NCJ Number
38915
Date Published
1972
Length
192 pages
Annotation
THIS RESEARCH USED BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE TRAINING OF MILITARY PERSONNEL AS ONE MEANS OF PROMOTING PLANNED, POSITIVE CHANGE WITHIN THE NAVAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
Abstract
IT FOCUSED PRIMARILY UPON MEMBERS OF THE U.S. MARINE CORPS ASSIGNED TO THREE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES OF THE 11TH NAVAL DISTRICT. A TEAM OF BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE CONSULTANTS CONDUCTED TWO IDENTICAL, EXPERIMENTAL COURSES FOR MILITARY CORRECTIONAL STAFFS. THE PROGRAM CONSISTED OF FORTY-EIGHT HOURS OF GROUP TRAINING EXPERIENCE DEVELOPED AROUND TWELVE LEARNING MODULES OF FOUR HOURS EACH. THE MAJORITY OF THE 60 PARTICIPANTS WERE NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS, BUT RANGED IN MILITARY RANK FROM PRIVATE FIRST CLASS TO LIEUTENANT. THE TRAINEES ALSO COMPLETED (BEFORE THE INSTITUTE) THREE DIFFERENT RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS FOR A PRE-ANALYSIS OF THEIR ATTITUDES AND OPINIONS. AFTER THE COURSE, THEY COMPLETED POST-FORMS OF THESE DATA-GATHERING DEVICES. THE APPROACH USED IN THE CLASSROOM WAS ACTION LEARNING, INVOLVING MAXIMUM PARTICIPATION BY THE TRAINEES THROUGH GROUP PROCESS. IN ADDITION TO A VAREITY OF AUDIO-VISUAL AIDS AND SHORT LECTURES, THE METHODOLOGY OF THE INSTITUTE INCLUDED: VIDEOTAPE, CASE STUDIES, ROLE PLAYING, INVENTORIES, SIMULATION GAMES, COMMUNICATIONS LABORATORY, AND A WORKBOOK FOR EACH PARTICIPANT. THE MAJOR TOPICAL THEME WAS UNDERSTANDING HUMAN BEHAVIOR, AND RANGED FROM DEVIANT TO GROUP BEHAVIOR. SKILL TRAINING IN COMMUNICATIONS, CONFLICT RESOLUTION, INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS, AND LEADERSHIP WERE INCLUDED. THE RESEARCH DATA INDICATED A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN ATTITUDE BY THE TRAINEES TOWARD CORRECTIONAL CONCEPTS IN THE DIRECTION OF MORE POSITIVE EVALUATION (PERSON-CENTERED AND REHABILITATIVE IN CONNOTATION), AND A DECREASE IN THEIR ADHERENCE TO MORE PUNITIVE, CUSTODIAL CONCEPTS. THE PARTICIPANTS DEMONSTRATED A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE DIRECTION OF A MORE HUMANISTIC ORIENTATION, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME SHOWING NO COMPARABLE MODIFICATION IN THEIR NORMATIVE STANDARDS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)...ELW