Citation

Dietz EF, O'Connell DJ, Scarpitti FR. Int. J. Offender Ther. Comp. Criminol. 2003; 47(2): 210-223.

Affiliation

Psychology Services, Federal Bureau of Prisons, 320 First Street NW, Washington, DC 20354, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12710366

Abstract

There is a growing emphasis in corrections on the treatment of inmates with drug problems. The typical method of evaluating drug treatment programs is to examine how the treatment affects the inmate in terms of relapse and recidivism. This study examines the institutional consequences of operating a therapeutic community located in a medium/high-security male institution. The effect on management is examined from a perspective of institutional disorder. Disorders, from less severe inmate rule violations to more serious assaults, and rates of grievance filing are examined within the treatment unit and compared with rates in the general population. The inmate's perception of the environment, whether in treatment or non-treatment, is also examined. Findings indicate that in-prison therapeutic communities have lower levels of disorder than nontreatment housing units and tend to produce more positive perceptions of the living environment among the inmates living there. The impact of these findings for prison management is discussed.

Language: en