LANTANA - A STATE PRISON...A THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY

• NCJ Number: 66754
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 16 pages
• Corporate Author: Project Connection Macro Systems, Inc/NASADAD
• Sale Source: Project Connection Macro Systems, Inc/NASADAD
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PROJECT CONNECTION - BEST STRATEGY, STRATEGY NO 5

Annotation

THIS NEWSLETTER DESCRIBES THE EVOLUTION OF A THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY IN THE LANTANA CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION, FLORIDA, AND ITS OBJECTIVE OF PROVIDING A POSITIVE LIVING EXPERIENCE FOR DRUG ABUSE OFFENDERS.

Abstract

LANTANA RESIDENTS (ALL MALES) ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY FOR RELEARNING AND PERSONAL GROWTH, AND CAN CHOOSE FROM DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WHILE SOCIETY, IS IN TURN, PROTECTED FROM POSSIBLE FURTHER CRIMINAL ACTIVITY BY ADDICTED OFFENDERS. ADDITIONAL PROGRAM OBJECTIVES INCLUDE CREATING AN ORIENTATION, TRAINING, AND EVALUATION SYSTEM AND ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES AND GUIDELINES FOR THE TREATMENT PROGRAM. THESE OBJECTIVES BENEFIT THE DRUG-ABUSING OFFENDER BY ENHANCING HIS POSSIBILITY OF LIVING A NORMAL AND PRODUCTIVE LIFE, THE COMMUNITY BY DECREASING CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT COSTS, AND THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS BY FREEING CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS TO PROVIDE A MORE POSITIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT. TREATMENT AT LANTANA IS BASED ON THE SYNANON FOUNDATION MODEL, A PRIVATE CALIFORNIA ORGANIZATION OPERATED BY EX-ADDICTS. THE MODEL ASSUMES THAT IN ORDER TO DEVELOP COPING SKILLS, THE DRUG ABUSER MUST BE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO LEARN CONSTRUCTIVE EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL RESPONSES BY ASSUMING INCREASING DECISIONMAKING RESPONSIBILITY. STAFF ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT ENCOURAGE AN OPEN PROBLEMSOLVING APPROACH, AND ADMISSION PRIORITY IS GIVEN TO DRUG ABUSERS UNDER 27 WHO ARE FIRST OFFENDERS. INMATE PARTICIPATION IS ENCOURAGED AT KEY DECISION POINTS. SPACE ALLOCATION IS BASED ON COOPERATION AND RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR. STUDIES OF THE PROGRAM SHOW THAT THIS ENVIRONMENT IS CONDUCIVE TO POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL CHANGE, DECREASES VIOLENT TENDENCIES, AND OFFERS A MULTIFACETED TREATMENT PROGRAM PERMITTING PERSONAL GROWTH. REPLICABILITY DEPENDS UPON COMMUNITY SUPPORT, MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE AND PROCEDURES, STAFF SELECTION, SPACE ALLOCATION, EVALUATION, CONTROL OVER SELECTION AND RELEASE OF INMATES, AND A WELL PLANNED STARTUP PROGRAM. TABLES AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (AOP)