NCJ Number
52530
Date Published
1978
Length
14 pages
Annotation
EXAMPLES OF CLASSIFICATION AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE FOR ACTION AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE PROVIDED.
Abstract
RESULTS FROM THE USE OF SEMANTIC REORGANIZATION THERAPY IN GEORGIA'S MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON ARE REPORTED. THIS PROJECT AIMS AT CHANGING SILENT OR UNCONSCIOUS SPEECH PATTERNS THAT INFLUENCE BEHAVIOR AND JUDGEMENTS. AFTER 7 YEARS, A RECIDIVISM RATE OF ONLY 8 PERCENT IS REPORTED. RESULTS ARE ALSO REPORTED FROM A JUVENILE COURT PROJECT IN ALBANY, GA., WHICH USES VOLUNTEERS, LITERACY TRAINING, SEMANTIC REORGANIZATION THERARPY, AND A HARMONIZED DIAGNOSTIC, CLASSIFICATION, AND PROGRESS EVALUATION SYSTEM WITH JUVENILE DELINQUENTS AND THEIR PARENTS. A REDUCTION IN THE RATE OF DELINQUENT RECIDIVISM FROM 71 TO 29 PERCENT IS REPORTED, ALONG WITH A REDUCTION IN FIRST OFFENSES. THE 24-MONTH RESULT OF USING SEMANTIC REORGANIZATION THERAPY, VOLUNTEERS, HARMONIZED DIAGNOSIS, CLASSIFICATION, AND PROGRESS EVALUATION PLUS PREVENTIVE INSTRUCTION AT THE UNITED STATES MARINE BASE AT ALBANY, GA., INVOLVES THE USE OF MANDATORY CONFINEMENT, PLUS TREATMENT GUIDED BY DIAGNOSIS AND CLASSIFICATION IN REDUCING ALCOHOLIC ADDICTIONS. A DROP IN ARRESTS FOR PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS FROM 42,000 PER YEAR BEFORE THE PROJECT TO 20,000 PER YEAR FOLLOWING THE PROJECT IS REPORTED. CLASSIFICATON PROCEDURES USED FOR THE PROJECT ARE DESCRIBED, AND SAMPLES OF THE FORMS USED ARE PROVIDED. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT DRUG ABUSE CAN BE HANDLED AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL BY INSTITUTING A SIMILAR PROGRAM OF CLASSIFICATION AND TREATMENT. (RCB)