NCJ Number
55201
Journal
Corrections Magazine Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1979) Pages: 18-28
Date Published
1979
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THE PROGRAM OF A PRIVATE, PROFIT-MAKING THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY FOR HARD-CORE DELINQUENTS AND TROUBLED YOUTH WHO HAVE NOT BEEN HELPED IN OTHER PROGRAMS IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
ELAN IS AN ISOLATED THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY LOCATED IN AN AREA OF WOODS NEAR POLAND SPRINGS, MAINE. IT IS A PROFIT-MAKING VENTURE ($40 A DAY PER RESIDENT) BEGUN AND STILL OPERATED BY AN EX-DRUG ADDICT, JOE RICCI, AND A BOSTON PSYCHIATRIST, GERALD DAVIDSON. THE PROGRAM OF ELAN AIMS AT CHANGING THE IMPULSIVE AND SELF-DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR BELIEVED TO BE THE BASIC MALADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS OF THOSE REFERRED TO ELAN. THIS IS DONE BY REGIMENTING THE BEHAVIOR OF THE RESIDENTS IN WORK ASSIGNMENTS PERFORMED UNDER THE STRICT SUPERVISION OF PEERS AND STAFF. FAILURE TO PERFORM WORK AND RESISTANT ATTITUDES ARE STRONGLY ATTACKED IN INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP ENCOUNTERS. AS RESIDENTS GROW IN THEIR ABILITY TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY, THEY ARE GIVEN SUPERVISORY POSITIONS IN WORK ASSIGNMENTS. REGULAR GROUP MEETINGS BECOME OCCASIONS FOR RELEASING INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP HOSTILITY IN VERBAL FORM. RESIDENTS ARE FREQUENTLY REQUIRED TO WEAR COSTUMES THAT ARE JUDGED BY THE GROUP TO REFLECT THEIR PERSONALITIES AND BEHAVIOR (DUNCE CAP, CAESAR OUTFIT, ETC.). PUNISHMENT CAN BE SEVERE (SPANKING, STANDING IN A CORNER FOR DAYS AT A TIME, HAVING TO BOX A SERIES OF OPPONENTS), BUT THESE ARE RARE OCCURENCES RESERVED FOR THE MOST RESISTANT CASES. STATE AGENCIES FROM ILLINOIS AND MASSACHUSETTS, STATES THAT HAVE RESIDENTS REPRESENTED, HAVE VISITED ELAN AND CRITICIZED THE PROGRAM FOR SOME OF ITS APPARENTLY HARSH, INSENSITIVE PRACTICES. OTHER CRITICS SEE THE DANGER OF A CLOSED CULT DEVELOPING AFTER THE RECENT PATTERN OF SYNANON AND PEOPLE'S TEMPLE. ELAN MEETS THESE CRITICISMS BY CITING ITS OPENNESS TO INSPECTION AND FREQUENT VISITATION BY OUTSIDE OBSERVERS AND ITS DEPENDENCE ON OUTSIDE MONEY SOURCES AS MEANS OF CURBING EXCESSES OR POSSIBLE DEPARTURES FROM PRESENT PHILOSOPHIES. ELAN ITSELF ACKNOWLEDGES ITS WEAKNESS IN THE AREA OF AFTERCARE, AS THERE IS VERY LITTLE STRUCTURED SUPERVISION OR CONTACT WITH RELEASED RESIDENTS. INDIVIDUAL SUCCESS EFFORTS ARE DESCRIBED.