NCJ Number
223992
Journal
Aggression and Violent Behavior: A Review Journal Volume: 13 Issue: 3 Dated: June-July 2008 Pages: 195-200
Date Published
June 2008
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This paper examines the concept of forgiveness in therapies used for offender rehabilitation.
Abstract
This paper suggests that the effectiveness of many offender rehabilitation programs may be further enhanced by the inclusion of interventions that build on existing motivation to change. Taking the example of anger management interventions delivered within the context of violent offender rehabilitation, it is proposed that the emphasis on positive personal change implicit in therapies designed to promote forgiveness may hold some promise. The article suggests that such therapies may be useful in so far as they facilitate the development of perspective-taking skills, and assist in the therapeutic management of shame and guilt in ways that are likely to be engaging for violent offenders. These interventions for angry and violent offenders apparently have not been implemented as yet on a wide scale, but the work notes that terminological and semantic discomfort could deter violent offenders from participating in a program in which terms such as “forgiveness,” “compassion,” “kindness,” and “love for others” are commonly used. It is concluded that while the ideas presented require empirical validation, that forgiveness is a concept that appears to be amenable to change through treatment, is likely to be personally meaningful to violent offenders, and has the potential to improve the effectiveness of violent offender treatment programs. Table and references