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ANALYSIS OF THE USE OF ECONOMIC INCENTIVES IN CRIMINAL REHABILITATION

NCJ Number
15295
Author(s)
V L WILLIAMS
Date Published
1972
Length
306 pages
Annotation
A REVIEW OF BEHAVIORAL AND ECONOMIC PRINCIPLES RELATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOKEN ECONOMY TECHNIQUE, WITH AN ALTERNATIVE REHABILITATIVE MODEL WHICH INCORPORATES THE PRINCIPLE OF SELF-INTEREST AND TOKEN ECONOMY THEORY.
Abstract
THE BASIS OF ECONOMIC INCENTIVES IN CLASSICAL CAPITALISM AND TWENTIETH CENTURY EXPLANATIONS OF ECONOMIC MOTIVATION ARE FIRST DISCUSSED. THE PRINCIPLES AND ORIGINS OF THE TOKEN ECONOMY AS A SYSTEM FOR TREATMENT ARE THEN REVIEWED. IN A TOKEN ECONOMY, ECONOMIC INCENTIVES, SUCH AS THE ABILITY TO 'PURCHASE' DESIRED GOODS OR SERVICES ARE GIVEN TO POSITIVELY REINFORCE DESIRABLE BEHAVIORS WITHIN THE PRISON SYSTEM SUCH AS STUDYING, CLEANING THE LIVING ROOM, OR NOT USING FOUL LANGUAGE. THE AUTHOR STATES THAT ECONOMIC INCENTIVES DO HAVE A ROLE IN THE REHABILITATION OF CRIMINALS, ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT KNOWN IF THIS TECHNIQUE CAN BRING ABOUT PERMANENT BEHAVIOR CHANGE. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE TOKEN ECONOMY TECHNIQUE BE INSTITUTED ON A LARGE SCALE SINCE IT DOES CHANGE THE CORRECTIONAL ROLE TO A HELPING RATHER THAN PUNITIVE ROLE. HOWEVER, TO ACHIEVE LARGE SCALE IMPLEMENTATION, THE AUTHOR URGES THAT INMATES BE ALLOWED TO USE THE ACCUMULATION OF TOKENS TO PURCHASE AN EARLIER PAROLE INSTEAD OF USING THEM TO PURCHASE CONSUMER GOODS. ALSO, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE USE OF TOKEN ECONOMIES NOT BE PROMOTED AS A TREATMENT TECHNIQUE IN ITSELF, BUT AS AN EFFICIENT MOTIVATIONAL SYSTEM. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)