NCJ Number
57258
Date Published
1978
Length
110 pages
Annotation
A PILOT SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAM AT SAN QUENTIN PRISON, CALIF., TREATED 45 INMATES AND TRAINED STAFF MEMBERS TO ACT AS COUNSELORS. INMATE SESSIONS PROVED BENEFICIAL BUT GUARDS WERE RELUCTANT TO TAKE THE COUNSELOR TRAINING.
Abstract
DURING ITS FIRST YEAR THE PROGRAM ASSIGNED 45 VOLUNTEER INMATES TO ONE OF THREE WEEKLY GROUP THERAPY SESSIONS CONDUCTED BY TRAINED COUNSELORS. IN ADDITION, 20 INMATES SERVED AS CONTROLS, TAKING THE PRE AND POSTTESTS BUT NOT ATTENDING THE SESSION. ATTENDANCE WAS GOOD, THE SESSIONS RECEIVED HIGH RATINGS ON THE EVALUATION FORMS, AND TAPE RECORDINGS MADE DURING THE MEETINGS SHOWS THAT THE INMATES IMPROVED IN THEIR ABILITY TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES, TO RELATE TO OTHERS, AND TO SOLVE PROBLEMS. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS ALSO SHOWED SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS. THE STAFF TRAINING PROGRAMS HAD PROBLEMS. ONLY FIVE GUARDS AGREED TO TAKE THE PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS, THE REST FEARING THEY WOULD IMPACT NEGATIVELY ON THEIR PERSONNEL RECORDS. ATTENDANCE AT TRAINING SESSIONS WAS SPORADIC (AVERAGING ABOUT 25). SESSION EVALUATIONS WERE GENERALLY NEUTRAL. ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF QUESTIONNAIRES SHOWED THE PROGRAM HAD MODERATE SUPPORT. DURING ITS SECOND YEAR THE PROGRAM SHOULD EXPAND TO SERVE MORE INMATES AND MORE CONTROLS SHOULD BE RECRUITED. GUARDS AND OTHER STAFF MEMBERS NEED INCENTIVES TO TAKE THE COUNSELOR TRAINING. A GOOD PERSONNEL RATING, IMPROVED CHANCES FOR PROMOTION,AND STRONG TOP ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT WOULD ALL HELP STRENGTHEN THIS COMPONENT OF THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAM. THIS THOROUGH EVALUATION CONTAINS CHARTS, STATISTICS, COPIES OF THE EVALUATION, INSTRUMENTS, AND METHODOLOGY DATA. (GLR)