An appeals system for fines received by adolescents in a token economy

A system is described wherein adolescents participating in a token economy at a state hospital were allowed to appeal fines received from staff. Appeals were heard by a board composed of three residents and a psychology intern. The board met weekly and had full power to rescind or uphold fines. Before initiation of the appeal system, residents complained vigorously about fines received and about the "unfairness" of the staff and the token system, frequently denying responsibility for the infractions involved. Although almost half the fines were upheld, there were practically no more complaints of unfairness, and denials of responsibility declined drastically. The number of residents appealing fines fell from an average of four per week to less than one per week after the system had been in effect for one and one-half months. When asked why the system was not being used more often, residents grudgingly volunteered that most of the fines received were fair. It was not possible to determine whether this was due to changes in residents' attitudes or to actual changes in fining behavior by staff. Results are discussed in terms of effects on residents, acceptance by staff, and implications for further research.