NCJ Number
68597
Journal
Monatsschrift fuer Kriminologie und Strafrechtsreform Volume: 62 Issue: 6 Dated: (DECEMBER 1979) Pages: 338-347
Date Published
1979
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE HISTORY, SELECTION CRITERIA, TREATMENT METHODS, AND TREATMENT SUCCESS AT THE SOCIAL-THERAPEUTIC FACILITY OF A BERLIN PRISON (WEST GERMANY) ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
IN 1970, THE FIRST SOCIAL-THERAPEUTIC INSTITUTION WITH A CAPACITY OF 30 CLIENTS WAS OPENED IN THE ADULT CORRECTIONAL FACILITY TEGEL. CANDIDATES ELIGIBLE FOR TREATMENT HAD TO BE BETWEEN 25 AND 30 YEARS, OF AVERAGE INTELLIGENCE, AND SERVING TERMS OF UP TO 3 YEARS. THEY ALSO HAD TO BE WILLING TO BE TREATED AND FULFILL PARTICULAR SOCIAL SELECTION CRITERIA. THE METHODS EMPLOYED IN THE TREATMENT OF DEVIANCY CONSISTED OF (1) INDIVIDUAL THERAPY, (2) THERAPY IN SMALL GROUPS, (3) THERAPY IN LARGE GROUPS, (4) DAILY CONTACTS WITH FELLOW OFFENDERS AT THE TREATMENT FACILITY, (5) CONTACTS WITH 'ORDINARY' INMATES AT WORK, (6) OUTSIDE CONTACTS WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AND (7) THERAPY FOR RELEASED PRISONERS OR PRISONERS ON TEMPORARY LEAVE AT A CENTER OUTSIDE THE PRISON. SINCE 1974, TWO DIFFERENT TREATMENT APPROACHES (ONE DIRECTIVE, THE OTHER NON-DIRECTIVE) HAVE BEEN USED IN TWO FACILITIES WITH A CAPACITY OF 32 PATIENTS EACH. PRESENTLY, AN AVERAGE OF 120 OFFENDERS IS ACCEPTED EACH YEAR, AND THE AVERAGE TIME OF TREATMENT IS 20.2 MONTHS (7.7 OF WHICH ARE SPENT AT LIBERTY). ABOUT 80 PRISONERS ARE RELEASED FROM THE SOCIOTHERAPEUTIC FACILITY EACH YEAR AFTER HAVING COMPLETED THEIR TERM. ANOTHER 40 PATIENTS ARE RETURNED TO THE ORDINARY FACILITY BECAUSE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUG ABUSE. A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF ABUSE OF CORRECTIONAL PRIVILEGES INDICATES THAT VIOLATION OF HOLIDAY OR TEMPORARY LEAVE PERMITS ARE MUCH RARER IN THE TREATMENT FACILITY THAN IN THE ORDINARY PRISON AND THE TREND IS TOWARD EVEN LOWER RATES. THE ARTICLE INCLUDES STATISTICAL RESULTS IN CHART FORM. --IN GERMAN.