Organizational Control and Treatment Program Design as Dimensions of Institutionalization in Settings for Juvenile Offenders

• NCJ Number: 107608
• Journal: American Journal of Community Psychology Volume: 15 Issue: 3 Dated: (June 1987) Pages: 321-336
• Author(s): E P Mulvey; J A Linney; M S Rosenberg
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 16 pages
• Grant Number(s): MH15201-04
• Sponsoring Agency: National Acad of Sciences; National Institute of Mental Health
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Based on a presentation entitled Institutionalization and Community-Based Services: Not Necessarily Exclusive Constructs given at the American Psychological Association Convention in Anaheim, Calif., in 1983.

Annotation

The relationship between organizational control and normalization in treatment program design was examined in 30 community-based settings for juvenile offenders.

Abstract

Although these two dimensions were hypothesized to be converging indicators of the institutionality of a setting, the findings indicated that they are only marginally related. More hierarchical models of decisionmaking were not associated with more depersonalized, isolating programming, and involvement of residents and line staff in decisionmaking did not covary with autonomy and personalization in programming. The results are discussed as evidence that institutionality is a multidimensional construct, and that future investigations must distinguish between organizational decisionmaking and characteristics of treatment program design when assessing the institutional quality of residential service settings. (Author abstract)