Some Things Do Work: Psychological Interventions with Offenders and the Effectiveness Debate (From Psychology and Law: International Perspectives, P 163-174, 1992, Friedrich Losel, Doris Bender, et al., eds. -- See NCJ-148224)

• NCJ Number: 148235
• Author(s): J McGuire; P Priestley
• Date Published: 1992
• Length: 12 pages
• Sale Source: Walter de Gruyter & Co
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: Germany (Unified)

Annotation

Many studies have been conducted to determine what psychological interventions are effective with offenders, and study conclusions concerning the possibility of behavior change and rehabilitation can have a significant impact on how offenders are dealt with and what opportunities they receive.

Abstract

Some studies accept the "nothing works" doctrine, while others report more positive outcomes in terms of reoffending rates. Research with offenders in prison and on probation in the United Kingdom indicates that courses run by specially trained prison and probation staff to address survival and interpersonal problems are valuable. Additional research reports positive results of offense-focused work, particularly the effectiveness of social skills training, relaxation and desensitization methods, alcohol abuse treatment, techniques that reduce aggressiveness, and cognitive-behavioral approaches. The importance of focusing on the offense to reduce recidivism is emphasized. In the United Kingdom, increasing reliance is being placed on punishment as the central mechanism for changing offenders. 60 references, 1 table, and 3 figures