Chapter 1 The Process of Correctional 01 14 2015 Goals of Offender Counseling and Treatment The goals of the offender counseling and treatment are challenged by the convergence of 3 recent trends 1 political and scholarly debate concerning the effectiveness of offender therapy Willie Horton ad weekend passes for criminals 2 a litigiously based drive fro hypervigalant if not excessive agency accountability medical care use of force property damage crowding habeas corpus petitions the prison litigation reform act 1996 cut down frivolous law suits McDonalds sue case 3 declining fiscal and personnel resources Goals of Offender Counseling and Treatment The primary goal of correctional counselors is to intervene with clients who are offenders Types of therapeutic interventions Prison adjustment being on strict schedule re entry into society Risk of future offending Substance abuse Education and employment deficiencies Trauma Family concerns Mental health concerns The Counseling Process 4 Essential qualities of good correctional counseling 1 a sense of timing and good communication 2 effective risking determine the risk of a behavior ex Speeding ticket or drinking 3 Therapeutic intention and outcome 4 professional humility don t get to high with the highs or low with the lows good days and bad days Therapeutic intention is a key quality the counselor attempts to impart to his or her client through modeling empathy genuineness and storytelling The Counseling Process 6 basic elements of communication body language values morally thoughts of right wrong Expectations Senses 5 taste etc Words and voice actually talking Past experiences inform expectations The Counseling Process Additional Concerns Cultural and ethnic sensitivity where they come from Gender responsiveness needs of male vs female offenders The Counseling Process Motivational interviewing a client oriented directive method for enhancing intrinsic motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence This is done through a process of eliciting and selectively reinforcing times when clients demonstrate change talk or their own self motivational statements reflective listening Types of Correctional Counseling Correctional counseling occurs in both community based and institutional based systems Community based systems parole and probation officers halfway house counselors drug and court case managers etc Institutional based systems intake assessment staff vocational instructors prison chaplain psychologists and psychiatrists Types of interventions used in these settings include Individual counseling and casework Educational and vocational counseling Recreation Psychotherapy Effectiveness of Offender Counseling and Treatment Meta analysis are the most effective tools to determine the effectiveness of correctional counseling programs Different subjects for research take one subject and look at every study done on that subject In this case one specific treatment approach Gage how effective this treatment was Effective counseling in comprised of Focusing intensive interventions on high risk offenders Utilization of behavioral and cognitive behavioral interventions A high degree of treatment integrity and programs quality A method for matching characteristics of the offender therapist and program A cooperative treatment community Practical life skills and treatment experiences that reinforce personal accountability Effective counseling is comprised of continued Program evaluation Relapse prevention strategies A well trained and educated staff Treatment Versus Security Counselors are often faced with reconciling the competing roles of public safety and the rehabilitation and reintegration of an offender Counselor Client confidentiality Security concerns that accompany the use of recreational programs 01 14 2015 Principles and techniques A collaborative relationship between counselor and client is required for successful interventions While personal involvement with the offender is essential it is important to maintain interpersonal boundaries Looking to the past for understanding of an offenders behavior is often fruitless as offenders generally think more in the here and now o Inquires into an offenders past often provide the offender with one more excuse or justification for their criminality Counselors are advised to seek collateral information about their clients Effective treatment techniques include group counseling cognitive behavioral interventions and challenging the thinking errors of the offender Eight Primary Criminal Thinking Patterns Walters 1990 Elliot and Verdeyen 2002 Mollification the blaming game ex Batman coin and death blaming batman and others for his loss Cutoff I feel nothing Entitlement I should get what I want ex Breaking bad selling share of company for 5 000 He s entitled to money from meth rationalizing cooking meth bc he should have billions not going to miss out again Superoptisim I can get by with anything ex American gangster shooting a guy who didn t pay up Walk up to anyone shoot him and walk away Power orientation I m in charge ex Breaking bad I am the one know knocks he s in charge of meth business Sentimentality look at me being good ex shawshank redemption red gets rejected from parole even after 20 yrs Of being god Cognitive indolence that s too much work ex Save the last dance getting out of thug life and drive by too much work Discontinuity I talk one way and act another ex Shawshank redemption when Tommy gets shot meeting the warden outside of the gates Warden pretends to be a bible thumper yet kills people Resistance to Treatment Power struggles are counterproductive to effective counseling To avoid power struggles between counselor and offender the 3Rs should be used o Redirection o Reframing Return focus of attention to task issue at hand Encourage the offender to adopt a different perspective o Reversal of responsibility Reflect the offenders resistance back at him her in a manner that assigns responsibility and accountability The Dirty Dozen Testing Diversion Extortion Sphere of influence Disreputation Rumor clinic Solidarity Negotiation Revenge Splitting Boundary intrusion Ingratiation Ethical Dilemmas Successful treatment can occur only in a secure environment Treatment versus Security Several ethical dilemmas can occur in the therapeutic environment o Definition of the client o Dual or multiple relationships o Competency issues o Confidentiality Contextual Demands Working in a