Staff Drift

Abstract

Data from an evaluation of the effectiveness of a therapeutic community program in reducing tension in a pretrial detention center demonstrated that the nature of staff-inmate interaction tended to shift over time from emphasis on therapeutic endeavors to routine administration. The "drift" from therapeutic to routine matters was also related to diminished tension within the facility as measured by incident reports. The shift toward attending to the inmates' needs for information about trial dates; obtaining of commissary, clothing, or writing materials; arranging phone calls and appointments with social workers; and attending to other details was accompanied by reduced incident reports. Conversely, the occurrence of both "therapeutic" group meetings and other more general group meetings was positively associated with incident occurrence.