Criminal Justice Group Therapy

However, with the overwhelming number of young offenders in prison today, it must be the aim of the criminal justice system to rehabilitate these men and women so they can become productive contributing members to society upon their release. One method such as this is group therapy. This type of rehabilitation has been found to be effective in helping criminals learn or unlearn attitudes and behaviors that were necessary for self-growth. This analysis will discuss group therapy for the prison criminal with emotional problems. The goals and aims of group therapy for the criminal will be addressed as well as particular methods and styles of group therapy that are used with an intent of rehabilitation. A brief conclusion will address the fact that p

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deviancy by environmental conditions or learns deviance by direct exposure to it,” (Stephenson and Scarpitti, 1974: 5). In a way, if the deviant attitudes and behaviors of the criminal were learned in a group environment, then the group therapy environment can also allow offenders to internalize attitudes and behaviors that are not criminal from others in the group. This type of group therapy works on emotions and peer pressure and is called Guided Group Interaction, “Guided group interaction has been defined as using free discussion in a friendly, supportive atmosphere to reeducate the criminal to accept restrictions of society by finding greater personal satisfaction in conforming to social rules than by following criminal patterns. It is a form of group therapy in which the anti-criminal attitudes of the group are internalized by the criminal as a result of the group’s influence on him,” (Stephenson, et.al., 1974: 21). One of the biggest goals of group therapy is changing cognitive preconceptions and attitudes. In light of this, reattributing responsibility and increasing self-esteem is attempted to help the criminal take responsibility for his own actions without blaming his predicament and behavior on external caus
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Therapy INTRODUCTION, Interaction Guided, Ward Wilner, Stephenson Scarpitti, attitudes behaviors, Stall Oct, REFERENCES Rotman, Scarpitti FR, rotman 1990, walsh 1992, criminal justice, Connecticut Walsh, Angeles Times, Scott Scott, unlearn attitudes behaviors, increase understanding, criminals emotional, effectiveness therapy, unlearn attitudes, criminals learn, attitudes behaviors criminal, criminal justice system, multi-level cooperative effort, guided interaction,
Approximate Word count = 1452
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)

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