Correctional Counseling (Coursework Sample)

Chapter 1 Introduction and Overview of Correctional Counseling and Treatment 5 Although professional counselors recognize that clay modeling provides a healthy, non- violent outlet for a prisoners’ aggressive energies, and vocational training in a marketable skill contributes to rehabilitation goals, many guards are disdainful of such efforts, regard- ing them as permissive and a means of coddling inmates. From the guard’s frame of reference, the clay will only be modeled into a replica of a 38-revolver or made to resemble a man’s head, to be placed on a cot so as not to arouse suspicion while the inmate attempts to escape. The sheet metal shop is thought of as the place where all the shivs and shanks are made. The diametrically opposed attitudes of the untrained guard and the treatment special- ist undermine and inhibit the rehabilitation effort of the treatment team. The custodial ori- entation leads to the growth of an inmate code that requires loyalty to other inmates, opposition to the entire prison staff, and at most lip service to so-called treatment programs. There are several different conceptions of the ideal characteristics of therapeutic milieu, but the most significant aspect is that, if the inmate is to achieve any self-respect, he or she must be treated as an individual worthy of the respect of others. When both profes- sional and nonprofessional staff work together to provide a therapeutic atmosphere and when inmates have the opportunity to make decisions and choose programs options, the necessary climate for a therapeutic milieu emerges. Early rehabilitation efforts overlooked the relationship between fostering positive attitudes and values and building the offender’s initiative, self-direction, and responsibility. If rehabilitation is to be a reality, the development of a therapeutic community is of paramount importance. In accordance with the psychotherapeutic ideals of Maxwell Jones, a therapeutic community allows the inmate to “act out” within acceptable limits and to become motivated to participate in available rehabilitation programs. The major objective is to reverse the regimented authoritarian structure of traditional prisons by encouraging communication among all levels of staff, and between staff and inmates. Several therapeutic communities can be set up at each correctional facility so that inmates can begin to act responsibly for the welfare of their community. Although it is more difficult to initiate therapeutic communities in the highly regimented structure of most maxi- mum-security institutions, they can be developed and operated effectively. In maximum- security prisons, each tier or cell block can be a therapeutic community; in minimum-security settings, the location of the community can be a dormitory. Within these physical confines, the inmates and staff make collective decisions based on democratic principles. Examples of some of the decisions that can be made are permitting of inmates with minimum-security rat- ings to attend a funeral of a close family member in another state without a guard, allowing the better educated inmates to tutor educationally disadvantaged adults in an inner-city basic education program, initiating a program to train inmates and guards to work as crisis coun- selors on a prison suicide prevention team, and suspending a correctional officer who harasses the inmates by turning off the television 15 minutes before the suspenseful climax of the Wednesday night movie. The primary goal of comprehensive therapeutic services is to help offenders build self-esteem, adjust to the correctional facility, learn to communicate more effectively with family and community members, and be able to confront and act on alternatives available to them as they consider their future. In some cases, these goals can be accomplished through informal, everyday contact with staff and through the group counseling sessions. In many other cases, individual methods of treatment will be more beneficial.