Existentialist Approach to Penal and Mental Treatment (From Israel Studies in Criminology, V 7, P 157-171, 1984, S Gloria Shoham, ed. - See NCJ-104759)

• NCJ Number: 104766
• Author(s): S G Shoham
• Date Published: 1984
• Length: 15 pages
• Sale Source: Sheridan House Inc
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

An existentialist approach to the treatment of inmates focuses on inmates' internal attitudes rather than on their attitudes toward their external environment and other people and may be effective in helping offenders cope with the stigmatizing labels and other pressures that appear to hamper rehabilitation efforts.

Abstract

Penal treatment has traditionally tried to change the attitude of inmates toward the objective surroundings and has generally neglected the internal environment of the inmate. In contrast, the existentialist approach focuses on this internal environment. It deals with clarifying the individual's purpose in the existing world and possible modes of creativity and revelation. Inmate treatment based on this approach would assess and support prisoners' inner sense of being, relate this sense of being to external threats, help them find ways to conduct themselves authentically even in dire physical conditions, and to help them cope with the stifling and stigmatizing pressures from others on leaving the prison. A proposed pilot project in Israel using this approach would involve a core group of 10 ex-offenders who had not been convicted for 3 years. They would function as treatment agents for newly released prisoners. Treatment would last for 1 year and followup for another 2 years. Evaluation of the pilot effort would take place at the end of 5 years. 9 references.