CRIMINAL THERAPY INSIDE AND OUTSIDE PRISON

• NCJ Number: 57229
• Journal: International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 22 Issue: 3 Dated: (1978) Pages: 201-209
• Author(s): D VONENGELHARDT
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A FORM OF REALITY THERAPY PROVIDED OFFENDERS DURING AND AFTER THEIR INCARCERATION AT A REMAND CENTER IN HEIDELBERG, WEST GERMANY, IS DESCRIBED.

Abstract

THE HEIDELBERG PROGRAM, KNOWN AS CRIMINAL PEDAGOGIC THERAPY, IS DIRECTED TO OFFENDERS WHO HAVE BEEN INCARCERATED FOR RELATIVELY SHORT PERIODS FOR A VARIETY OF OFFENSES. THE PROGRAM COMBINES GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL THERAPY AND EMPHASIZES POSTRELEASE FOLLOWUP. DURING INCARCERATION, OFFENDERS ARE CONFRONTED WITH THEIR OWN CRIMINALITY, WITH THE LINK BETWEEN THEIR PRESENT SITUATION AND THEIR PAST ACTIVITIES, AND WITH THEIR OPTIONS FOR IMPROVING THEIR PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE. THROUGHOUT TREATMENT, OFFENDERS' ATTENTION IS DRAWN TO THE TIME WHEN THEY WILL RETURN TO THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEIR DELINQUENT LIFESTYLES DEVELOPED. THERAPISTS VISIT OFFENDERS' FAMILIES IN THEIR HOMES AND ACCOMPANY THEM ON THEIR VISITS TO PRISON. A SPECIAL EFFORT IS MADE TO MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH OFFENDERS AFTER THEY ARE RELEASED, PARTICULARLY AT TIMES OF CRISIS. THERAPISTS ATTEMPT TO DEVELOP PERSONAL, REALISTIC, CONSTRUCTIVELY CRITICAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH OFFENDERS. THEIR PHILOSOPHY IS THAT THERAPY SHOULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE HUMANITY OF IMPRISONMENT AS WELL AS TO THE REDUCTION OF CRIMINALITY. THE FOLLOWING CONCLUSIONS ABOUT OFFENDER THERAPY ARE DRAWN FROM THE HEIDELBERG EXPERIENCE: (1) OFFENDERS SHOULD BE HELPED TO FACE REALITY; (2) PSYCHOTHERAPISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS SHOULD COOPERATE; (3) IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THERAPY CONTINUE ON A ONE-TO-ONE BASIS AFTER RELEASE; (4) INFORMAL CONTACTS BETWEEN THERAPISTS AND OFFENDERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT TAKE PLACE IN THE OFFENDER'S MILIEU, ARE IMPORTANT; (5) THERAPISTS SHOULD REMEMBER THAT DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR CAN INVOLVE PLEASURE (ADVENTURE, VITALITY, FREEDOM) FOR THE OFFENDER, AS WELL AS NEGATIVE FEELINGS; AND (6) THERAPY SHOULD BOTH CONTRIBUTE TO AND BENEFIT FROM CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH. (LKM)