THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY IN AN OPEN WARD PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL AS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR INCARCERATION FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS

• NCJ Number: 50116
• Journal: Corrective and Social Psychiatry and Journal of Behavior Technology Methods and Therapy Volume: 24 Issue: 2 Dated: (1978) Pages: 51-55
• Author(s): C V MARTIN; J D RASH
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: Martin Psychiatric Research Foundation, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

FOLLOWING A DISCUSSION OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL CAUSES OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND A SURVEY OF VARIOUS TREATMENT TECHNIQUES WHICH HAVE BEEN FOUND EFFECTIVE, THE MID-CONTINENT PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL IS DESCRIBED.

Abstract

THE MID-CONTINENT PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL WAS SET UP AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO INCARCERATION IN THE STATE TRAINING SCHOOLS IN MISSOURI. IT IS A 40-BED FREE-STANDING HOSPITAL WHICH REMOVES THE OFFENDER FROM THE SOCIAL CLIMATE IN WHICH THE DELINQUENCY TOOK PLACE AND USES A VARIETY OF TREATMENT TECHNIQUES TO HELP CHANGE PERSONALITY AND BEHAVIOR PATTERNS. IT IS BASED ON THE PHILOSOPHY THAT DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR IS LEARNED BEHAVIOR. JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IS CALLED THE RESULT OF A SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR IS ACCEPTED PLUS PERSONALITY TRAITS WHICH FIND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AN ACCEPTABLE MEANS TO REACH A GOAL. THE LITERATURE SEARCH CONDUCTED TO FIND APPROPRIATE THERAPY TECHNIQUES FOR THE MID-CONTINENT PROGRAM IS DESCRIBED. A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EACH TECHNIQUE SURVEYED IS GIVEN AND ITS SUITABILITY FOR INCLUSION IN AN OPEN-WARD PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL IS DISCUSSED. THE FINAL MID-CONTINENT PROGRAM COMBINED GROUP THERAPY ON A DAILY BASIS WITH CONFRONTATION THERAPY AND SUPPORTIVE INDIVIDUAL THERAPY. IN ADDITION, A STRONG REMEDIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM WAS DEVELOPED. A MODIFIED TOKEN ECONOMY ALSO WAS STARTED TO HELP THE OFFENDERS INTERNALIZE THE EXTERNAL CONTROLS OF THE HOSPITAL. DURING THE PILOT PROJECT PERIOD (1972-1974) A 2-YEAR FOLLOWUP STUDY OF 20 BOYS FROM 1 COUNTY WAS CONDUCTED. AT THE END OF THE 2 YEARS, ONLY 3 OF THE 20 HAD BEEN REARRESTED FOR A RECIDIVISM RATE OF 15 PERCENT. RECIDIVISM FOR THE MISSOURI STATE TRAINING SCHOOLS RUNS BETWEEN 50 AND 80 PERCENT. A PROGRAM SIMILAR TO THE MID-CONTINENT HOSPITAL IS RECOMMENDED FOR SCHOOL DROPOUTS, DELINQUENTS, AND OTHER NONMOTIVATED JUVENILES. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS APPENDED. (GLR)