Joycene Harrell
CRM-430
Term Paper Week 5 Draft
Summary for Prison Rehabilitation and Counseling Programs I chose to focus this term paper on the various programs offered to prisoners as part of their rehabilitation for introduction back into society. In today’s world there are many who believe that every one can be rehabilitated. The question should be asked; “does rehabilitation really work for everyone?” I will provide statistics on the success and failure rate, as well as which programs are most beneficial to prisoners. Whether rehabilitation and counseling works or not, something has to be done to assist prisoners in order for them to lead a normal life upon their release. I will discuss some of the many programs offered by various states ranging from “Pets in Prison” to obtaining college degrees. I will explain the various types of counseling offered to sex offenders, pedophiles and murderers. Those are a few topics I feel should have special interest in the counseling/rehabilitation area. I am sure most would agree that prisoners should receive some type of counseling and rehabilitation, but where do you draw the line on the rehabilitation services offered? Should the money from taxpayers be used to fund certain types of programs, how does the prison system decide who gets to participate in which programs, and how can counselors and judicial boards ensure there will be no regression? Those are just a couple of questions that will be answered throughout my report.

Structural Outline
1. Educational Services Offered 1a. Prison Entrepreneurship 2a. Prison Labor/computer repair program
2. Drug Rehabilitation 2a. Program Steps in detail for the Second Chance Program
3. Sex Offender Therapy
4. Alternative Programs to Prison
Abstract
This research paper will enlighten the readers of the many different programs offered to prisoners. It will show how various states employ different rehabilitation and counseling services to prepare the inmate for their return into society. Statistics on the effectiveness of the rehabilitation programs as well as which programs have the highest success rate will be provided. This paper will also address the issue of what programs should be offered and which should not be offered. I will explain how some convicted persons are sent to a boot camp type setting instead of prison.

Prison Rehabilitation and Counseling Programs Today illiteracy and criminal behavior is one of the main issues in corrections today. Due to many budget cuts some federally sponsored programs has been eliminated from prisons. Prior to 1994 inmates were eligible for Pell Grants to assist them with obtaining a bachelors degree. By mid-decade out of $22 billion dollars only 6% was allotted for vocational, educational or some sort of life skills training (www.educationupdate.com). Although many prisons have decreased the educational aspect of rehabilitation some colleges and universities have adopted programs to assist inmates on the reentry into society and help them prepare to become a productive member of the community. Boston University provides a prison education program that was founded in 1972 and has issued more than 160 Bachelor of Arts degrees as well as some Master of Arts degrees. That is just one university that has taken an active role in trying to secure our nation with more rehabilitative services for inmates. Others that offer educational programs are Wesleyan University, Bard College, just to name a few, as well as professors and students from such universities as Georgetown University and Harvard. These professionals believe in reform instead of permanent incarceration. Almost all prisons in the United States offer a form of education to its inmates. Although the programs vary from state to state they are all designed to provide the participant with a start on the right path once they are released from incarceration. The Arizona Department of Corrections offers educational programs because they believe it will reduce recidivism. The corrections department offer services in four basic program areas: • Functional Literacy Program • GED Preparation Program • Vocational Educational Program • Special Education Program The first program, Functional Literacy Program is a program that assists inmates functioning below an 8th grader in reading, language or math. When prisoners first report to prison they are tested using the Test for Adult Basic Education (TABE). If they test below the minimum required level they are required to attend the program for 120 days. Inmates are also allowed to remain beyond 120 days provided space is available. The GED Preparation Program assists inmates with the preparation of taking the test for their GED. Inmates are allowed to participate in this program as long as they test above the required 8th grade minimum, and do not have a high school diploma. Arizona Department of Corrections has contracts with several community colleges around the state to train inmates that have a GED or high school diploma but no identifiable employment skills. Some of the vocational training can take any where from six months to two years. The Special Education Program is tailored to those individuals who have disabilities that may impede their education in a regular classroom. It is offered to minors that have been adjudicated as adults as well as inmates under 22 years old. Those are the main educational programs Arizona offers to its inmates. By offering these services the department of corrections hopes it will lower the recidivism rate which will mean less returning offenders to the system (www.azcorrections.gov/PrisonOps/Education). Most jurisdictions believe that education WILL reduce recidivism. A study by the Federal Bureau of Prisons found that recidivism was much lower among those inmates that participated in an educational program than those who did not. The numbers were 35.5% (participants) compared to 44.1% (non-participants). Just these numbers alone does show that education can assist with society’s problems (www.adulted.about.com). One prison in Houston, TX offers a Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP). This program assists inmates with developing business skills to incorporate into their daily lives once released from prison. Some of the programs most notable accomplishments are they have maintained a participant recidivism rate of less than 3%, two inmates have filed provisional patent applications, and one great milestone is that participants has maintained a 93% employment rate once released. This program has definitely been one of the more successful programs provided to inmates. The final educational program I will address is the Prison Labor/Computer Program. California a Computer Refurbishing Program. Prisoners are trained on how to refurbish computers as well as learn the intricacies of computer software. This program is a win-win situation for the community as well as the inmates. Because of this program 35,500 computers donated from companies have been refurbished and distributed to local schools. This entail gives the children of the community a jump start on a better life. This program is seen as a great model for the prison system. Companies such as Microsoft and Intel have donated parts to assist with the refurbishing of the computers. This shows that the program is getting the attention needed to maybe one day grow and expand to other jurisdictions (www.prisonactivist.org). Now let me play devil’s advocate. Let me ask this question. Is it fair for a convicted criminal to obtain a free education while my self and others have to pay for our own education? Why do criminals sometimes have more rights than non-criminals? I personally believe that inmates should receive training. I do not believe their entire education should be paid for. Vocational training as well as other job training skills should be taught, but those of us who chose not to have a life of crime should not have to foot the bill for convicts to obtain degrees while some college students don’t know where their next meal will come from. Just making a point! Drug offenders are one of the top reasons for being incarcerated. Many prisoners have drug problems and were not able to obtain any type of rehabilitation services outside of prison. Today top officials at prisons and within the judicial system are recognizing that if prisoners can obtain drug rehabilitation they are likely to straighten their lives out once released. One program offered is the Second Chance Program. This program offers drug-free withdrawal, therapeutic training routines, body disintoxification and a communication and perception course (www.penalrehab.org). The drug-free withdrawal rehabilitation is designed to help the inmate withdraw from drugs as quickly as possible without substituting another drug. Vitamins and minerals are administered twice a day, inmates that have bee trained also assist with physical techniques to decrease physical trauma of withdrawal. The therapeutic training routine allows the inmates to increase their attention to the surrounding environment. It trains them in how to deal with others as well as their own wife, allowing them to understand how to positively accept communication from others. The inmates are taken through various drills or exercises to help with their communication skills. The body disintoxification is used to remove stored drug residue from the inmates systems. The procedure entails exercise, vitamins, and time to sweat it out in a sauna. The communication and perception course is an extension of the therapeutic training routine. It reinforces the skill on how to accept communication from others and give good communication. The inmates are taught self respect and respecting others. They are taught basic coping skills to use once released. Another program that is becoming popular is the methadone program. Many prisons do not offer a methadone program because they do not want to administer addictive drugs behind bars. For years Rikers Island in New York was the only prison that provided a methadone program. Once studies showed how effective the program could be other states decided to establish the program. Some have considered heroin as a lasting addiction. They make the argument that you would not deprive a diabetic their right to insulin and heroin addicts should be assisted in any way possible. This can remain as an argument because heroin addicts made a conscious decision to start using drugs. However, it is believed by most that some type of rehabilitation is needed for all drug offenders (www.4therapy.com). Now let’s focus on sex offenders and rehabilitation counseling services offered to them. With the increase of sex offenders many controversial questions has risen about the rehabilitation services offered to them. Some of the questions posed are “how long should they be incarcerated, how should they be monitored following release, and does psychological treatment in prison actually affect the risk of committing further offenses. Those are just a few of the many questions asked when it comes to sex offenders. Because of the controversy and responses to those questions, polices has been leaning towards longer prison sentences and more restrictive measures after release monitoring (www.apa.org). The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has a program named “Sex Offender Rehabilitation Programs (SORP). This program provides gives the sex offender an evaluation, education and treatment. Within the SORP program falls the Sex Offender Education Program (SOEP). This is a four month educational program that assists sex offenders that have “lower” re-offense potential or those that may be released under a lengthy supervision term. The curriculum for this rehabilitation program consists of various topics such as healthy sexuality, anger and stress management and interpersonal relationships to name a few. In order for an inmate to participate in this program they must be within 18-24 months of their release date. One question, will the sex offender truly remember what is taught if they are given this program almost two years before they are actually released? Another more intense program offered by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice is the Sex Offender Treatment Program (SOTP) (www.tdcj.state.tx.us/pgm&svcs/pgms&svcs-sexofftrtpgm.htm). The SOTP is an intense 18 month program in a therapeutic community environment. This program is broken down into three phases: Phase I – Evaluation and Treatment Orientation (3 months). This phase of treatment is directed toward the offender that has admitted his/her guilt, taken responsibility for their actions and are willing to learn coping skills. Phase II – Intensive Treatment (12 months). This is the highly structured phase that focuses on the total restructuring of the offenders behavior and thought process which in hopes will lead to a more social lifestyle and lower the possibility of re-offending. Phase III – Transition and Release Preparation (3 months). This is the final phase in preparation for the sex offender’s release. This phase prepares him/her for reintegration with their family, and learning post-release responsibilities and standards that will be expected by the parole officer, treatment providers and to assist the inmate with registration laws. The overall objective for this program is to reduce the potential of further sexual deviant behavior. It is a comprehensive treatment program that addresses the issues of the offender’s motivation, their psychosocial education, psychological evaluation and it also provides relapse prevention training. It is a structured program but provides an individual treatment plan for each participant. This program also encourages the participants to take responsibility for their actions and to show empathy for their victims. This program does not just stop once the inmate is released. It continues once the offender has been released back into the community. Other states are treating their sex offenders with chemical castration. Castration has been used as a form of punishment throughout history. By the late 1900s most castration sentences were not allowed once appealed. In 1996 due to many medical studies California became the first state to enact the use of chemical castration for certain sex offenders. In 1997 (six months after California) the Florida Legislature enacted chapter 97-184, Florida Laws opening the door for chemical castration of sex offenders. With this new statute, Florida trial judges could sentence any defendant that has been convicted of a sexual battery to receive medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA). MPA is a chemical which inhibits sex drive. The new statute mandates court ordered weekly injections of a sex-drive-reducing hormone to any qualified repeat sex offenders upon release from prison (Spalding, Larry H., 1998). With new advances in medicine many see chemical castration as a humane act, while others such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), medical, psychological and psychiatric professionals see chemical castration as unconstitutional. I ask this, what about the victim’s constitutional rights? Weren’t the victim supposed to feel safe and secure before they were robbed of their dignity and innocence? Not only did Florida follow California with passing the chemical castration laws, Montana followed suit as well. With the Montana law it does not mandate MPA injection’s, it does however allow judges to impose chemical castration if the offender commits rape or incest for a second time or if the offense is particularly heinous. I do no understand “particularly heinous” especially when the crime is committed against a child. Right now in the United States child molestation is a serious problem. The recidivism rate among child molesters is very high, 75% are convicted more than once for the sexual abuse of a young person. I am sure we have all seen the show “Dateline” and the episode called “To Catch a Predator”. The men seen in these segments are from all walks of life. With the amazingly high number of pedophiles seen on the show, one never knows how many more are out there that has not been detected. Something has to be done to discourage these people from taking the innocence of our children. If it calls for chemical castration or surgical castration, we need to do whatever is necessary to protect our youth. If it works lets use it. In France doctors are doing a study on sex offenders and chemical castration to see if it will actually deter the offender from committing a sex crime in the future. The number of people sent to prison in France for sex offenses has multiplied by seven over the past 20 years. Now almost a quarter of male detainees in French jails or 8,200 people are sex offenders and nearly three quarters of them have raped children. The French government hopes that the treatment plan will work to deter future sex crimes (www.news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4170963.stm). In an article written by William E. Hapworth, M.D. (www.treatmentonline.com/treatments.php?id=95) he believes that in order to break the cycle, sex offenders need mandatory long term treatment. He feels that these individuals are mentally ill and require long term care not just treated with a medicine that will only deter the problem. The doctors need to get down to the root of the cause. By treating these individuals with drugs it will only deter their hunger as long as they are receiving the injections. If they disappear from the local area as so many have, they, nor society has been helped. One other issue that arises is that some sex offenders do not offend for the pure joy of having sex. To some it is a form of power. So, if it is not for pleasure, the usage of a chemical will not suppress the urge to assault someone. Is there a true answer or solution for deterring any sexual abuse? My last look at prison rehabilitation program will be what is called “Special Alternative Incarceration (Boot Camp – SAI). In Washtenaw County Michigan, they adopted a program in 1988 as an alternative to prison for male probationers convicted of certain crimes. In 1992 the program was expanded to include females as well. In order to be eligible to participate in the Special Alternative Incarceration program, the prisoner’s minimum sentence must not exceed the following: a. 24 months or less for a violation that involved any occupied dwelling house. b. 36 months or less for any other crime. c. The prisoner has never been in a special alternative incarceration unit. d. Must be physically able to participate. e. The prisoner must not have any mental disability f. Must be the prisoner’s first prison sentence.
The program has three phases, Phase I – involves highly disciplined training of 90 days. It is comprised of military style exercise, work assignment including secondary education and substance abuse treatment. Phase II – it intensive supervision in the community, usually a half-way house. Phase III – is supervision in the form of how probationers are supervised. Phase I and III are mandatory. Phase II is determined by assessing an offenders need for residential placement. The SAI program also includes an intensive post-release program that may include electronic monitoring. Offenders are expected to work or go to school at least 30 hours per week and must submit to drug testing when requested. The courts in Michigan use this type of discipline to cut the cost of having another prison inmate. It also gives the offender a chance at remaining free and learning from their mistake. It is for non-violent, non-repeat offenders. It is sort of a second chance prison term. With all of the prison programs offered, how does the court decides which are best suited for which inmates? There are many questions for society to answer when it comes to prisoners. One of the biggest issues is for sex offenders. How do you determine what punishment is the correct punishment and how do you determine what counseling will help the offender? Everyone cannot be treated the same way for the same crime. People come from all walks of life and no one treatment is right for every offender, or for every crime.

References www.educationupdate.com/archives/2005/May/html/FEAT-BehindBars.html www.azcorrections.gov/PrisonOps/Education%20Programs.htm www.adulted.about.com/cs/prisoneducation/a/prison_ed_2.htm?p=1 www.prisonactivist.org/pipermail/prisonact-list/1998-June/001937.html www.4therapy.com/consumer/life_topics/article/9002/533/Rare+Prison+Methadone www.law.fsu.eud/journal/lawreview/issues/252/spalding www.treatmentonline.com/treatments.php?id=95 www.news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe
Annotated Bibliography
Granoff, Gillian, Schools Behind Bars: Prison College Programs Unlock the Keys to Human Potential, May 2005, www.educationupdate.com/archives/2005/May/html/FEAT-BehindBars, this article addresses programs that some colleges and universities offer to prison inmates.

Hapworth, William E., M.D., Anxiety, Addiction and Depression Treatments, September 2006. http://treatmentonline.com/treatments.php?id=95 This article addresses the issue that sex offenders need mandatory long term treatment if they are to become rehabilitated.

Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Rehabiliation and Reentry Programs Division www.tdcj.state.tx.us/pgm&svcs/pgms&svcs-sexofftrtpg
This article explains how the department handles rehabilitation and reentry to the justice system.

N.Y. Times News Service – Chemical Castration Ok’d for Montana Inmates, April 1997, http://archive.southcoasttoday.com/daily/04-97/04-27-97/a09wn032.htm
This article explains how Montana has approved the use of chemical castration for sex offenders.

Kersting, Karen, APA Online, August 2003, New Hope for Sex Offender Treatment www.apa.org/monitor/julaug03/newhope.html In this article it explains the various roles psychologists play in determining treatment for sex offenders.

Second Chance Program, a non-profit government consulting group the develops rehabilitation and prevention programs to the prison system in Baja California. www.penalrehab.org/program/overview

Special Alternative Incarceration (Boot Camp – SAI), June 2007, www.michigan.gov
This article explains how the Michigan Department of Corrections use boot camp type techniques to offer an alternative to a prison sentence.

National Institute for Literacy, Correctional Education Facts, September 2001, www.nifl.gov/nifl/facts/correctional..html This is a break down of the correction population and educational services being provided.

LoPinto, Bernard, Prison Education – Correctional Education – Adult Basic Education / Literacy http://adulted.about.com/cs/prisoneducation/a/prison_ed.htm?p=1 The article addresses the education programs offered.