INTERPERSONAL MATURITY LEVEL CLASSIFICATION - THE CREATION OF A CONUNDRUM

• NCJ Number: 34163
• Journal: JOURNAL OF FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY Volume: 7 Dated: (DECEMBER 1975) Pages: 39-52
• Author(s): J P BRECKENRIDGE
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 14 pages
• Corporate Author: International Acad of Forensic Psychology
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

THE AUTHOR ATTEMPTS TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THE INTERPERSONAL MATURITY LEVEL CLASSIFICATION (I-LEVEL) METHOD HAS RACIST AND CLASSIST BIASES WHICH CAST GRAVE DOUBT ON ITS VALIDITY AS A TOOL FOR REHABILITATIVE TREATMENT.

Abstract

THE DEVELOPMENT OF I-LEVEL CLASSIFICATION, AND ITS USE BY THE CALIFORNIA YOUTH AUTHORITY ARE DESCRIBED. I-LEVEL CLASSIFICATION IS SAID TO BE USED AS A MANAGEMENT TOOL FOR THE SUBJUGATION OF A CLASS OF PEOPLE UNDER THE PREMISE OF ENFORCING THE LAW AND PROVIDING REHABILITATIVE TREATMENT. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE I-LEVEL PROGRAM IS RACIST IN THAT IT USED THE DOMINANT WHITE LANGUAGE TO CATEGORIZE MINORITY GROUPS THAT, FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, SPEAK A SEPARATE LANGUAGE. IT IS ALSO SAID THAT THE STATISTICS PUBLISHED BY THE CALIFORNIA YOUTH AUTHORITY REVEAL THAT NO LONG-TERM REHABILITATIVE EFFECTS ARE PROVABLE WITH THE USE OF I-LEVEL. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)