Effective Correctional Treatment: Bibliotherapy for Cynics

This paper presents recent evidence, obtained from a review of the liter ature on correctional treatment published since 1973, appealing the ver dict that correctional rehabilitation is ineffective. Questions are raised about the quality of the research that led to the conclusion that "nothing works." Recent research on family intervention, contingency man agement, counseling, diversion, and biomedical techniques is discussed, as is the efficacy of treatment of such problems as alcoholism, drug addic tion, and sexual deviations. It is concluded that there are several types of intervention programs that have proved successful with offender popu lations. These intervention programs illustrate pointedly why there have been so many failures reported in correctional treatment.

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