Correctional Milieu: The Key to Quality Outcomes

Abstract

Counselor rapport is a significant factor affecting positive outcomes from treatment services. Within the criminal justice literature, increasing attention has been given to the working alliance between criminal justice actors and offenders (clients). A review of the literature finds that a growing body of work is measuring this construct within justice settings, and finding that the nature of the relationship affects outcomes either directly or as a mediating factor. Perceptions of fairness and care appear to create positive outcomes, and when offenders perceive that they have a voice in decisions, more positive outcomes are likely to occur. This paper will review the literature on therapeutic alliance factors for criminal justice actors (e.g., judges, correctional officers, probation officers, special counselors, etc.) and then highlight the implications for advancing practice in the correctional arena. Four points will be raised about policy implications affecting the concept of punishment, roles of correctional staff, models of offender change, and models of organizational change.

Keywords:

• correctional milieu
• therapeutic alliance
• working alliance
• change talk