOSE CONDUCT TOWARDS BOTH STAFF AND OTHER INMATES WAS CONTINUALLY SO HIGHLY AGGRESSIVE AND ASSAULTIVE THAT THEY COULD NOT BE KEPT IN THE GENERAL POPULATION. A STRATIFICATION SYSTEM INVOLVING SEVERAL LEVELS (EACH WITH ITS OWN PRIVILEGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES) WAS DEVISED. AS AN OFFENDER REACHED A HIGHER LEVEL, HE RECEIVED ADDITIONAL PRIVILEGES NOT AVAILABLE AT THE LOWER LEVEL. THE REQUIREMENT FOR PROMOTION UP THROUGH THESE LEVELS WAS CONSISTENT DISPLAY OF CONTROL OVER AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR. ONCE THIS CONTROL HAD BEEN DEMONSTRATED, THE OFFENDER WAS RETURNED TO A REGULAR INSTITUTION PROGRAM. DURING THE 16-MONTH DURATION OF THE PROGRAM, 99 OFFENDERS WERE CONSIDERED FOR PLACEMENT, WITH A TOTAL OF 19 ACTUALLY PARTICIPATING. OF THESE, 10 SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE PROGRAM. THE DECISION TO TERMINATE THE START PROGRAM WAS MADE ON THE BASIS OF THE SMALL NUMBER OF INMATES WHO MET THE CRITERIA DEVELOPED FOR THE PROGRAM. PLANS FOR OTHER BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PROGRAMS ARE DISCUSSED BRIEFLY.....ELW