Foster 1

Rebecca Foster Wr 122-Laurence Essay 2.2 7th February 2014 Prison Rehabilitation Programs The United States has the one of the highest incarceration rates and it had been increasing over time. Over 2.4 million Americans are currently serving time (Enocksson). A lot of money is spent on keeping inmates in prison, but that isnt the only problem. According to Lawrence Jablecki, a teacher of Ethics, Justification of Punishment, and several other courses at a prison in Texas, in his Humanist article, within one to three years of their release from prison at least 50 percent of ex-cons will be returned due to a violation of one or more of the conditions of their release or the conviction of a new felony. So should the state be obliged to embrace and fund rehabilitative programs in prisons when some inmates were already educated, successful and crime-free before they were incarcerated? It is understandable, due to the current economic crisis, not wanting to invest in prison rehabilitative programs, especially when the offenders might not deserve them; but imprisonment is a punishment that gravely affects inmates. All of them live in a personal hell of confinement; all of them desire to become eligible for parole and return to the outside world (Jablecki). Though some prison rehabilitation programs are costly, many of them are a great additive to imprisonment, and provide better results than imprisonment on its own, for they are less costly in the long-term by reducing recidivism and improving the life of the released inmates by providing them with work-skills and ethical perspectives. Some people who are concerned with the cost of prison rehabilitation programs argue that the taxpayers money should not go towards helping criminals, especially when the victims

Foster 2

have gone through the trauma of losing life, limbs, or property. The argument is that prison is very costly. According to the David Lynch Foundation, prison cost averages to $65,000 per year, per inmate, well above the median U.S. income (Enocksson). However, the cost of prison rehabilitation is a small fragment of the entire prison cost, and could actually save a lot of money in the long term, by reducing recidivism of the prisoners. If the goal is to reduce the cost of imprisonment, Jablecki asserts that overcrowding and new prisons could be avoided if lawmakers had the political courage to create a revised sentencing system in which the punishment range for felonies was greatly reduced. Others may argue that incarceration is a punishment and that criminals dont deserve a reward. Though prison rehabilitation may seem as a reward, especially in the programs that offer degrees and education, its interesting to consider one example which Jablecki refers to. In 1974 the University of Houston at Clear Lake created a bold and controversial degree-conferring program for male inmates serving time at the Ramsey Prison in Rosharon, Texas. Today, this highly successful program offers several hundred inmates the opportunity to earn a BA or MA in the behavioral sciences and also in the humanities (Jablecki). Prison rehabilitation is not a reward but an opportunity for people who havent had one. Jablecki asserts that the extremely low recidivism of his graduates who are released on parole proves that the degree-conferring program protects the interest and the safety of the public. Punishment is considered very ineffective in reducing violence for it is usually more likely to create anger and resentment in the offenders, rather than changing the perspective of the offenders, who will probably be arrested again in the future. A report was published in 1976 that criticized prison rehabilitation programs by arguing that skill-based types of training dont prepare prisoners for the skills that are needed outside of

Foster 3

prison. The main problem, they said, was the administration and implementation of [Educational Rehabilitation] programs in prisonnot a condemnation of [Educational Rehabilitation] in general (Ward). It is understandable to have fear of the correct administration and implementation of the Educational Programs, and so a correct transparency program in our prisons could soothe the taxpayers minds. While not only fixing the problem of corruption and misbehavior from the authorities inside of the prison, it would also help prove and assert which rehabilitation programs work best. There are cases of criminals who have felt no remorse for what they did, people who feel no empathy towards others and do not have the capability of understanding the difference between right and wrong. However, according to Lawrence, the majority of his students concede their guilt and believe they deserved to be punished. [] they acknowledged making a decision to commit a crime and described the hard coinage of punishment as their just deserts. There are certainly people who do not believe they deserve punishment for their crimes, as well as people who have been unjustly convicted and even faced the death penalty when they were innocent. It has been suggested that prison rehabilitation should only be for prisoners who are eligible for parole and for people who are first-time offenders and who would most likely benefit from a rehabilitation program, while inmates who have, for example, done their third strike and think that crime is a valid profession, should be denied the opportunity for education. The third strike law emerged when an 18-year-old girl was shot by a man when he tried to steal her purse; she died shortly after. The family found that the shooter and his accomplice both had been arrested several times before. The girls father wrote a proposed three strikes and youre out, that became a law in California (Laird). It is true that there are some people who truly are incapable of change, and no matter which reformation they are put through, there may

Foster 4

be no success. However, especially in the cases of minor crimes such as petty theft, lesser forms of violence and drug abuse, it is important not to forget that the criminals are still people and many do have a chance of success. When they are locked up, they have a lot of time to think about what they have done. Being in prison is a constant reminder for them, and many genuinely want to apologize to the victim or victims family and ask for forgiveness. An article in the Christian Science Monitor states, Part of a rapidly growing movement called restorative justice, victim-offender programs show that forgiveness can play a healing role with regard to crime, enabling victims to go on with their lives and helping offenders face their actions and grapple with their futures (A New Model). Many victims will certainly not want to have anything to do with the offenders, and they often feel infuriated when somebody who hurt them is freed from prison. But others have argued that our present system separates people from one another. Crime is defined as an offense against the state, justice is defined as establishing blame and meting out punishment, and the process is an adversarial one...It tends to re-enforce the hostility resulting from the crime (A New Model). In spite of the anger and resentment the victims may feel, reaching mediation is likely to help both parties. A report published in January 2008 by criminology professors from UNISA (University of South Africa) and the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, stated: 94% of offenders and 95% of victims indicated that they were satisfied with the agreement reached during the mediation. 81% of the victims said that meeting with the offender helped to reduce their fear of a further attack, and 84% expressed the belief that mediation offered offenders a means to understand the harm they caused (Phoenix Restorative Justice Project Becomes a Model)

Foster 5

Restorative justice offers a complete alternative to the judicial systems which incarcerates offenders without considering the victims need for closure. Studies show that it has a marked effect on emotional well-being and aspects of physical health, as well as opening the door to sometimes remarkable instances of reconciliation. Attention is being given not only to its potential for strengthening family life, but also for community and international relations (A New Model). Since the launch of the Justice and Restoration Project in Phoenix, north of Durban, the center has mediated 2059 cases and is now regarded as a best practice model for South Africa (Phoenix), and a largely successful one in the United States. Restorative justice originated in Canada; it offers mediation for victims and offenders. The offence is discussed and it is jointly decide[d] what should be done to ensure the offender is held accountable and restitution is offered to the victim (Phoenix). Many programs exist now in the United States. Initially, victim-offender programs were exclusively for juvenile cases, but they now deal with adults and even with serious crimes. According to the Phoenix JARP area manager, Cindy Delomoney, the latest records show that of the 2,059 cases, only 16% needed to be returned to court and just 5% of those cases remain pending, (Phoenix). Rehabilitation should not just be a goal of imprisonment, but should be the main focus of it. Most of the people in jail eventually get out, so helping people on both sides of a crime can make a difference for the community. Research shows that the more people feel connected to a community, the less likely they are to commit a crime (A New Model). Some may argue that it is difficult to tell for sure if a rehabilitation program will be the solution for recidivism of prisoners. The background from which they come from has to be considered, for they will be returning to it. The same bad influences and surroundings that were

Foster 6

likely the main risk factors to begin with will be there again. Socioeconomic position and access to opportunity systems can be a real threat to life on parole. Poverty could provoke some to turn to stealing if they feel desperate enough. It comes down to the power of will of the individual to stay on the right side of the law. Nonetheless, it is important to give people an opportunity to improve themselves, and prison rehabilitation can equip them with the willpower and conscience that is needed to do so.

Foster 7

Works Cited "A new model to deal with crime and its victims." Christian Science Monitor 4 Feb. 1999: 17. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 31 Jan. 2014. Enocksson, K. (1981). Correctional programs: A review of the value of education and training in penal institutions. Journal of Offender Counseling, Services and Rehabilitation, 6, 518. Jablecki, Lawrence T. "Teaching criminology to prison inmates." The Humanist Mar.-Apr. 2013: 26+. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 31 Jan. 2014. Laird, Lorelei. "After third strike, many now walk: California begins to release prisoners after reforming its three-strikes law." ABA Journal Dec. 2013: 13+. Academic OneFile. Web. 31 Jan. 2014. "Phoenix Restorative Justice Project Becomes a Model." Africa News Service 29 Aug. 2008. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 31 Jan. 2014. Ward, Shakoor A. "Career and technical education in United States prisons: what have we learned?" Journal of Correctional Education 60.3 (2009): 191+. Academic OneFile. Web. 31 Jan. 2014.