3C Part 3.

The 3C Report ( Conviction Confinement Correction )

Part 3. Correction; The post punishment system.

There is a lot of psychology involved in this subject. Before we get into ways to improve the system, I want to point out a few essential facts. The threat of punishment has almost zero effect on people committing crime. They do not make a rational choice after considering the positive and negative results of their actions. The often uttered “We need to make an example out of you.” when handing down a harsh sentence is a hollow idea, in terms of crime prevention or correction.

There are basically three types of people we must consider in terms of rehabilitation. Some recognize that their is a problem with their behaviour and they want to change it, other people see the problem but they think change is impossible, and then there are those who do not want any change.

The first type are easy to help, because they will actively take part in a program. If they genuinely want self improvement, they will try to learn from the education they are given. The second type are a harder to deal with, because they have for various reasons convinced themselves that change is not possible for them. Social and mental problems seem inescapable. These will often include repeat offenders who say with various degrees of honesty “Iv tried to change but nothing works.” They require more than a simple “how to” program, they need guidance and help to build them up to the point of being stale and self confident enough to seriously face the issues that caused their criminal behaviour. The third type are almost a lost cause. If they do not want to change, then forcing them to take a re-education program, will usually achieve nothing. A few may benefit, but most will endure the classes without any of the lessons really sinking in. Some may even seem to do well, but they are not taking the program seriously, its just a necessary hoop to jump through.

“If you have an addict, you can send him to jail a thousand times, you can put him in a thousand programs, but the only way he will really change is if he wants to.”

With those basic point in mind, let us continue.

At any level of incarceration, parole or probation, there should be programs and support offered. If you think you need help, it should not be a long complicated struggle to get it. There are many stories about offenders on parole who, don't want to talk about problems for fear of being sent back to prison, or those who do bring up issues, only to be put on a waiting list. If you are struggling with an issue, asking for help can be very difficult. You may not expect to have it fixed right away, but you do need to have it addressed right away. Unfortunately, unless the issue is on the verge of suicide, you may be told to wait.

A parole officer can be a useful resource for the offender. However there is the solid unshakable notion that the PO is not your friend, he is there to do his job, not to help you. If you are cooperative and make his job easy, then a reasonable working-relationship can exist. But you must watch what you say.

A system that makes rehabilitation central.

As soon as a criminal is convicted, before sentencing, an interview should be done to determine if they want or need a rehabilitation program. At the same time the question of education and job skills can be covered. The recommendation of the interviewer should be used by the judge in considering the sentence to be given.

A general self-management program can benefit anyone, and should be required for all as a short class. The skills of emotional awareness and control, those of better communication and conflict resolution, are basic psychology that we can all stand to improve on. They do not directly relate too criminal behaviour, but they do play a huge role in how a person lives their life. A more lengthy class should also be provided for those who are very deficient in these areas.

Dealing with addictions is the next biggest topic. There are many things people can be addicted to; drugs, alcohol, gambling, sex, pornography, etc. There should be a generic program dealing with addictions in the most broad way, but there also should be more deep and lengthy classes focused on specific areas.

A few words about work-rehabilitation.

The idea of normality while in prison is a valuable one. Inmates should be in situations that help them reintegrate. This includes living in apartment-like housing units, where they must do normal daily tasks like cooking and cleaning. It also means having some sort of job. However the current work programs is something of a joke. At $5 / day, there is no real incentive to work. It also makes saving any real amount next to impossible. For example; if you want to save enough for an apartment, say $300 damage deposit and $600 first month’s rent, you need to work 180 days, with out spending a cent. As part of a reintegration plan this is a poor idea. Most inmates take jobs just to relieve boredom.

In addition to education and programs.

For best effect, a support network must exist in the community, and be active with the offender during his term of parole or probation. There are 3 basic elements to any such system; regular weakly meetings, a help line one may call at any time, and a refresher class given near the end of the offender’s sentence. ( currently most refresher classes are given to those on parole early in their term ) Also of importance is idea that you have freedom to say things in the group and you need not fear punishment.

Currently if a person is on parole for say a drug offence, he is very hesitant to talk about the very real pull addiction has on him. If he admits to having taken some drug, for whatever reason, it can be an automatic trip back to jail. The fear is that instead of getting help, he gets punished.

Corrections Programs – Voluntary and Mandatory

Those in V. Programs want to be there, most if not all have some desire for self improvement. It must be admitted that some are just working the system and not taking reform seriously. Those in M. Programs are often reluctantly co-operating because it is a necessary step in their sentence. They often have low levels of motivation to change.

As a basic truth of psychology, it is far more easy to help someone change than to force them to change. Thus the effectiveness of a voluntary program should be expected to be a lot higher than that of a mandatory one. The particulars of a V. Program should assume that participants want rehabilitation and take seriously their role as students. Unfortunately the M. Programs must take a different view. To be effective they must overcome the resistance of the participants to the very idea of reform. The program must make a serious and continuous effort to push the idea “successful personal change is possible” into the minds of the students. Until this idea is embraced, very little long lasting change can be expected.

The attitudes of people participating in programs maybe summed up as follows;

I have no problems. Im fine, its society that has the problems. Nothing is my fault, I do the best I can, I just end up in bad situations. I have problems, Iv tried to fix them but nothing works. Im too set in my ways to change now. I have problems but no idea how to fix them. Im not sure what my problems are.

Some of these attitudes are easy to work with, others require work before any meaningful rehabilitation can start.

The 2 paths to self improvement.

Basically there is the external and the internal factor.

Psychology focuses on the internal. Everything is all in your head. It is all up to you to face your problems and fix them. External influences do effect you, but its mostly about how you react to them that matters. You only control what you think and do. Psychology generally dismisses any talk of spirituality and help from a higher power. The idea that God has a plan for you is considered delusional.

The external path to self improvement has a large focus on the spiritual / religious side of life, especially the idea of getting help from a higher power. When you feel that you can not solve your problems it is a great comfort to be able to turn to something greater than yourself and ask for help. The idea that your difficulties maybe part of a big picture, a divine plan, can get you through some dark times and serve as a foundation for self improvement.

Many people are resistant to the spiritual and especially the religious, because of negative past experiences and their perceptions of what these things offer. They may even see them as forms of weakness. A belief in God may be comforting but in the end He is not real and the belief is just a crutch. On the other hand science and psychology seem more solid, yet they do not offer much in the way of comfort or hope. They do offer useful skills in communicating, emotional understanding, self management, etc. But they generally fail to offer a sense of meaning about life.

The problem faced by program designers is that spirituality and psychology are often at odds with each other. If religion in any traditional form is brought into consideration it is quickly dismissed as incompatible with proper modern rehabilitation. So we are left with some loss ends. A science based program of sound techniques for self improvement will lack the motivational forces of hope- that there is purpose to life, that things will get better, and faith- that there is a higher power who can help you when you don't have the strength to go on.