The Rehabilitation of Young Isralei Offenders: A Kibbutz Experiment

Abstract

A promising delinquency rehabilitation experiment that is virtually unknown to the American student is the kibbutz rehabilitation project. This program officially began in January 1983 and included, as of December 1984, 30 delinquents placed in separate kibbutzim. Following Group Dynamics and Social Learning theories an experimental program was designed in a natural non-coercive environment: the kibbutz. Within this social milieu the delinquent has an opportunity to change his learned criminal oriented cognitions and deviant life style. Through work and a regular schedule he hopefully would learn the importance of "time" and regularity. His peer-work group becomes his reference group and he tends to adopt its values, attitudes, and behaviors.

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