NCJ Number
54923
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
A COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER GROUP DESIGNED TO DEAL WITH THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS INPATIENTS HAVE HAD IN ENCOUNTERS WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND SOCIETY'S REACTION TO SUCH ENCOUNTERS IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE 'SOCIAL CONFLICT GROUP' WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE MULTIPLE GROUP PROGRAM OF THE HILL-WEST HAVEN INPATIENT AND DAY HOSPITAL UNIT, IN THE CONNECTICUT MENTAL HEALTH CENTER OF YALE-NEW HAVEN HOSPITAL, NEW HAVEN, CONN. THE GROUP MEETS WEEKLY AND OPERATES WITH AN ADAPTED 'CONSCIOUSNESS-RAISING' FORMAT, WITH GROUP LEADERS PARTICIPATING AS MEMBERS. THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE GROUP IS TO DEFINE AND UNDERSTAND BETTER THE ORIGINS AND THE NATURE OF CURRENT OR RECENT SOCIOLEGAL CONFLICTS EXPERIENCED BY THE MEMBERS. AT THE MEETINGS, EACH MEMBER IS INVITED TO SPEAK TO THE WEEK'S TOPIC FOR UP TO 5 MINUTES, WHICH IS FOLLOWED BY GENERAL DISCUSSION, WITH THE MEETING ENDING WITH THE SELECTION OF THE TOPIC FOR THE FOLLOWING WEEK'S MEETING. TOPICS THUS FAR CHOSEN BY THE GROUP INCLUDE DEALING WITH AUTHORITY AND AUTHORITY FIGURES, HOW LEGAL PROBLEMS CONFLICT WITH EMPLOYMENT, FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, AND GUILT. THE THEME OF SOCIAL REJECTION IS FOUND IN MANY OF THE TOPICS. THE GROUP'S EFFORTS HAVE SETTLED INTO TWO ASPECTS OF THE PROBLEM OF DEVIANCE: THE PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE INDIVIDUAL WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO BEHAVIOR PRECIPITATING LEGAL CONSEQUENCES AND PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH BEING STEREOTYPED, LABELED, OR BLAMED. OVER THE COURSE OF THE GROUP'S OPERATION, A GENERAL NORM HAS EMERGED WHICH FOCUSES ON THE NATURE, CONSEQUENCES, AND STYLE OF COPING WITH ASPECTS OF LEGAL CONFLICTS. IN ADDITION, THE GROUP GENERATES SOME INSIGHT INTO INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WHICH HAVE POTENTIAL APPLICATION TO PSYCHIATRIC FORENSIC EVALUATION. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (RCB)