NCJ Number
214900
Journal
Howard Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 45 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2006 Pages: 116-128
Date Published
May 2006
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This article presents results from a series of focus groups exploring therapeutic effectiveness, specifically psychological change in residents of a prison therapeutic community (TC).
Abstract
Results from this exploratory study found that the focus group format was a productive research method. Research found that positive psychological change was evident in the residents of Dovegate Therapeutic Community (TC). Two significant change events were identified: aspects of the unknown and openness to receive help. Utilizing 4 focus groups with 27 residents at Her Majesty’s Prison, Dovegate’s TC, this study attempted to gain a person-centered perspective of therapeutic/psychological change. TCs are used within the United Kingdom prison system with the aim of rehabilitating offenders. TCs are therapeutic environments that have the features of an informal atmosphere, regular meetings, resident participation in running the community, and residents as auxiliary therapists. TCs are expected to demonstrate and understand change in their residents. References