Behaviour modification in custody

An application of the behaviourist approach to treatment. It is based on the principles of operant conditioning. The general aim is to replace undesirable behaviours with more desireable ones through the selective use of positive and/or negative reinforcement.

Based on operant conditioning. It involves reinforcing desirable behaviour with a token that can be exchanged for some form of reward. Tokens are secondary reinforcements because they derive their association with a reward. 

The reward may include a phone call to a loved one or time in the gym. Or even extra food or cigarettes. 

The desirable behaviour is identified then broken down into small steps and a baseline measure is established. All those who come into contact with offenders must follow the same regime of selective reinforcement. A prison officer may reinforce a particular prisoner for working positively in a group.

Tom Hobbs and Michael Holt

Introduced a token economy programme with groups of young delinquents across three behavioural units. They observed a significant differene in positive behaviour.

-Easy to implement.

-However, it required great commitment from the staff.

-Blackburne said that behaviour modification has 'little rehabilitative value' and any positive changes in behavior may quickly be lost once they are released. 

-Clinton Field et al examined a token economy system used with young people with behavioural problems. The programme was generally effective, although there was still a number of young people who did not respond. Later these individals were placed on a special programme where the rewards were more immediate and frequent. This was more successful.