NCJ Number
43388
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 41 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1977) Pages: 45-50
Date Published
1977
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER PROVIDES A REFORMULATION OF BEHAVIORAL APPROACHES FOR JUVENILES & DESCRIBES A PROGRAM BASED ON THIS REFORMULATION, IN WHICH THE FOCUS IS ON THE CONTROL FUNCTIONS OF BEHAVIOR AND NOT ON BEHAVIOR PER SE.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR DEFINES DELINQUENT ACTS AS ATTEMPTS BY JUVENILES AT SELF-ASSERTION AND CONTROL OVER THE ENVIRONMENT. IT IS NOT THE NEED FOR CONTROL THAT MUST BE CHANGED TO HELP THE DELINQUENT, BUT RATHER THE APPROPRIATENESS AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THE TECHNIQUES USED BY THE DELINQUENT FOR ACHIEVING CONTROL. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT BEHAVIORAL PROGRAMS ARE EFFECTIVE WHEN THEY PROVIDE REALISTIC AND APPROPRIATE CONTROL CHOICES FOR THE YOUTH. A BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT PROGRAM BASED ON THIS PREMISE IS PRESENTED AND DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF GENERAL IMPLICATIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF EFFECTIVE BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT PROGRAMS. THE PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED WITH FOUR GRADUATED STAGES LABELED ROOKIE, REGULAR, VETERAN, AND ALUMNI. BEGINNING AT THE ROOKIE STAGE, THE JUVENILE COULD PROGRESS TO THE NEXT STEP BY SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING A WEEK OF MINIMALLY ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR. EACH STEP MEANS AN INCREASE IN PRIVILEGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. THE PROPOSED REFORMULATION OF BEHAVIORAL TECHNIQUES IS VIEWED AS A VERY HUMANE APPROACH TO TREATMENT, WHERE INDIVIDUAL CHOICE, PERSONAL GOALS, AND RESPONSIBLE ACTION ARE CRUCIAL.