NCJ Number
60705
Journal
Professional Psychology Dated: (JUNE 1979) Pages: 307-317
Date Published
1979
Length
11 pages
Annotation
A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST ARGUES THAT PSYCHOTHERAPY IN MEDIUM AND HIGH SECURITY PRISONS DOES NOT AND CANNOT WORK AND THEREFORE SHOULD NOT BE PRACTICED IN THE CURRENT PRISON SYSTEM.
Abstract
EVALUATIONS OF PRISONS' PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS MUST REST ON THEIR EFFECTS ON RECIDIVISM RATES. LITERATURE ON THERAPY PROGRAMS INDICATES THAT EVEN UNDER OPTIMAL CONDITIONS, THERAPY MAY HAVE LITTLE OR NO EFFECT. LITERATURE ON PRISON THERAPY IS INCONCLUSIVE AND SUFFERS FROM METHODOLOGICAL WEAKNESS. USE IN PRISONS OF BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION THERAPIES, BUT NOT INSIGHT-ORIENTED THERAPY, HAS BEEN CHALLENGED IN COURT. NECESSARY CONDITIONS FOR EFFECTIVE INSIGHT-ORIENTED THERAPY ARE TRUST, CONFIDENTIALITY, AND VOLUNTARINESS OF THE INTRINSIC MOTIVATION FOR CHANGE. NONE OF THESE CONDITIONS IS POSSIBLE IN THE CURRENT PRISON SYSTEM. THE INSIGHT-ORIENTED THERAPIES MAY THEREFORE BE AS UNSUITABLE TO THE PRISON EVIRONMENT AS THE COURTS HAVE ALREADY RULED THE BEHAVIOR THERAPIES TO BE. FURTHER, PRISONS ARE STILL FAILING TO PERMIT THE CONDITIONS NECESSARY FOR EFFECTIVE PSYCHOTHERAPY. MOREOVER, THE PRACTICE OF PRISON PSYCHOTHERAPY IS PROBABLY A VIOLATION OF THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION'S ETHICAL STANDARDS. IN ADDITION, THE ENTIRE REHABILITATION MODEL ON WHICH PRISON THERAPY IS BASED MAY BE INCONSISTENT WITH CURRENT KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HUMAN BEHAVIOR. POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES INCLUDE SKILL DEVELOPMENT WITH JOB PLACEMENT, FIXED SENTENCING TO PERMIT PSYCHOTHERAPY FREE OF CONTINGENCIES, TRAINING IN EFFECTIVE INTERPERSONAL SKILLS, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES TO EX-OFFENDERS. FURTHER RESEARCH ON THERAPY, CONDITIONS NECESSARY FOR ITS EFFECTIVENESS, CLARIFICATION OF ITS OVERALL GOALS, AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS IS RECOMMENDED. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.