NCJ Number
165592
Date Published
1996
Length
16 pages
Annotation
New York's shock incarceration program for juvenile and adult offenders is a 6-month discipline and treatment oriented activity in which eligible inmates have the opportunity to develop life skills.
Abstract
The program includes rigorous physical activity, work, intensive regimentation and discipline, instruction in military bearing, courtesy, drills, physical exercise, community living skills, a structured work program, intense substance abuse and alcohol counseling, and structured educational programming to the high school equivalency level. Major program components that distinguish New York's shock incarceration program from similar programs elsewhere in the United States involve its foundation on a therapeutic community approach known as Network and its strong emphasis on substance abuse treatment. The underlying basis of the Network philosophy is control theory. Within the Network therapeutic community, practitioners emphasize substance abuse treatment due to the documented drug and alcohol abuse histories of most program participants. New York's shock incarceration program helps participants internalize positive, prosocial values designed to raise their self-esteem. Inmates participate in structured activity designed to prepare them for successful reintegration into society. In addition, inmates are involved with parole staff from the beginning of their participation in shock incarceration and are closely supervised by parole officers on release. 24 references and 1 table