CONSULTATION IN A PRISON ENVIRONMENT

• NCJ Number: 63836
• Journal: Journal of Offender Counseling, Services and Rehabilitation Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Dated: (FALL 1979) Pages: 19-31
• Author(s): E HURWITZ; J MENACKER; W W WELDON
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 13 pages
• Corporate Author: Haworth Press, Inc
• Sale Source: Haworth Press, Inc
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRICE QUOTED IS FOR FOUR-VOLUME SET SPECIAL PRICES FOR INSTITUTIONS

Annotation

A CONSULTATION PROGRAM DEVELOPED FOR A PRIVATE EDUCATIONAL PROJECT AT THE COOK COUNTY, ILL. JAIL AIMS AT A CONSTRUCTIVE ATMOSPHERE CONDUCIVE TO FORMING POSITIVE SELF-CONCEPTS AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS.

Abstract

THE PACE (PROGRAMMED ACTIVITIES FOR CORRECTIONAL EDUCATION) INSTITUTE IS A PRIVATE, NONPROFIT CORPORATION SUPPORTED BY BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDS. ITS PURPOSE IS TO REHABILITATE PRISONERS THROUGH A PROGRAM THAT INTEGRATES ACADEMIC AND VOCATIONAL INSTRUCTION, COUNSELING, SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, AND POSTRELEASE EDUCATIONAL AND EMPLOYMENT PLACEMENT. PACE INSTITUTE RECOGNIZES THAT ATTITUDINAL CHANGE IS PARAMOUNT IF INMATES ARE TO BREAK OUT OF THE BEHAVIOR CYCLE THAT HAVE CAUSED THEM TO BECOME INCARCERATED. A DIAGNOSIS OF THE INSTITUTE'S NEEDS REVEALED THAT THE CONSULTATION PROJECT SHOULD AIM AT IMPROVING INMATE SELF-CONCEPTS BY PRESENTING ATTRACTIVE IMAGES OF POSSIBLE NEW ROLES AND BY PROVIDING LEARNING ACTIVITIES THROUGH WHICH INMATES EXPERIENCE SUBSTANTIAL BEHAVIOR CHANGES. THE CONSULTATION MODEL WAS AN INSTRUCTIONAL MODELING-PRACTICE-PARTICIPATION FORMAT BASED ON THE WASHINGTON, D.C., LIFT PROGRAM. PROCEDURES INCLUDED BRIEF EXPLANATIONS OF SELF-DEVELOPMENT CONCEPTS, SKILLS MODELING, AND PARTICIPANT PRACTICE OF SKILLS. THE PROGRAM HAS THREE PREMISES: (1) ALL PERSONS HAVE POSITIVE VALUES AND THE STRENGTHS TO REALIZE THESE VALUES IN WAYS THAT ARE BENEFICIAL TO BOTH THE INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIETY; (2) VALUES CAN BE REALIZED AND STRENGTHS DEVELOPED THROUGH A PROGAM OF FACILITATOR MODELING AND STUDENT PRACTICE; AND (3) POSITIVE SELF-CONCEPTS ARE BEST FACILITATED WHEN PARTICIPANTS ARE ALLOWED TO PROVE TO THEMSELVES THAT THEY CAN LEARN AND USE A VARIETY OF INTERPERSONAL AND SELF-DEVELOPMENT SKILLS. FIVE TOPICS WERE CHOSEN FOR THE SELF-DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM: COMMUNICATION, PLANNING, CHOICE, CONFLICT MANAGEMENT, AND COOPERATION. A LONGITUDINAL EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM IS RECOMMENDED, AND PROCEDURES ARE BEING CONSIDERED TO IMPLEMENT ONE. REFERENCE ARE INCLUDED. (PRG)