Anger Management for Aggressive Offenders - Research Paper Example

? Anger Management for Aggressive Offenders Table of Contents Anger Management for Aggressive Offenders Instructor 1 Course 1 Date 1 Table of Contents 1 Introduction 2 Characteristics 3 Current Treatment Approaches 4 Treatment Focus 5 Theory and Research 6 Conclusion 6 Introduction Among other issues in prison, aggression and anger has been a problem to deal with in prisons for a long time. The universal decision to have anger therapy programs in the prison was majorly stimulated by concerns of prison management considering the elaborated and aggressive behavior of the offenders. The Home Office reported increased figures of disciplinary cases as a result of aggression and anger. The statistics gave the prison managers more reasons to have ways of addressing the problems of anger in various prisons in the country. Navaco developed an individual medical treatment and therapists in North America developed anger management lessons that were used by prisons to manage the offenders from being aggressive. The programs have been put in place in the prisons since the 80’s; with a long time goal of addressing the aggression and anger which in turn reduces disruptive behavior. The anger management courses sets had various aims including reducing violence between offenders and minimizing criminal activities after being released from the prisons. Though the programs have been approved, those designed for prison are unusual and though they are in great demand they are rarely evaluated. There was also the problem of having different types of anger issues and determining the efficiency of the same is crucial. Characteristics Male offenders in the prison have anger and aggression problems characterized by various things they have had to go through to survive the prison life. The prison environment is unique with difficult settings that have sub cultural anticipation that are rigid to prison management making the program ineffective (Ward, 2007). They have introduced ways of dealing with the difficulties by using multiple actions to asses program impact which has been used be majority of studies. There are various forms of measurement which includes; behavioral checklists, individual psychometric assessment and disciplinary reports. There have been studies from small number of offenders that give details of how they behave as the result of anger and aggression and they are evaluated by experienced therapist on what causes their aggression and various ways of handling the same (Graham & White, 2012). The programs showed evident improvement from the prisoners and their relationship with other prisoners and prison management. Male offenders who completed all the program sessions of anger management were evaluated during their stay in the prisons and after their release (Brain, 2002). Their behavior seemed to have improved with some adapting to better life in the normal society compared to other male offenders who were not able to complete the sessions. The offenders later relapsed and still had anger issues resulting to violence which eventually led to them being sent back to prisons (Palmer, Browne, & Hollin, 2002). There were various measures taken before and after the anger management sessions which would suppress the anger responses which showed that the male offenders were trying to control their anger more which fueled to retain good relations among themselves (Putwain, 2003). Current Treatment Approaches Over the years, ways of dealing with anger in the male prisons has been a problem in various countries but measures have been taken to try to reduce anger and aggression (Krahe, 2001). Prisons have come up with programs that are supposed to help the male offenders deal with their issues that have led to destruction and offending other people as a result of anger inflicted by circumstances and environment of the prisons. There are sessions that are conducted by experienced anger therapists in the prisons that allow the prisoners to express themselves and help come up with ways of relating with each effectively without having violence (Sun, 2012). The sessions have different stages with various topics and each male prisoner with anger issues is required to go through each step so that the therapist can have efficient conclusion after all the sessions. The other reason why the therapist insisted on the prisoners to go through all sessions was to help them evaluate the male offender’s continuous improvement and if they realize that that sessions are not helping some of them they try other methods because they are trained of various unique ways of dealing with special cases (Hollin, 2001). Male prisoners determined to get better attend all the sessions and disclose their issues intensely to therapists who listens and advices them on how to deal with their anger in the prisons and when they are released from prison. Those with the tendencies of not attending all the sessions they take long to understand their issues and in some circumstances they never get better. Treatment Focus Male offenders who need anger management therapists are divided in various groups depending on their age and the extent of their issues. Majority of the population will have anger issues which will make it difficult for the therapist to deal with each male offender individual and as a result, they evaluate the offenders in groups with related issues (Shine, jones, & Daffern, 2010). The male offenders less than 18 years go through the sessions together for those with chronic anger issues are reviewed separately after going through some sessions with the rest of the prisoners. The adult male prisoners are also divided according to their anger degree and are reviewed together. This way the offenders share their experiences together while trying to deal with anger issues and what they have overcome so far from the anger management sessions. Having group meetings to review their anger has helped various male offenders build healthy relations with their inmate and avoid unnecessary aggression to the prison management (Davies, 1996). These groups have also helped the offenders with similar issues come up with suggestions of how they deal with their anger without affecting others. The sessions also include activities that train the offenders to trust each other in various situations as well as depend on each other positively. This ensures that most of the male offenders attend the anger management programs for the greater good. Theory and Research Male prisoners with anger issues are determined by different groups including; self referral, prison officers and other staffs who are assessed prior to selection to ensure their capability to examine prisoners with real anger issues (G, 2008). Interviews are conducted to various male offenders by psychologists and the police officers complete the behavioral check lists. Cognitive interview is conducted on matters such as how often the male offenders lose their temper and the events that led to them doing the same (Rapp-Paglicci, 2005). They action to the temper loss, how they felt about their actions and what they think they should have done instead of losing their temper. Checklists with different reviews of offenders are also evaluated using scale to measure improvement in relation to the sessions they have attended. Conclusion Studies done on various male offenders prisons with anger issues presented interesting findings of short term efficiency of anger management. There was significant advancement from hypothesis done before in different prisons that concluded that anger management therapies in prisons have helped many male offenders deal with their anger while in prison and even after being released. Programs are being set up to ensure multiple prisoners are getting anger management treatment on time and reports are filed on their improvement. References Brain, C. (2002). Advanced Psychology: Applications, Issues and Perspectives. Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes. Davies, G. (1996). Psychology, Law, and Criminal Justice: International Developments in ... Australia: Walter de Gruyter. G, N. (2008). Treating the Juvenile Offender. New York: Guilford Press. Graham, H., & White, ,. R. (2012). Working with Offenders. New York: Routledge. Hollin, C. R. (2001). The Essential Handbook of Offender Assessment and Treatment. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Krahe, B. (2001). Social Psychology of Aggression. London: Psychology Press. Palmer, E. J., Browne, ,. D., & Hollin, ,. C. (2002). Delinquency and Young Offenders. new York: John Wiley & Sons. Putwain, D. (2003). Psychology and Crime. Chicago: Routledge. Rapp-Paglicci. (2005). Juvenile Offenders and Mental Illness: I Know Why the Caged Bird Cries. New York: Routledge. Shine, J., jones, L., & Daffern, ,. M. (2010). Offence Paralleling Behaviour: A Case Formulation Approach to Offender ... New York: John Wiley & Sons. Sun, K. (2012). Correctional Counseling: A Cognitive Growth Perspective. Burlington: Jones & Bartlett . Ward, T. (2007). Aggressive Offenders' Cognition: Theory, Research and Practice. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Read More