THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY ACT OF 1978 - HEARINGS BEFORE THE SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ON PENITENTIARIES AND CORRECTIONS, S3227, 95TH CONGRESS, 2ND SESSION, AUGUST 2, 3, 1978

• NCJ Number: 61066
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 317 pages
• Corporate Author: US Congress
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

SENATE HEARINGS EXAMINE A BILL TO AUTHORIZE ESTABLISHMENT OF THERAPEUTIC SELF-HELP COMMUNITIES IN FACILITIES RUN BY THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS.

Abstract

THE MOST SERIOUS CONCERN BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY WAS WHETHER THE THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY ACT OF 1978 PROVIDES ADEQUATE SAFEGUARDS TO MEET REQUIREMENTS FOR INFORMED CONSENT AND THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY, AND WHETHER REHABILITATION IS POSSIBLE IN A PRISON SETTING. THE SELP-HELP COMMUNITIES WOULD BE RUN BY A PSYCHOLOGICAL THERAPIST, STAFF, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WOULD TAKE PART IN GROUP OR ENCOUNTER THERAPY, TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSES, OR GESTALT THERAPY. EXPERIENCE OF THERAPEUTIC SELF-HELP TO DATE IN SUCH SITUATIONS HAS BEEN MIXED; THEREFORE THE COMMITTEE EXAMINED THE ISSUES OF INFORMED CONSENT, SELECTION CRITERIA, GUIDELINES, EVALUATION, AND DEGREE OF VOLUNTARINESS POSSIBLE IN A PRISON SETTING. TESTIMONY AND PREPARED STATEMENTS WERE GIVEN BY WARDENS, ADMINISTRATORS OF TREATMENT PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITIES, PSYCHOLOGISTS, LEGAL SERVICES OFFICIALS, AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS. THE TEXT OF THE BILL AND ADDITIONAL MATERIALS SUBMITTED BY HEARING PARTICIPANTS ARE INCLUDED. (RFC)