THE CONTRADICTORY GOALS OF REHABILITATION AND PUNISHMENT PLAY A DEFINITE, ALTHOUGH AMBIGUOUS ROLE IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS WITHIN THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITIES OF INMATES.
THE THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY WITH ITS AIM OF A DECENTRALIZED DECISION-MAKING STRUCTURE AND ITS EMPHASIS UPON CONSENSUS WAS IMPLEMENTED WITHIN A CUSTODIAL COMPLEX CHARACTERIZED BY A CENTRALIZED DECISION-MAKING STRUCTURE WHERE DECISIONS ARE HANDED DOWN FROM THE HIGHEST AUTHORITY IN THE SYSTEM TO THE SUBORDINATES. THE THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY IN THIS PRISON SETTING IS THUS FACED WITH CONFLICTING ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS WHICH SET DOWN CONTRADICTORY CRITERIA FOR ITS DECISION-MAKING STRUCTURE. EVIDENCE POINTS TO AN ATTEMPT TO ACCOMMODATE THESE CONTRADICTORY CRITERIA. THE ACCOMMODATIONS TAKE THE FORM OF DECENTRALIZING THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS BY GIVING SOME AUTHORITY TO GUARDS IN THE THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY, WHO, IN TURN, STRIVE TO LET DECISIONS BE REACHED (IN AREAS WHERE THEY ARE EMPOWERED TO DECIDE) THROUGH A CONSENSUS OF GUARDS AND INMATES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) --SUMMARY IN FRENCH