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Prison Rehabilitation

Reaction to Prison Rehabilitation

Priscilla Y. Morelos

University of Texas at El Paso

CRIJ 1301: Introduction to Criminal Justice

Professor. Cheryl Ordaz

12/13/2020
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Prison Rehabilitation

“Our prison & jail system is so large bc [because] we use them as de facto mental

hospitals, homeless shelters, & detox centers instead of *actually* investing in... mental health,

housing, edu,[education] & rehab [rehabilitation].”[ CITATION Ale19 \l 1033 ] U.S. Representative

for New York's 14th congressional district Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted this regarding the

prison abolition movement. This movement that began in the 1980s consist of several groups and

activists that are working towards the elimination of prisons. This tweet has led me to question

my standpoint on the idea of prison abolition and how I see prison rehabilitation and recidivism.

My argument is that there are several existing programs that are available to inmates and

rehabilitation measures are taking place in our prison systems currently. There are programs

being invested in by our prison system and many are addressing those concerns outlined in

Representative Ocasio-Cortez tweet. The programs are designed not only in helping the prisoners

not only throughout their prison term, but they include some programs that will help them after

they have completed their sentence. I will go over in short my views on those programs and their

efforts to possibly decrease recidivism. I will review what some of those programs are to include

mental health treatment, drug treatment and education programs.

For instance, there are psychologists that are working with prisoners with mental health

problems to try and keep them out of the prison system. One of those psychologists is Robert

Morgan, PhD who is a psychology professor at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. He states,

“it’s critical to combine mental health care and treatment for criminalness because inmates can

learn not only how to cope with mental illness, but also practical life skills”[ CITATION Hea19 \l

1033 ]. The Federal Bureau of Prisons issued a new internal guidance in 2014 that is focused on

not only the treatment but care of inmates with mental illness. This guidance outlines the current

treatments in place in prison some that include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Group
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Prison Rehabilitation

Treatment, Skills Training, and Peer Support. The Federal Bureau of Prisons states that

“prioritizing the use of cognitive behavioral therapy and other evidence-based treatment

programs proved to be effective in correctional settings”[ CITATION The17 \l 1033 ]. I feel that this

can not only be utilized while incarcerated to help aid them to be ideal inmates, but upon their

release help them to use those developed tools to better handle their mental issues outside prison

walls. The skills taught should include recognizing and avoiding the behaviors that may lead

them to be reincarcerated. This would help prisoners become more aware of their actions and

what causes them. Hopefully in the future it will help them to refrain from that behavior that may

be causing criminal activity. This in return would likely help to reduce the chances of recidivism.

In addition to mental health treatment the Federal Bureau of Prisons has drug abuse

treatment. Its stated that their “strategy has grown and changed as advances have occurred in

substance treatment programs. Staff members have maintained their expertise in treatment

programming by monitoring and incorporating improvements in the treatment and correctional

programs literature, research, and effective evidence-based practices”[ CITATION Fed20 \l 1033 ].

The Federal Bureau of Prisons has developed several programs to include a Residential Drug

Abuse Program (RDAP) where they live for nine months. In this program inmates participate in

rehabilitative programs that include working, attending school, and participation in vocational

activities. They also have a Non-residential Drug Abuse Treatment that is for shorter sentence

offenders that teaches them skills to use during their transition from being in an institution to

back to the community. Another program is Community Treatment Services (CTS) that offers

assistance and resources to offenders after they have been released from prison and are already in

the community. All these programs I feel are essential because many of these prisoners are

forced into detox upon arrival since they no longer have access to illegal drugs However, once
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Prison Rehabilitation

released they are likely to go back to using these drugs may have led them to be incarcerated in

the first place. I believe that these programs will not only help them to deal with addiction while

incarcerated but it will teach them the coping skills that would help them after their release.

Especially when they those skills combined with programs in place like CTS who they can reach

out to when released that have the resources to help them to continue their journey to sobriety.

Lastly, educational programs are a form of rehabilitation I feel that is the most important.

Many offenders in my opinion begin at a young age and start in the juvenile system. If they lack

the guidance in their homes, it is likely that they will not complete their education. The U. S.

Department of Justice Office of the Deputy Attorney General states that “By preparing inmates

for substantive opportunities beyond the prison gates, we reduce the likelihood that released

inmates will commit future crimes”[ CITATION Sal171 \l 1033 ]. Programs to obtain their GED are

offered as well as several other educational programs that prisoners can participate in. These

educational programs would help them after release to increase their probabilities of obtaining

employment. Since there are many places of employment that require the bare minimum of a

high school education or general education diploma to be considered hirable. Many prisons even

offer vocational and occupational training programs. These programs are “based on the needs of

the inmates, general labor market conditions, and institution labor force need”[ CITATION Feb20 \l

1033 ]. These programs teach the prisoners a trade skill and offers them the experience of on the

job training to prepare them to perform that job once released. This combined with a general

education diploma would increase their chances of being successful once released. In 2017 U. S.

Department of Justice Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates stated “Research shows that

inmates who participate in correctional education programs have 43 percent lower odds of

returning to prison than those who do not”[ CITATION Yat17 \l 1033 ]. This statistic indicates to me
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Prison Rehabilitation

that educational programs are working and inmates returning is decreasing because of them. That

in return I believe would save tax dollar money as they are less likely to be re-incarcerated.

In conclusion, I believe that rehabilitation in the prison system is not only feasible but

attainable as there are programs in place to better assist them. Programs that offer mental health

treatment to help them cope with their behavioral health issues while incarcerated and after they

are release. As well as drug treatment programs that help prisoners to help them get clean and

stay clean. In addition to these are educational programs in place to help them to become

employable after incarceration. Hopefully in the future the prison system will implement more

programs that can further the progress that has already been implemented and can assist

prisoners to progress and contribute to society.

References

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez [@AOC]. October 17, 2019 Secondly, our prison & jail

system is so large bc we use them as de facto mental hospitals, homeless shelters [Tweet] Twitter

https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1181207076082724864
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BOP: Inmate Substance Abuse Treatment. (2021). Retrieved 13 February 2021, from

https://www.bop.gov/inmates/custody_and_care/substance_abuse_treatment.jsp

BOP: Education. (2021). Retrieved 13 February 2021, from

https://www.bop.gov/inmates/custody_and_care/education.jsp

Prison Reform: Reducing Recidivism by Strengthening the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

(2021). Retrieved 13 February 2021, from https://www.justice.gov/archives/prison-reform

Yates, S. Q. (2017). Memorandum for the Acting Director Federal Bureau of Prisons.

The United Stated Department of Justice Archives. Retrieved February 13, 2021, from

https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/file/886311/download

Stringer, H. (2019). Improving mental health for inmates. Retrieved 13 February 2021,

from https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/03/mental-heath-inmates