NCJ Number
126247
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 34 Issue: 2 Dated: (September 1990) Pages: 155-164
Date Published
1990
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Nearly 11 million Americans were caught shoplifting in 1980. Approximately 6 percent of gross retail sales in the U.S. and Canada goes to cover the cost of shoplifting prevention efforts and losses.
Abstract
Recent research suggests that psychosocial stressors contribute heavily to shoplifting behavior, and that brief individual and group psychological treatments have the potential to reduce recidivism and promote rehabilitation. This article describes in detail a six-session psychoeducational group treatment which is built around the notion of precipitating stressors. The structured program "walks" each participant through the specifics of the incident which resulted in their arrest -- including stressors, rationalizations, and consequences. The treatment program, implemented by masters' level counselors, consciously utilizes commonly recognized group forces. Referring judges have been well satisfied with the program, which has been used routinely with convicted first offense shoplifters since 1982. Probation officers estimate that to date, only 5 percent of shoplifters who have participated in the program since 1982 have been re-arrested in the county for shoplifting. 1 figure and 21 references. (Author abstract)