NCJ Number
52062
Date Published
1977
Length
14 pages
Annotation
THE GOALS OF SOCIAL THERAPEUTIC INSTITUTIONS ARE IDENTIFIED ALONG WITH WAYS IN WHICH THESE GOALS CAN BE REALIZED IN THE PRACTICAL ORGANIZATION OF AN INSTITUTION.
Abstract
CONTRARY TO CONVENTIONAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES, THE CENTRAL AIMS OF THERAPEUTIC FACILITIES ARE THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE OFFENDERS' BEHAVIORAL STRATEGIES (TACTICS OF SELF-ASSERTION AND PERSUASION), AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE OFFENDERS' SOCIAL POSSIBILITIES (EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING). TO ACHIEVE SUCH GOALS, THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF AN INSTITUTION SHOULD AIM AT PREVENTING THE CONVENTIONAL ATMOSPHERE OF RESTRICTIONS AND OF ANTAGONISM BETWEEN PERSONNEL AND PRISONERS. CONCRETE EFFORTS WOULD INCLUDE (1) THE REDUCTION OF CLIENT RESTRICTIONS (E.G. OPEN CELL DOORS DURING DAYTIME, VISITS TO RELATIVES, CIVILIAN CLOTHING), (2) A CHANGE IN THE CUSTODIAL ROLES (ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF GUARDS IN THE THERAPEUTIC PROCESS), AND (3) THE ELIMINATION OF THE COMMUNICATION BARRIER BETWEEN PERSONNEL AND PATIENTS (E.G. COLLABORATION IN PROBLEM SOLVING GROUPS, ASSEMBLIES INVOLVING ALL MEMBERS OF THE INSTITUTION). BESIDES AVOIDING THE PITFALLS OF CONVENTIONAL PRISONS, THE ORGANIZATION SHOULD ACTIVELY PUT SOCIOTHERAPEUTIC CONCEPTS INTO ACTION, SUCH AS THE CREATION OF AN ATMOSPHERE CONGENIAL TO THERAPY (E.G. POSSIBILITY OF THE CLIENTS TAKING PART IN THE TASKS OF THE COMMUNITY, CREATION OF SMALL PROBLEM SOLVING GROUPS), OR CLIENT PARTICIPATION IN THE PLANNING OF THE THERAPY. FINALLY, FACILITIES NEED THE SUPPORT OF EXTERNAL SUPERVISORY AGENCIES TO COPE WITH THE INEVITABLE PROBLEMS AND CONFLICTS INHERENT IN THE NEW STRUCTURE. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. --IN GERMAN. (SAJ)