Community-based therapeutic communities (TCs) have been found to have a positive effect on reducing the criminal activities and drug use of clients who complete their programs; the longer a client remains in treatment, the better the outcome. Whether in public or prison settings, TCs incorporate certain common features: isolation from the rest of the community, use of ex-offenders and ex-addicts as staff, development of a safe environment, use of confrontation and support groups, clearly specified rules and sanctions, and development of prosocial attitudes. In a prison setting inmates are housed separately from the rest of the prison population. The TC programs focus on criminal behavior, substance abuse, sexual abuse, and issues related to living in the unit. While most prison activities stress security and custody issues, the TC emphasizes the inmates' personal growth and provides a safe place for free expression. References