PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS - BASIC ELEMENTS OF THE THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY

• NCJ Number: 68187
• Journal: CUARDERNOS PANAMENOS DE CRIMINOLOGIA Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1973) Pages: 27-68
• Author(s): F VALLARINO
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 38 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Country: Panama
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN LA ESTRELLA DE PANAMA, JULY 1973

Annotation

THE CONCEPT OF A THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY FOR THE TREATMENT OF MENTALLY ILL OFFENDERS IN A CORRECTIONAL ENVIRONMENT TOTALLY ORIENTED TOWARD INMATE REHABILITATION IS ILLUSTRATED WITH TWO EXAMPLES TAKEN FROM ENGLAND.

Abstract

THE STUDY BEGINS WITH A LOOK AT VARIOUS FORMS OF TREATMENT OF MENTALLY ILL OFFENDERS IN CORRECTIONAL ENVIRONMENTS (E.G., GROUP THERAPY) AND INTRODUCES AND EXPLORES THE CONCEPT OF A THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY WHICH RESULTED FROM A COMBINATION OF VARIOUS THERAPEUTIC PHILOSOPHIES, ALL BASED ON REHABILITATION. LOOKING AT ENGLAND AS A PIONEER IN PROGRESSIVE PENOLOGY, THIS STUDY DESCRIBES THE LEGISLATIVE ANTECEDENTS OF PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT OF MENTALLY ILL OFFENDERS IN THAT COUNTRY AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE DISCIPLINE OF FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY. TWO ENGLISH THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITIES OPERATED ALONG THE LINES ADVOCATED BY THIS ARTICLE ARE THEN DESCRIBED, GRENDON UNDERWOOD FOR THE CRIMINALLY INSANE AND HENDERSON HOSPITAL, WHERE DEFECTIVE, VIOLENT, AND HABITUAL DELINQUENTS ARE GIVEN A TYPE OF MILIEU, OR HOLISTIC, THERAPY, WHICH INCLUDES WORK, RECREATION, PHYSICAL FITNESS PROGRAMS, EDUCATION, AND INTENSIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT (ESPECIALLY GROUP THERAPY). THE INMATES OF THE TWO INSTITUTIONS ARE CHOSEN WITH SIMILAR CRITERIA, EXCEPT THAT HENDERSON HOSPITAL IS COEDUCATIONAL AND DOES NOT TREAT OFFENDERS WHO HAVE COMMITTED HOMICIDES. CORRECTIONAL OFFICIALS ARE EXPECTED TO PERFORM THE DUAL FUNCTION OF CUSTODIANS AND THERAPISTS. THE FACILITIES OF BOTH INSTITUTIONS INCLUDE INDIVIDUAL ROOMS THAT HAVE BARRED WINDOWS, BUT ARE OTHERWISE ATTRACTIVELY FURNISHED AND HAVE A VIEW OF THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE. HENDERSON HOSPITAL ALLOWS GREATER SCOPE FOR SELF-EXPRESSION AND HAS FEWER RULES THAN GRENDON UNDERWOOD, BUT BOTH THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITIES ENCOURAGE INMATE SELF-GOVERNMENT AND GAINFUL, REALISTIC WORK, AS WELL AS VARIOUS FORMS OF ARTISTIC AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY AIMED AT PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT. BOTH INSTITUTIONS ARE SMALL (APPROXIMATELY 350 AND 30-40 PATIENTS RESPECTIVELY) AND THEIR CASES ARE USUALLY REFERRED BY OTHER CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS. THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN GIVEN ONLY FOR HENDERSON HOSPITAL AND ARE DEFINED AS SATISFACTORY. A BIBLIOGRAPHY, CONSISTING CHIEFLY OF ENGLISH AND AMERICAN CITIES, IS APPENDED. --IN SPANISH.