Does punishment in secure residential youth care work? An overview of the evidence
Abstract
Purpose
Violence is a common problem in secure residential units for young people. Group workers often think that young people have to learn to behave by means of punishment. The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether this approach is effective in these settings, and, if so, under what circumstances. Furthermore, it aims to provide alternatives to punishment when dealing with violence.
Design/methodology/approach
Recent evidence on the effectiveness of punishment in secure residential units is reviewed. In addition, methods which are promising in dealing with violence are described.
Findings
The review shows that punishment is often used to regain control by group workers or, alternatively, is a result of professional helplessness in the face of escalating problems. Only when the living group climate is marked by trust and cooperation can punishment be effective.
Originality/value
Punishment in secure residential settings can have severe negative consequences. Nevertheless, group workers are tempted to use it as a response to violence in an attempt to gain control.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This study was made possible by the support of the Reformed Civil Orphanage (Gereformeerd Burger Weeshuis), Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Citation
de Valk, S., van der Helm, G.H.P., Beld, M., Schaftenaar, P., Kuiper, C. and Stams, G.J.J.M. (2015), "Does punishment in secure residential youth care work? An overview of the evidence", Journal of Children's Services, Vol. 10 No. 1, pp. 3-16. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCS-11-2014-0048
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited