VIOLENCE REDUCTION PROGRAM:Criminal attitude, Interpersonal Aggression

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Forensic Psychology (PSY - 513)

Lesson 38

VIOLENCE REDUCTION PROGRAM

Objective

To know about the salient features of violent reduction program

We have been talking that how to help people get a new way. Prisons are reformative institutions but we

know the fact that no such interventions and structures are present there. So for this purpose Wong and

Gordon developed the VRP in Canada and now this program is also being employed in many other

countries as well. Let's get back to the salient features of VRP.

Criminal attitude

First of all there is a need to separate attitude from criminal personality, although there is no crystal

clear difference in attitude and personality because if attitude improves as a result personality does too.

But criminal attitude is changeable so targeted in VRP.

Work Ethic

Work ethics and aggression are closely correlated. As we all know that people lacing in work ethics

moves towards crime. What is work ethics? Work ethics is to work honestly and with quality.

Developing work ethic is an important step in intervention. Clients are reinforced if they show interest

in work and show quality, as quality is also essential feature of work ethic. Client is persuaded to work

whole heartedly, keeping quality so offender is ready to work out side the prison. In our cultural and

religious context offenders can be told that work is also prayer.

Low quality________________ Termination of Job_______________ back to theft. Robbery, substance

abuse.

Criminal Peers

Living in prisons an offender would definitely encounter the company of other criminals but therapist

stresses to live in company of peers who are also interested in change and want to abide the life of

crimes. And this change can be easily assessed by getting the reports from prison staff.

Interpersonal Aggression

How interpersonal aggressions differ from violence? If interpersonal relationships suffer from

aggression, shouting and abusive language and a therapist have succeeded in creating changing in

interpersonal aggression the treatment is forwarding in the right direction.

Community Support

Therapist try to create community support for offender, as we have already discussed that Client has to

go back to the community and if community is supportive future violence are reduced. And if this

support is not possible then client is persuaded to live in a community that is supportive. Like if after

release, start living in a community where substances are frequently sold and used then there are more

chances of relapse and all other related crimes and problems. Prior to release, therapist incorporate the

family of offender in the treatment and they are taught and encouraged to recognize and avoid the issues

that can cause offender to land again in prison.

Released to high risk situation

A person who is released to high risk situation has more chances to re-offend like a person who has

killed the 6 members of a family and effected family has warned that they will kill him at his release.

And there are chances if he is released in high risk situation either he will become a prey or will murder

some other people to save his life. So on first place high risk release is to be avoided or release is kept

secret and fictitious names are awarded and identities are changes so person can settle in outside the

prison.

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Forensic Psychology (PSY - 513)

Violence Cycle

Violence is a vicious cycle, all factors are interconnected. To break this cycle therapist make the client

to realize that he has been trapped in this cycle and how to come out of this.

Impulsivity

Impulsivity means behaving with out thinking. Impulsivity is also reactive. Clients are taught that how

to control impulsivity by placing their favorite things in front of them and asking them to control their

impulses. Impulse control is important but astonishingly simple to treat.

Cognitive Distortion

Cognitive distortion means wrong thoughts that are being considered right and these thoughts are many

times reasons for violent behaviors. Like if you get late to your office and your Boss scolds you. You

start thinking now this is the end of the world and until or unless I do not react I can not maintain

dignity in the eyes of my colleagues' e.t.c.

Some time cognitive distortions are governing us and are very common in our culture. And if do not

lead to violence can lead to depression. So use of knowledge and sensible thinking is very important.

Compliance with community supervision

As per parole if offender does not visit the psychologist, social worker or report police station then there

are more chances that client will re-offend. In such situations community and family support is sought.

Security level of anticipated release institution

This phenomenon is not important and applicable in our country. With the multi-disciplinary team, the

forensic psychotherapist needs to differentiate between the patient who has made significant

psychological progress and could move to a less-secure environment, the patient whose level of illness

remains severe and the one who falsely believes himself or herself to be better and engages in either a

conscious deception or an unconscious pseudo-compliance ought not to be moves in less secure level.

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