Correcting Treatment in Corrections

Book excerpt: Are security policies and procedures supporting a treatment environment? Are treatment cultures threatening the safety and security of correctional facilities? It is time to seriously debate and challenge our current process of ensuring community safety while at the same time addressing the underlying causes of criminal behavior. Over the last 40 years, incarceration rates in the United States have almost doubled as a result of our justice system and its guidelines. Researched-based studies show a large population of incarcerated people have underlining trauma related to addiction and criminal behavior. In this book, the authors share their experience in implementing a trauma-informed treatment program within a correctional facility. The journey is filled with heavy debates, extreme stress, hilarious happenings, and giant psychological and philosophical challenges. The reader will be a 'fly on the wall' as the trauma therapist and department of corrections lieutenant battle through their conflicting priorities. The reader will follow the many debates between the elements of treatment and security. This eavesdropping dialog provides the reader the opportunity to come to their own conclusion as to how to best implement a trauma treatment program inside a correctional setting. The style of writing is exceptionally useful to the undergraduate's ability to apply deep introspection in their upcoming career in any field dealing with human behavior but particularly in criminology and social work.