NCJ Number
146944
Journal
Journal for Juvenile Justice and Detention Services Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Dated: (Fall 1993) Pages: 63-66
Date Published
1993
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes and assesses a behavioral management system used in the Escambia Regional Juvenile Detention Center (ERJDC), a secure facility in Pensacola, Fla., to reduce inmate disruptive behavior.
Abstract
The behavioral management system rewards positive behavior and consequences for undesirable behavior. Privileges are given for positive behavior and may be taken away for negative behavior. The program has operated for over 2 years, and residents' behavior has improved significantly during this period. Most workers, administrators, and mental health counselors say that the detention population is not nearly as disruptive as before the program began. Both subjective and objective measures indicate the program has been successful. Room confinements have dropped from 1,099 in 1990 to 544 in 1992. This is a 51-percent reduction. Inmate allegations of abuse by detention staff have been reduced by 70 percent. Considering that ERJDC deals with serious and often violent offenders, disruption has been kept to a minimum under the behavioral management system. 2 tables