NCJ Number
30097
Journal
ZEITSCHRIFT FUER STRAFVOLLZUG UND STRAFFAELLIGENHILFE Volume: 24 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1975) Pages: 41-49
Date Published
1975
Length
9 pages
Annotation
CONDUCTED IN EBRACH, WEST GERMANY, THIS STUDY EMPHASIZES THE PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND SOCIAL THERAPEUTIC VALUE OF SPORTS PROGRAMS FOR INMATES, ESPECIALLY JUVENILES.
Abstract
TWENTY JUVENILE INMATES IN A REHABILITATION FACILITY WHO WERE VERY ACTIVE IN SPORTS OVER A 12-MONTH PERIOD WERE COMPARED TO 20 INMATES WHO HAD NOT PARTICIPATED IN SPORTS PROGRAMS. THOSE WHO HAD PARTICIPATED SHOWED IMPROVED SELF-CONFIDENCE, MORE ENERGY AND OVERALL ACTIVITY, MORE OPTIMISM, GREATER EMOTIONAL STABILITY, A HIGHER DEGREE OF CLEANLINESS, AND INCREASED INTEREST IN PERSONAL UPKEEP. IN GENERAL, IT WAS DEMONSTRATED THAT SPORTS CAN BE USED TO MODIFY BEHAVIOR BY PROVIDING A POSITIVE RELEASE OF AGGRESSION. IN THE 'PLAY ATMOSPHERE' OF SPORTS, INMATES' SPONTANEOUS REACTIONS PERMIT THEIR PERSONALITY PROBLEMS TO BE ASSESSED MORE EASILY AND TRUTHFULLY, AND A PARTNERLIKE RELATIONSHIP OCCURS BETWEEN THE INMATES AND THE THERAPISTS, WHO ARE ALSO THE SPORTS INSTRUCTORS. IN ADDITION, THESE PROGRAMS ENCOURAGE COMMUNICATION AND COOPERATION BETWEEN INMATES AND BETWEEN INMATES AND CUSTODIAL PERSONNEL, WHICH EVENTUALLY AIDS IN RESOCIALIZATION. NOT ALL SPORTS ARE CONDUCIVE TO REHABILIATION; E.G., BODILY CONTACT SPORTS SUCH AS SOCCER PROMOTE VIOLENT ACTIVITY. BASKETBALL, PINGPONG, HANDBALL, SWIMMING, AND VOLLEYBALL ARE RECOMMENDED, AND ALONG WITH WEIGHTLIFTING ARE EXCELLENT FOR IMPROVING SELF-IMAGE. CONTROLLED COMPETITION AND COOPERATION IN A PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT THUS PRODUCE SOLIDARITY AMONG INMATES, INSTRUCTORS, AND GUARDS; ENHANCES SELF-CONFIDENCE AND SELF-MOTIVATION; AND PREPARES INMATES FOR SOCIAL REHABILITATION. --IN GERMAN. (GWC)