Offenders Rehabilitation Programs

Year
1
Academic year
2023-2024
Code
02040167
Subject Area
Psychology
Language of Instruction
Portuguese
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-face
Duration
SEMESTRIAL
ECTS Credits
6.0
Type
Compulsory
Level
2nd Cycle Studies - Mestrado

Recommended Prerequisites

It is recommended that students have previously adquired some knowledge about psychopathology, as well as basic knowledge about psychological intervention models.

Teaching Methods

Lectures will be used fore the more conceptual contents, and small videos, role-playing/case presentations will be used for more practical issues. Intervention programs used by the Portuguese Prison and Probation Services will be presented in classes and they will be accessible to students as study material. Students are invited to engage in the simulation of prevention and rehabilitation programs’ sessions (either in individual or group delivery format), followed by a discussion on the contents and available data on the efficacy of those interventions.

Learning Outcomes

Teaching Goals:

1. To acquire knowledge about relevant models for the understanding of the origins and maintenance of anti-social behavior (e.g., cognitive-behavioral models);

2. To be able to apply structured rehabilitation programs with both juvenile and adult offenders, in community settings as well as in detention facilities and prisons;

Learning outcomes:

1. To acquire competencies in assessing the cognitive, behavioral, emotional and interpersonal variables related to the origins and maintenance of anti-social behavior;

2. To become familiar with intervention programs targeting anti-social behavior;

3. To recognize the pathology and damage associated with anti-social behavior problems;

4. To be able to apply cognitive-behavioral programs (individually or group delivered) designed for the rehabilitation of offenders.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Forensic clinical psychology: legal issues relevant for the intervention with offenders

2. Stability of aggressive behavior, functional impairment and associations with psychiatric diagnoses

3. Human service principles applied to the rehabilitation of offenders

4. Individual interventions with young and adult offenders – Cognitive-behavioral assessment, case formulation and intervention plan

5. Offender rehabilitation programs of universal delivery

6. Intervention programs for sub-types of anti-social behavior (intimate partnership violence, traffic crimes, sexual aggressors; fire setters)

7. Scope and limits of cognitive-behavioral interventions with anti-social individuals: the motivational approach

8. Evidence-based interventions in the rehabilitation of offenders: critical review of available findings 

Head Lecturer(s)

Nélio Jesus de Freitas Brasão

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Group work on a specific intervention program (4 points): 20.0%
Two written tests on theorethical contents (8 points each = 16): 80.0%

Bibliography

Brazão, N., da Motta, C. & Rijo, D. (2013). From multimodal programs to a new cognitive-interpersonal approach in the rehabilitation of offenders. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 18, 636-643.

Brazão, N., Rijo, D., Salvador, M. C., & Pinto-Gouveia, J. (2018). Promoting emotion and behavior regulation in male prison inmates: A Secondary Data Analysis from a randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of the Growing Pro-Social Program. Law and Human Behavior, 42(1), 57-70.

Craig, L. A., Gannon, T. A., & Dixon, L. (Eds.) (2013). What Works in Offender Rehabilitation: An Evidence-Based Approach to Assessment and Treatment. Wiley-Blackwell Eds.

Davis, J. & Nagi, C. (Eds) (2017). Individual psychological therapies in forensic settings: Research and practice. Routledge

Rijo, D., Brazão, N., Ribeiro da Silva, D. & Vagos, P. (2017). Intervenções psicológicas com jovens agressores. PACTOR