Did you know that until recently this treatment protocol was used in Massachusetts? It was a core treatment modality for many people with criminal and legal involvement. Thank you to our elected officials and representatives of the Trial Court for their recent collaboration to end this practice as of August 2023.
The MRT curriculum uses many images that should be forbidden in a treatment text because they could be triggering of people’s trauma. The pictures are poor quality, dehumanizing, racist, and reinforce the stigmatizing nature of addiction and justice involvement. Unfortunately, the text is no better. The language used to “explain” the problems the clients experience is infantilizing and stigmatizing. Built on Lawrence Kohlberg’s theory of moral development from the 1950’s, MRT posits that people’s criminal involvement is due to their moral failing. MRT posits that abuse, trauma, biology, socioeconomic status, addiction and parental involvement have little to no role in how a person turns out – all our actions are choices we make freely, regardless of genetics, environment, and/or upbringing.
The following images were taken from a draft document that was provided to our elected officials and advocacy groups to raise awareness about this concerning practice taking place in Massachusetts. Take a look for yourself:
Other thoughts about MRT
