Intensive Behavior Therapy Unit

Description of the Strategy

The key component of the intensive behavior therapy unit (IBTU) is a weekly incentive program within a prison that monitors personal hygiene and grooming, sanitation, compliance with general rules, such as not engaging in assaultive behavior, and socialization activities. Appropriate compliance with these activities is recorded on a checklist that is completed on a daily basis by an officer who oversees the unit. Incentives are distributed or withheld based on each inmate/participant's performance and progress. The goal of IBTU is to promote prosocial behavior through external rewards, with the hope that the problematic behavior will eventually become extinguished as the inmate/participant comes to feel intrinsically rewarded by behaving in an appropriate manner.

Each IBTU inmate has a comprehensive behavioral plan (CBP) completed by the assigned IBTU counselor upon admission to the program. The CBP outlines the problem behaviors to be eliminated, as well as establishing baselines and setting long-term and short-term goals with target dates. The IBTU inmates are required to participate in community range meetings, socialization groups, activity therapy, individual counseling sessions in which self-monitoring is encouraged, CBP meetings, and monthly psychiatric rounds with the mental health team (psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse, and IBTU counselor).

The incentive component of the IBTU program rewards inmates on a weekly basis based on cumulative ratings by the unit officer, IBTU counselor, activity therapist, and another member of the treatment staff. The inmates are rated based on hygiene, sanitation, activity attendance, participation, and targeted behaviors. Points are given daily for each satisfactory [Page 341]hygiene and sanitation item, one point for courtesy and nondisruptive behavior, and one point for each day the inmate does not receive an infraction from the unit officer. Rewards include a predetermined amount of cigarettes, candy, chips, juice, or personal hygiene items depending on the total number of points they have accumulated by the end of the week.

IBTU consists of two levels, Level I and Level II. All participants enter as a Level II, which is the most restrictive level. The inmates remain on this level for a minimum of 3 to 5 weeks. Inmates on Level II are on room restriction and are supervised when they are out of their rooms. When Level II inmates are impulsive and unpredictable, their treatment plan states that they will be handcuffed when they are outside their rooms. Level II inmates are allowed one phone call per month, one hour of recreation Monday to Friday, and no visitation or store privileges. A significant period of stability in behavioral change is required for advancement to Level I. It is anticipated that behavior change will be followed by a period of consolidation of new skills. When inmates are promoted to Level I, they are on range restriction, which includes use of the phone and 2 hours of television privileges. If improvements in an inmate's behavior are not maintained while the inmate is on Level I, he or she will be demoted to Level II. A significant period of stability in behavioral change is required before an inmate will be promoted from IBTU.

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