USING SOCIAL ISOLATION TO CHANGE THE BEHAVIOUR OF DISRUPTIVE INMATES

• NCJ Number: 30212
• Journal: International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 19 Issue: 1 Dated: (1975) Pages: 90-99
• Author(s): P SUEDFELD; C ROY
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: Assoc for Psychiatric Treatment of Offenders
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

DISCUSSION OF AN EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM WHICH USED SOLITARY CONFINEMENT AND SENSORY DEPRIVATION TO MODIFY THE ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR OF PROBLEM INMATES.

Abstract

THIS EXPERIMENT TOOK PLACE IN SEPTEMBER 1972 AT THE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTRE (WESTERN), AN INSTITUTION RUN BY THE CANADIAN PENITENTIARY SERVICE. THIS ARTICLE PRESENTS CASE HISTORIES OF FOUR INMATES SENTENCED TO SOLITARY CONFINEMENT FOR 30 DAYS FOR DISCIPLINARY REASONS AND DISCUSSES THE RESULTS OF THIS TREATMENT WHICH USED PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL REINFORCEMENT FOR POSITIVE CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR. FOLLOW-UP DATA ON INMATES AFTER DISCHARGE FROM THE INSTITUTION IS ALSO INCLUDED. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT ISOLATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL MONOTONY, COUPLED WITH A SERIES OF RELIEF-PRODUCING EVENTS, APPEAR TO HAVE HAD GOOD SHORT-TERM EFFECTS IN THESE FOUR CASES.