NCJ Number
175738
Journal
Social Work Research Volume: 22 Issue: 1 Dated: March 1998 Pages: 2-13
Date Published
1998
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study investigated environmental and behavioral risk factors as predictors of involvement in violent behavior among African American youths.
Abstract
A review of the literature shows that the major goal of correctional education should be the reintegration of the offender into society with a realization of moral values conducive to maintaining positive social interactions and the avoidance of crime and recidivism. Gehring (1993a:68) maintains that in order to meet these goals the correctional educator must be a thoughtful teacher, present a positive role model of positive behavior and culture, and exhibit a mature attitude toward life. All three methods call for clear lines of communication. Communication is a dynamic process that involves feedback between the environment and everything in that environment by the individual who is both the receiver and sender of communication. Through understanding the importance of communication to character formation and cultural change, it is clear that in the correctional classroom there must be open lines of communication that are free of distortion. Distortion effects include emotional bias, negative preconceptions concerning specific ideas that result from previous experience, and subcultural group norms that are different from those of the dominant culture. Bibliotherapy and essay writing are two teaching methods that can help develop offenders' social cognitive skills. Bibliotherapy is the use of short articles to teach offenders about the social problems associated with their dysfunctional behavior. Writing an essay helps the inmate understand that he/she is not anonymous; this is a learning experience that can help achieve desirable affective-cognitive attitudinal changes. Ideally, the essay topic should encourage the inmate to explore his/her own feelings or identify with the feelings of others. 14 references