NCJ Number
230598
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 37 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2010 Pages: 656-677
Date Published
June 2010
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This article examines the rehabilitation efforts of individuals with acquired brain injury or diagnosed schizophrenia to provide behavioral treatment strategies with potential to enhance offender rehabilitation.
Abstract
Many correctional services have dedicated considerable effort toward offender rehabilitation programs that aim to reduce recidivism. During the past three decades, cognitive-skills-based programs have been the foundational remediation offered within correctional facilities. These programs appear to reduce recidivism in the range of 10 percent. One potential for further reductions is to address deficits in offenders' executive cognitive functioning (ECF), a constellation of abilities that includes planning, inhibition, and thought flexibility. The documented ECF deficits of offenders resemble the deficits experienced by individuals with acquired brain injury or diagnosed with schizophrenia. The body of literature addressing rehabilitation efforts of these two distinct populations provides innovative and empirically supported behavioral treatment strategies that may enrich current offender rehabilitation. Recommendations for assessment and rehabilitation of ECF deficits are discussed. References (Published Abstract)