NCJ Number
49418
Date Published
1971
Length
300 pages
Annotation
AN ORGANIZATIONAL PERSPECTIVE IS EMPLOYED IN AN EXPLORATORY, DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF THE PROVISION OF OUTPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES TO PAROLEES IN CALIFORNIA.
Abstract
THE STUDY FOCUSES ON THE EXPERIENCES AND CONCERNS OF THREE PERSONNEL GROUPS -- PAROLE OUTPATIENT CLINIC THERAPISTS, PAROLE AGENTS, AND THE PAROLEE-PATIENTS THEMSELVES -- CONCERNED PRIMARILY WITH IMPLEMENTING SERVICES AND WITH DETERMINING THE CLIENT'S CAREER AS PAROLEE-PATIENT. THE OUTPATIENT THERAPIST'S FUNCTIONS IN A SETTING IN WHICH CONTROL OF BEHAVIOR IS A MAJOR ORGANIZATIONAL EMPHASIS AND PATIENT INTAKE AND DISPOSITION ARE DECIDED BY A LAY BOARD ARE EXPLORED, AS ARE THE EXPERIENCES OF THE PAROLE AGENT WHO IS REQUIRED TO SHARE CASE RESPONSIBILITY WITH OTHER PROFESSIONALS. THE PROBLEMS POSED FOR PAROLEE-PATIENTS BY DUAL LABELING AND DUAL IMPLEMENTATION OF SERVICES ARE EXPLORED, AS ARE WAYS IN WHICH PAROLEE-PATIENTS ADJUST TO THESE PROBLEMS. THE STUDY REFLECTS INTERVIEWS WITH PROFESSIONAL STAFF AND PAROLEES AT CLINICS AND CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. STUDY FINDINGS POINT TO MAJOR ORGANIZATIONAL CONSTRAINTS ON THE PROVISION OF PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES TO PAROLEES. CLINIC THERAPISTS WERE FOUND TO HAVE LITTLE AUTONOMY IN NUMEROUS TREATMENT-RELEVANT DECISIONS AND NO CONTROL OVER ANY ENVIRONMENTAL OR ORGANIZATIONAL CONDITIONS THAT MIGHT SUPPORT TREATMENT. THE ORGANIZATIONAL MILIEU ALSO ESTABLISHES THE PAROLE AGENT'S ROLE VIS-A-VIS THE PAROLEE-PATIENT AND THE CLINIC. THE OVERALL EMPHASIS ON THE PAROLEE-PATIENT'S STATUS AS PAROLEE IS NOT LOST ON THE PAROLEE-PATIENT, WHO IS AWARE THAT HIS CRUCIAL ORGANIZATIONAL CAREER IS THAT OF PAROLEE AND THAT PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES MAY BE USED TO MEET ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS NOT NECESSARILY IN HIS BEST INTERESTS. IMPLICATIONS OF THESE AND OTHER FINDINGS ARE DISCUSSED. SUPPORTING DATA, STUDY INSTRUMENTS, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)