NCJ Number
79291
Journal
DELIKT EN DELINKWENT Volume: 8 Issue: 5 Dated: (1978) Pages: 306-313
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
The author discusses the problems of psychologically disturbed offenders placed in Dutch treatment institutions to protect society.
Abstract
The primary problem is that treatment is actually a secondary goal of such placement, and motivating involuntarily placed individuals may be a difficult, if not impossible task. Experiments indicate that institutionalized offenders can be motivated to become involved in therapy initially through money reward systems or simply through a therapeutic relationship which inspires liking, respect, and trust. It is a challenge to group leaders, creative therapists, and social workers to inspire the trust of patients. Thus, by limiting the freedom of movement of patients in order to protect society, institutional staff is given the opportunity if not to 'treat' patients, then at least to move patients' behavior in a desirable direction. However, placement without a fixed time limit contributes little or nothing to patients' behavior modification and may even have a negative influence. A maximum period of 6 years is thus recommended as the absolute length of stay. Notes are supplied.