NCJ Number
53909
Journal
Humanist Volume: 38 Issue: 5 Dated: (SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1978) Pages: 16-19
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE OUTCOMES OF A PROJECT INVOLVING THE INDEPTH STUDY AND TREATMENT OF 255 HABITUAL OFFENDERS AT A FEDERAL MENTAL HOSPITAL ARE REVIEWED.
Abstract
THE STUDY TOOK PLACE AT SAINT ELIZABETH'S HOSPITAL, A BRANCH OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH, AND INVOLVED INPATIENTS OF THE HOSPITAL'S FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY DIVISION AS WELL AS OFFENDERS REFERRED FROM THE COURTS AND COMMUNITY AGENCIES. PARTICIPANTS INCLUDED BLACKS AND WHITES, DROPOUTS AND COLLEGE GRADUATES, AND PEOPLE FROM A VARIETY OF FAMILY BACKGROUNDS. NEARLY EVERY CATEGORY OF CRIMINAL OFFENSE WAS REPRESENTED. THE EARLY FOCUS OF THE PROJECT WAS A SEARCH FOR THE CAUSES OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. RESEARCHERS SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE PARTICIPANTS WERE USING THEIR NEW PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL INSIGHTS TO COMMIT MORE SOPHISTICATED CRIMES AND/OR TO EXPLAIN AWAY THEIR BEHAVIOR. IT BECAME EVIDENT THAT NO FACTOR OR SET OF FACTORS IN THE PARTICIPANTS' BACKGROUNDS WAS CAUSATIVE OF CRIME. IT ALSO BECAME CLEAR THAT NONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS WAS ACTUALLY MENTALLY ILL AND THAT ALL HAD EXHIBITED CERTAIN PERSONALITY AND BEHAVIOR TRAITS FROM AN EARLY AGE, REGARDLESS OF BACKGROUND. THE RESEARCHERS STOPPED SEARCHING FOR CAUSES AND BEGAN TO LOOK AT THE OFFENDERS AS THEY WERE. A PROFILE OF THE HARD-CORE CRIMINAL, BASED ON AN ANALYSIS OF 52 THINKING PATTERNS SHARED BY THE PARTICIPANTS, EMERGED. IT WAS FOUND THAT ALL OF THE CRIMINALS WERE HABITUAL LIARS; EXPERIENCED ANGER AS A WAY OF LIFE; FAILED TO PUT THEMSELVES IN THE PLACE OF OTHERS, (EXCEPT+ WHEN PLANNING A CRIME); HAD NO UNDERSTANDING OF RESPONSIBLE DECISIONMAKING, HAVING PREJUDGED MOST SITUATIONS; REGARDED THE WORLD AS THEIR OYSTER AND OTHER PEOPLE AS PAWNS; AND FELT NO OBLIGATION TO ANYONE. USING THESE AND OTHER OBSERVATIONS, THE RESEARCHERS DEVELOPED A NEW TREATMENT APPROACH, ONE IN WHICH PROJECT STAFF MEMBERS LOOK UPON THEMSELVES AS CHANGE AGENTS--EDUCATORS RATHER THAN PSYCHOTHERAPISTS. THE INITIAL TREATMENT CONTACT WITH THE PARTICIPANT IS MADE AT A POINT OF EXTREME FAILURE (E.G., AN UNSUCCESSFUL CRIME). AN EFFORT IS MADE TO INTENSIFY WHATEVER SELF-DISGUST THE OFFENDER IS FEELING AT THE TIME. THE EMPHASIS OF TREATMENT IS ON TEACHING THE OFFENDER THE THINKING PATTERNS REQUIRED TO LIVE RESPONSIBLY. THE OFFENDER IS URGED TO ACCEPT FEAR AS A NECESSARY GUIDE TO RESPONSIBLE LIVING AND TO FEEL MORE GUILTY RATHER THAN LESS GUILTY. THE OFFENDER IS TREATED NOT AS A VICTIM BUT AS A PERSON WITH THE CAPACITY TO CHOOSE. THE APPROACH HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL ONLY WITH A MINORITY OF HARD-CORE CRIMINALS, BUT IT DOES OFFER A PATH FOR HELPING THOSE WHO WANT TO BE HELPED. THE STUDY FINDINGS AND TREATMENT APPROACH ARE AT ODDS WITH CONVENTIONAL IDEAS ABOUT CRIME AND CRIMINALS, AND PROJECT STAFF ARE CRITICAL OF THE PROCEDURES THAT HAVE GROWN OUT OF THOSE IDEAS. (LKM)