Cleaning up after the Mess: The Individual-Community Nexus in Correctional Rehabilitation

Abstract

The population of America's local, state, and federal prisons increased by nearly 340 percent between 1980 and 2005 (Paparozzi and Demichele 2008). Much of this increase reflects policy intended to get tough on criminals by locking them up longer and removing discretionary power of judges. Therefore, community corrections (i.e., probation and parole) have assumed increased attention recently as more prisoners are diverted and placed on probation and others are released through mandatory parole. One of the most measurable goals of community corrections is a reduction in recidivism. Much of what works today has its origins in symbolic interaction theory. Most social learning occurs through what Albert Bandura referred to as “observational learning.” One component of this approach as applied to community corrections involves parole officers modeling behavior for the offender. Research has shown us that successful modeling requires skill on the part of parole officers in order for the process of observational learning to occur. The second component in therapeutic intervention in corrections is that the client/offender must have the opportunity to reinforce the new behavior. Research suggests that this “role playing” should occur in a nonthreatening environment, with the offender receiving reinforcement for positive prosocial/noncriminal behavior and immediate disapproval for antisocial behavior. Finally, this paper will propose an integrative approach for prisoner reentry that extends this process of resocialization to include broader involvement of social institutions and the community.

Therapies without Pride: An Explorative Study of the Therapist’s Perspective on the Quality of the Social Bond with Clients in Cognitive Behavior Therapy and a Psychodynamic Therapy against Men’s Violence in Sweden

“…Today, there is a widespread and unacceptable degree of relapse in violence after completion of violence treatment. In addition, Guy (2009) highlights the importance of learning-based therapy occurring in a nonthreatening environment in which the client/offender has the opportunity to reinforce new behaviors. If the theoretical premises used in this paper are true, other therapy models can be examined and further development of the therapy considered.…”

Bourdieu in the Women’s Prison Garden: Findings from Two Clinical Sociological Garden Interventions in the Carceral Field

“…Studies show participants enjoy the new skills they gain, develop a stronger work ethic, and hope to gain meaningful employment upon release (Christie et al 2016; DelSesto 2022; Moore, Freer, and Samuel 2015). Employment directly correlates with recidivism rates, with offenders being less likely to reoffend if they maintain a stable job (Guy 2009). Self-published recidivism rates of graduates of green prison programs are as low as 4 percent (e.g., Growing Gardens 2021).…”

“…Ascencio (2018) showed that prison horticulture programs can provide prisoners with feelings of increased self-efficacy, success, and hope by learning new skills. These gardening attributes help teach the women prosocial attitudes rather than procriminal (Guy 2009).…”

“…Even if there is no dedicated prison garden space, Watkins (2017) observed that women forage wild greens and vegetables from green spaces in the yard, which generates a sense of agency, and incarcerated women build a community around this process that fosters positive social interaction. The ability to model positive social interactions helps develop social skills that can be practiced in these community settings (Guy 2009).…”

“…Our work provides a qualitative study to give attention to the hidden voices of incarcerated women as clinical sociologists, we use and apply sociological theory, methods, and findings to bring about social change (Bruhn and Rebach 2012) and focus on active and rights-based intervention for positive change and problem-solving (Fritz and Rheaume 2014) to add to existing clinical sociological work in re-entry (Guy 2009(Guy , 2011. One hallmark of clinical sociology is using theory to guide our sociological intervention and research, and more clinical sociological work is needed to specifically empower women (Mancini Billson and Disch 1990).…”