It has always been known that prisons are meant to be both punitive and reformative, but somehow both are lacking and in need of reform.
Not only do we see inmates going back to jail time after time, but our jails and prisons are so overpopulated that we are forced to let repeat offenders out with little more than a slap on the hand. Eventually, their crimes progress to such an extent that they are imprisoned for many years. Some states don’t seem to have the same problems as they do in California and New York, the reason being that they have instituted innovative programs that are effectively helping to turn inmates’ lives around and reducing recidivism in their states. Here are a few of the ways in which that is happening.
Giving Over the Care of Homeless Dogs
Most Americans are familiar with the program Pit Bulls and Parolees which has caused quite a sensation around the country. However, other states like Kansas are doing something similar along those very same lines. They are matching violent offenders with homeless dogs and puppies to give over the care so that those dogs can find a forever home to welcome them. They are given a dog house guide to build or choose the right dog house for that breed of dog, given ways to socialize dogs so they do well with people and take over keeping them fed and groomed as well as ensuring that they stay fit and active. Fewer rescues are being put down and inmates find a calling they never knew they had!
Carpentry and Cabinet Making
While it isn’t possible to let some violent offenders work with dangerous tools and machines, some serving a longer sentence for theft or fraud, for example, are taught trades that can earn them a decent living when they are released. Statistics indicate that many men and women steal and cheat because of a hopeless condition they find themselves living in. They explain their way of thinking was, “Why bother when I’ll never get out of this hellhole I’m living in.” Carpentry, cabinet making and even plumbing and welding are being taught as vo-tech courses in prison so that they have a skill to fall back on when they are released.
High School Diplomas and College Courses for Credit
At one time, it was only possible to let inmates get a GED in prison because there weren’t enough teachers or enough funding to bring them in. Now, with the advances in the Internet and distance education, inmates can go beyond a high school diploma! Inmates can now use prison computers to take courses online and some are even getting college degrees in prison so that they leave prepared to enter the workforce.
What our prisons need is innovative programs like these. Drug and psychiatric counseling are also sorely needed but the bottom line is in showing these lost men and women that there is another way. For those who got where they are due to being kept down in society, prison reform can help to bring them to a place where they no longer feel alienated from the rest of society. What can you do in your area to help local jails and prisons bring about social change that is so desperately needed?