Motivational interviewing in the correctional system: An attempt to implement motivational interviewing in criminal justice

Corrections-based treatment is frequently directive, confrontational, and restrictive. Offenders are typically mandated to enter treatment, and unwillingness to do so is punished with loss of privileges. Once in treatment, offenders are confronted with their thinking errors and history of poor life choices in order to convince them to change. Unfortunately, when people experience external demands to change, their resistance increases. Because motivational interviewing (MI) avoids confrontation, resistance is diminished and internal motivation may have a chance to grow. MI holds much promise for transferring external motivation for change to internal motivation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)