International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology

This article is an attempt to incorporate the theory of object-relations, and to "expand" it for application for those alcoholics who are in need of psychotherapy. Specific attention is given to alcohols function as an E.O. (exciting object). In this regard some of the features of a T.O. (transitional object) are considered and the necessity to replace it with mental structure. Clinical examples of the author's position are presented.

A discussion of the problems of neurotic and delin quent children. Their reactions are normally the opposite ends of the spectrum, with the "normal" child fitting in between. How to help both extremes to normalize.

A case history illustrating the impact of unresolved grief on an individual with already marginal adjustment to the community and personal relationships, and its importance to understanding the psychodynamics as it relates to episodes of aggression.

In correctional settings and in general living, the con cept of "happiness" has a powerful influence on individual expectations and satisfaction. However, the pursuit of happiness can be based on both rational and irrational assumptions. A number of possible paradoxes of happiness are discussed which may, in the appropriate contexts, be worthy of exploration between the therapist and the offender. A heightened awareness of these paradoxes may ultimately increase the likelihood of desirable results as offenders refine their general concepts of happiness into specific goals and strategies.

This article provides a comparative model for evaluating international community corrections programs. The goals of this approach include: expanding culturally narrow- minded thinking in regard to community corrections, isolating relevant universal and national phenomena affecting offender treatment, and providing a framework for finding solutions to universal and relative problems in social behaviour. These goals are accomplished in a three-dimensional comparative study of the larger society (differentiation mode), host community (implementation mode), and community correctional program (impact mode) under scrutiny. The resulting information can be used to reveal international problems in corrections, to create universal typologies (offenders, program models, client-services, etc.), to isolate and understand specific national problems in rehabilitation, and to promote workable solutions to the problem of crime and its correction.

Individuals, found not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) and involved in court-mandated outpatient treatment, were assessed for patterns of psychopathology. Comparisons of self-report and interview-based methods were made with self- report measures eliciting greater severity on initial evaluations. In general, NGRI acquittees were found to manifest mild to moderate severity of psychopathology with a greater endorse ment of depressive and aggressive symptoms.

A sample of 231 sexual offenders was studied with respect to the progression of their offenses from non-contact sexual crimes (such as exhibitionism and voyeurism) as juveniles, to the more serious sex assaults of rape and child molestation as adults. The results of this study reveal that a significant number of offenders manifest a history of sexually inappropriate behaviors beginning in early adolescence. It appears from the study that many offenders begin to act out sexually at an early age and if left untreated may escalate to more serious sexual assaults.

The purpose of this pilot study was to test the efficacy of providing services to families when the father was incar cerated. The program consisted of teaching parents better com munication and child management skills. Parents and children were measured before and after an eight-week training program. Communication skills increased to the projected target level in all parents after program completion. Child management skills increased in two of the three families in the program. The study offers conclusions for the development of a wide range of services to families when a parent is incarcerated.

This paper describes the origin, function and scope of Money Payment Supervision Orders (MPSOs) and their place in the fine enforcement procedure. It looks at the potential for this type of order, as well as pointing out the limitations, using three case histories to illustrate the variety of use. It concludes that, with a clarification of the legal definition concerning the order, more positive use could be made of it as a means of avoiding imprisonment for default.

During the last decade it has become increasingly clear that violence against women is a more common feature than was generally assumed. The extent and specific nature of this violence make the "traditional" explanations for its occur rence insufficient. By explicitly taking into account the cultural background of this violence and the social context in which women are victimized it is possible to explain the violence and the reactions of institutions like the criminal justice system, social agencies, etc. By considering violent incidents exclusively as the individual problem of the parties involved, the essence of the problem is missed, even whilst dealing with individual cases.

A study of the Polish prison system, describing its organisation and administration, and showing how far actual practice in the execution of justice in prisons differs from the theories laid down in law. The warden lays down the guidelines which may actually be in contradiction to the legal regulations; lower prison staff feel their work is undervalued, and they tend to be more interested in their status than in the conditions under which prisoners live. Rehabilitative work takes a poor second place to punishment.