CRIMINAL VIOLENCE AS COMMITMENT And what we can do about it

WHAT IS CRIMINAL VIOLENCE? A (psycho)-pathology? A set of pathologies? We make a lot of distinctions: Domestic violence Sexual violence Gang violence Knife / gun violence Instrumental / reactive violence From a public safety point of view, these distinctions are important From a treatment point of view, not so much

THE SUBJECTIVE LOGIC OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR

David had beaten his wife several times. He had no other record of violence. He described this pattern of thinking during his assaults: I expect her to accept what I say But she gets mad and yells at me I don’t deserve this She’s being a bitch She’s treating me like shit This is not right I need to protect myself Get the fuck away from me It’s all her fault She is nothing I’ve had enough She’s getting it My basic beliefs: Things have to go my way I’m always right She needs to support me when I know I’m right

Kenny was in prison for attempted murder. He had a long record of violence. He had been a skinhead and a football hooligan. He said his basic belief about violence is, “Outsiders are fair game.” Violent assaults made Kenny feel strong and righteous. Kenny went out of his way to take up roles that created plenty of “outsiders.” The person he last assaulted was, in fact, a friend. He felt guilty because, in this case, his victim was not an “outsider.”

Barry had a long history of street fighting. He didn’t use weapons but he beat his victims severely. He reported this thinking behind his assaults: I can’t let anybody get the best of me. I have to have the last word. I’ll do whatever it takes. Violence is always a good last word.

Bill committed a series of brutal sexual assaults. He’d pick up women hitch-hikers, then beat them badly. Sometimes he would rape them, sometimes not. He described this thinking leading up to his assaults: 1. I Wanted affection and love, but couldn’t get it. 2. My buddies at work would sometimes fix me up, but after 1 or 2 dates they’d drop me. 3. I’d feel awful. Then I’d get mad. 4. I’d imagine what I’d like to do to get even. 5. I’d picture myself taking what I wanted. It felt good. 6. Then I’d start cruising. Pretty soon I’d find someone who fit the bill. Bill always felt good after one of his assaults: “I felt like I was somebody.”

A group of offenders identified as psychopaths (HPCL) described the principles they lived by: I’m better than others, so I have a right to do whatever I want. I want what I want and I’ll get it any way possible and I don’t care who I hurt. It’s all about me. I want what I want. It’s all about satisfaction. Whatever makes me happy. If somebody does something to me, I have to even the score. I’m better than anyone else.People are pawns. I use people to get what I can get out of them. Rules are made to be broken. I can get around rules and laws if I try. I do what I want. When I’m violent my thinking is, I treat people the way they treat me, unless they cross some imaginary line. Then I’m at liberty to react as severely as I choose. Breaking other rules like smoking marijuana my thinking is, I’ll do what I want if it makes me feel good. I can do as I please. Fuck ‘em if they don’t like it. If I want something bad enough I can get it.I’ll do whatever it takes, like manipulation. If I’m mistreated, I can mistreat others, even people who weren’t the ones who mistreated me. I’ll do what I please.

ATTITUDES, BELIEFS AND PRINCIPLES The foundation of our behavior: violent and not violent, Criminal and responsible A willful commitment to a point of view, a life stance Self-investment Self-definition Making sense of the world and our place in it: - our past experience - a current purpose - a sense of personal self-worth

Ext. Behavior Int. Behavior Exp. of Self Actions Thoughts, Feelings Perceptions Attitudes Beliefs Core Beliefs Attitudes Principles Self-Worth Self-Identity Self-Efficacy Environment The Cognitive/Emotional Foundation of Human Behavior

WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT? PUNISHMENT AND TREATMENT ARE BOTH BOUND TO FAIL Why? They both fail to engage the willfulness by which offenders attach themselves to their attitudes

CHANGE = A NEW COMMITMENT TO NEW ATTITUDES, NEW PRINCIPLES (Note: This kind of change can only be self-change: of the self, by the self)

HOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN 1.LAW ENFORCEMENT 2.MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY 3.CHOICE MAKE THEM CHOOSE (consciously, deliberately) MAKE THEM CHOOSE THEIR ATTITUDES AND PRINCIPLES RESPECT THEIR CHOICE

ENFORCEMENT OPPORTUNITY CHOOSE ONE MESSAGE. ONE VOICE.

RESPECTING THEIR CHOICE MEANS: that we acknowledge that how they live their lives is up to them, not us that they are responsible for how they are that they can change By respecting their freedom to choose we’re giving them nothing they don’t already have.

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms--to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” Victor Frankl Man’s Search for Meaning

MAKING NEW CHOICES: Kenny and Barry The psychopaths Some new life principles (from hard-core criminals): I can respect them even if they don’t respect me. It’s not all about me. Sometimes a man has to do what he doesn’t want to do. I want to be an honorable man. The commitments that matter are my commitments to my self.

CAN WE DO IT? Can we use corrections constructively? Can we combine enforcement, presentation of opportunity, and respect for choice… ….all at the same time? ….as a singe strategy, spoken with one voice? Can the very same authority that enforces and punishes present a meaningful path to change? Can we get them to hear us?