NCJ Number
62622
Date Published
1979
Length
44 pages
Annotation
A PLAN OF EXPANSION FOR A THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY CONCEPT OPERATIVE IN THE VIRGINIA CORRECTIONS SYSTEM IS PROPOSED, AND AN EVALUATION DESIGN IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE HOUSE OF THOUGHT (HOT) WAS BEGUN IN 1974 AS A DRUG ABUSE REHABILITATION AND PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR SELECTED INMATES, PATTERNED AFTER THE ASKLEPIEION MODEL OF A THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY WHERE GUIDED INTERACTION BETWEEN RESIDENTS (USING TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES) AND RESIDENT JOB COMMITMENTS WITHIN THE PROGRAM ARE INTENDED TO LEAD TO POSITIVE ATTITUDINAL AND BEHAVIORAL CHANGES. AFTER 1976, THE PROGRAM, WHICH HAS A CAPACITY FOR 25 RESIDENTS, WAS OPENED TO TYPES OF OFFENDERS OTHER THAN SUBSTANCE ABUSERS. PARTICIPANTS ARE SELECTED FROM REFERRALS, PARTICIPATION IN ASSOCIATE PROGRAMS IN OTHER INSTITUTIONS, AND DIRECT INMATE REQUESTS. PARTICIPANTS ARE SELECTED ON THE BASIS OF STAFF AND RESIDENT JUDGMENTS ABOUT MOTIVES FOR PARTICIPATION AND THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE APPLICANT WILL BE HELPED BY THE PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM WAS EVALUATED IN JUNE, 1976, AND AGAIN IN MARCH, 1977, USING A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN THAT EMPLOYED A NONEQUIVALENT CONTROL GROUP TO MEASURE ATTITUDINAL CHANGE. EVALUATION RESULTS WERE FAVORABLE. IN 1978, A PROPOSAL TO EXPAND HOT TO A CAPACITY FOR 87 RESIDENTS, ALONG WITH IMPROVEMENT IN ASSOCIATE PROGRAMS, WAS DEVELOPED. THIS CHANGE WOULD INVOLVE MOVING HOT FROM THE JAMES RIVER FACILITY TO THE NORTH HOUSING UNIT AT THE POWHATAN CORRECTIONAL CENTER. THE PROPOSED EVALUATION DESIGN FOR THE EXPANDED PROGRAM WOULD BE THE SAME AS THAT USED IN THE PREVIOUS EVALUATION, WITH THE INCLUSION OF BEHAVIORAL CHANGES OVER TIME AFTER DISCHARGE FROM THE PROGRAM. THE DATA REQUIRED FOR EVALUATION CAN BE OBTAINED FROM EXISTING RECORD FORMATS. THE APPENDIX LISTS JOB RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT TEAM OF HOT AND PROVIDES A SAMPLE RESIDENT CONTRACT FOR PERSONAL CHANGE. (RCB)