NCJ Number
59648
Date Published
1979
Length
295 pages
Annotation
AFTER STUDYING CURRENT DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES, THIS VOLUME REPORTS THAT BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION CAN BE AN EFFECTIVE AND ETHICAL APPROACH TO REHABILITATION AND MANAGEMENT, AS SHOWN IN TWO CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS.
Abstract
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM CAN LEARN FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF THE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSION IN TRYING TO CHANGE DEVIANT BEHAVIOR. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE TRADITIONAL RELIANCE ON THE MEDICAL MODEL IN TREATING DEVIANT INDIVIDUALS HAS BEEN INEFFECTIVE, WHEN APPLIED TO DELINQUENTS AND CRIMINALS. THEREFORE, EVEN THOUGH THIS APPROACH HAS PAVED THE WAY FOR A PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENT APPROACH (AS OPPOSED TO A STRICTLY PUNITIVE APPROACH) TO CRIME AND DELINQUENCY, A NEW APPROACH IS NEEDED. THE BEHAVIORAL MODEL VIEWS DEVIANT BEHAVIOR AS BEING LEARNED AND OPEN TO CHANGE THROUGH CONDITIONING AND TRAINING. ALTHOUGH THIS APPROACH HAS ONLY RECENTLY BEEN APPLIED TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, ITS CONSIDERABLE SUCCESS IN HEALTH-RELATED FIELDS AND WITH PREDELINQUENT YOUTHS AND JUVENILE OFFENDERS SUGGESTS THAT IT CAN BE SUCCESSFULLY USED WITH ADULT CRIMINALS. AN EXAMINATION OF THE PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES OF BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PROGRAMS WITH ADULT CRIMINALS DEVELOPS INTO A DETAILED EXAMINATION OF THE ETHICAL QUESTIONS WHICH HAVE ARISEN CONCERNING THIS TECHNIQUE. A DETAILED STUDY OF TWO BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PROGRAMS BEING CONDUCTED AT STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES IN ALABAMA AND GEORGIA IS DESCRIBED. RESULTS OF THESE TWO PROGRAMS FOUND THAT A TOKEN REWARD SYSTEM WAS NEEDED TO ENSURE PARTICIPATION AND A NEED EXISTED TO PROVIDE CONTINUING SUPPORT TO PARTICIPANTS WHEN THEY WERE RELEASED INTO THE COMMUNITY. CHARTS, TABLES, AUTHOR AND SUBJECT INDEXES, AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (KCP)