NCJ Number
198084
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 64 Issue: 7 Dated: December 2002 Pages: 22-24
Editor(s)
Susan L. Clayton M.S.
Date Published
December 2002
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article briefly examines the use of cognitive-behavioral interventions or the swiftness and certainty of behavior therapy and the belief restructuring of cognitive therapy in community corrections supervision as an effective framework for the implementation of sanctions.
Abstract
The mission of most community corrections programs is to protect the community from offenders committing further crimes and promote rehabilitation. Revocation and incarceration should be reserved only for those who re-offend or have violated their supervision contracts in a pattern that indicates that they are an immediate threat to public safety. Offenders should choose to obey the law, even when they are no longer supervised. Effective intermediate sanctions can be difficult to develop and enforce. This article discusses a cognitive-behavioral framework for sanction implementation. Sanctions that are delivered swiftly increase change in the desired direction more so than those delivered long after the incident occurs. Sanctions that are guaranteed to be delivered are more likely to produce the desired change than sanctions that are inconsistent or delayed. Cognitive-behavioral interventions imply a combination of swiftness and certainty of behavior therapy and the belief restructuring of cognitive therapy. Swiftness in corrections means no dickering, no negotiations, and no deals. If an offender violates his/her probation, punishment should be severe enough that the offenders will not like it, but not so severe that they do not spend time thinking about what they did wrong. There will be less blaming of everyone else and feeling victimized by the system for their own wrongdoing.