IN PLACE OF SKID ROW - THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF THE RATHCOOLE EXPERIMENT, MAY 1966 - MAY 1969

• NCJ Number: 17168
• Author(s): T COOK; B POLLACK
• Date Published: 1970
• Length: 16 pages
• Corporate Author: National Assoc for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO)
• Sale Source: National Assoc for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO); National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT OF THIS RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION CENTER FOR ALCOHOLICS.

Abstract

THE ORIGINAL AIM OF RATHCOOLE HOUSE WAS TO PROVIDE A HOMELIKE, NONINSTITUTIONAL SETTING FOR MALE HABITUAL DRUNKENNESS OFFENDERS. IN THE FIRST YEAR THE MEN WERE HELPED BY LITTLE OTHER THAN SIMPLE SUPPORTIVE MEASURES, BUT THESE SEEMED TO PRODUCE ONLY VERY LIMITED SUCCESS. DURING THE SECOND YEAR, A THERAPUTIC COMMUNITY PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED, WHICH WAS CONTINUED IN THE THIRD YEAR OF OPERATIONS. AMONG THE PROGRAM AREAS DISCUSSED ARE THE ADMISSION POLICY, THE CRITERIA OF SELECTION, THE DISCHARGE POLICY, GROUP INVOLVEMENT, AND THE ROLES OF THE WARDEN, PSYCHIATRIST, GENERAL PRACTITIONER, AND THE PROGRAM COMMITTEE. ALSO EXAMINED ARE THE PROGRAM STAFFING, SOCIAL DATA ON THE MEN AND THEIR LENGTH OF STAY, AND THE OCCUPANCY RATE. A BRIEF DISCUSSION OF SOME OF THE FOURTH YEAR DEVELOPMENTS AT RATHCOOLE HOUSE IS INCLUDED AS WELL.