NCJ Number
63995
Journal
Monatsschrift fuer Kriminologie und Strafrechtsreform Volume: 61 Issue: 3 Dated: (MAY 1978) Pages: 149-159
Date Published
1978
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THE RESULTS OF TWO WEST GERMAN INMATE MARRIAGE AND FAMILY WORKSHOPS ARE REPORTED.
Abstract
CONTRARY TO EARLIER WORKSHOPS, THE FIRST (9-DAY) WORKSHOP IN THE CITY OF MUENSTER INCLUDED CHILDREN AS WELL AS WIVES IN THE EFFORT TO ASSIST THE REHABILITATION PROCESS THROUGH IMPROVED FAMILY INTERACTION. THE WORKSHOP WAS OPEN TO ALL MARRIED CONVICTS WHO HAD OBTAINED PRISON LEAVE TO ATTEND THE MEETING. THE ORGANIZATION OF THE WORKSHOP WAS BASED ON THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT THE CORRECTIONAL PROCESS IMPOSES STRAINS ON PARTNERSHIPS, PRISON VISITS ARE INSUFFICIENT TO COPE WITH THIS STRAIN, AND THE RIGID PRISON REGULATIONS HAVE TOO LITTLE ROOM FOR PERSONAL GOALS AND ACTIVITIES. THE ORGANIZERS, WHO USED TECHNIQUES BY ROGERS, TAUSCH, AND MANDEL, DEFINED THEIR GOALS AS (1) IMPROVED PARTNER INTERACTION SO THAT THE PARTNERS CAN CLEARLY EXPRESS THEIR NEEDS AND ACCEPT THOSE OF OTHERS, (2) AN IMPROVED UNDERSTANDING OF THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT, (3) THE ABILITY TO DESIGN AND EVALUATE BEHAVIORAL ALTERNATIVES, AND (4) THE ABILITY FOR META-COMMUNICATION. SPECIAL EFFORT WAS MADE TO LEAVE ENOUGH ROOM FOR THE PARTNERS TO PRACTICE THEIR NEW TECHNIQUES IN PRIVATE. OF THE 15 COUPLES WHO HAD TAKEN PART IN THE ORIGINAL WORKSHOP, 8 COUPLES PARTICIPATED IN A 4-DAY FOLLOWUP WORKSHOP 1 YEAR LATER AND EVALUATED THEIR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE. OPINIONS RANGED BETWEEN 'GREAT' AND 'VERY GREAT' IN TERMS OF PERSONAL SATISFACTION, BETWEEN 'RATHER GREAT' AND 'VERY GREAT' IN TERMS OF SELF-IMPROVEMENT, AND BETWEEN 'STRONG' AND 'POSITIVE' IN TERMS OF THE CHANGES IT HAD BROUGHT ABOUT. THE ARTICLE CONTAINS A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND A LIST OF RESEARCH QUESTIONS CONCERNING MARRIAGE AND FAMILY WORKSHOPS. --IN GERMAN. (SAJ)