| The recent Flint water crisis has made national news shedding light on incompetent and perhaps criminal actions by the Michigan government. This crisis is not just a temporary problem that can be fixed by throwing money, which Michigan does not have, at the problem. Lead poisoning, as reported by some experts, can cause brain damage and contribute to criminal thinking and behavior. Lead poisoning has been linked to lower IQs, aggressive behavior, and to brain damage that affects learning and memory. Some experts have even connected levels of lead exposure to high crime rates.* Water problems like the one in Flint are not new to Michigan prisoners. Every Michigan prisoner hears rumors of the horrible water at the St. Louis Michigan prison. The water there is undrinkable and water is sold (yes sold!) on the store for those who want drinkable water. Yet, nothing has been done to resolve this problem. But the St. Louis prison is not the only Michigan prison with water problems. Michigan Reformatory in Ionia is the oldest operating prison in Michigan. This Shawshank Redemption looking prison routinely has rusty orange water coming from the pipes, yet the administration insists the water is safe for prisoners to drink and cook with, although some officers won't drink it. For years no one has held the Michigan Department of Corrections accountable for exposing prisoners to contaminated water. I am not sure the Flint water crisis will make a difference for prisoners, but maybe now someone with integrity will believe that a real problem exists and take action to ensure that Michigan's prisoners are not exposed to toxic water that may contribute to criminal behavior. * For more information and for study sources see "Biological Influences on Criminal Behavior" by Gail S. Anderson. |
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Lead in Water Can Contribute to Criminality
Monday, February 22, 2016
Is Rehabilitation a Purpose of Prison?
I read an article recently in my hometown's newspaper where a trial judge was quoted as saying the purpose of adult prison, versus juvenile detention, is for punishment and isolation from society, not for rehabilitation. Certainly these do serve one purpose of prison, but to hear a judge state that rehabilitation is a goal of the juvenile courts but not of adult courts is both revealing and disheartening. When I read the judge's quote it reinforced to me the court and prison administration's belief that Michigan's adult prisoners are either not able to be rehabilitated or are not worth the effort.
Certainly the Michigan Department of Corrections has made some efforts toward rehabilitation with a few classes mandated to some prisoners. These classes include VPP, a focus on violence prevention; Bridges, to deter domestic violence; and Thinking for a Change, a class on critical thinking. Other classes also exist, but these seem to have the primary focus.
The problem with these programs is that they all require changes in thinking, and since prison policy is to wait until a prisoner is nearing release before putting him in his required classes prisoners often spend years in prison with their old thinking patterns. As any first year psychology student will tell you, any change in behavior requires first a change in thinking.
The unfortunate fact is that the Michigan prison system is more focused on spending its nearly $2 billion budget on sentences significantly longer than most other states rather than on affecting changes through rehabilitation that will reduce re-offense rates.
Until the public demands a more effective use of its funds, judges like the one in my county, and prison administrators will continue the status quo of punishment and isolation over a balanced approach that includes rehabilitation.
Certainly the Michigan Department of Corrections has made some efforts toward rehabilitation with a few classes mandated to some prisoners. These classes include VPP, a focus on violence prevention; Bridges, to deter domestic violence; and Thinking for a Change, a class on critical thinking. Other classes also exist, but these seem to have the primary focus.
The problem with these programs is that they all require changes in thinking, and since prison policy is to wait until a prisoner is nearing release before putting him in his required classes prisoners often spend years in prison with their old thinking patterns. As any first year psychology student will tell you, any change in behavior requires first a change in thinking.
The unfortunate fact is that the Michigan prison system is more focused on spending its nearly $2 billion budget on sentences significantly longer than most other states rather than on affecting changes through rehabilitation that will reduce re-offense rates.
Until the public demands a more effective use of its funds, judges like the one in my county, and prison administrators will continue the status quo of punishment and isolation over a balanced approach that includes rehabilitation.
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
6 Simple Ways To Connect With Someone in Prison
Connecting with someone in prison can be challenging. The distance prison creates is not simply geographical; prison has a way of putting up walls in relationships too. But these walls do not need to exist or to be hardened by time. A relationship with someone in prison can be deepened and strengthened for those who are willing to put in the work.
These are some simple ideas that you can use to build a relationship with a prisoner:
1. Visits
Face-to-face visits are by far the best way to build relationships. Nothing compares to the ability to read facial expressions and body language, and to share a loving physical connection.
2. Phone Calls
Most prisoners make $10-15 on average per month, so if you are able to accept collect phone calls or set up a prepaid account to keep in touch by phone this is the second best way to stay connected. Keeping good relationships at home is a key to reducing chances of re-offense.
3. Letters, Emails, and Pictures
Mail call can be a real let-down to prisoners who never, or rarely, receive mail. Even with the ability to email now available, receiving a letter through the mail can lift a prisoner's spirits. Many prisoners keep photo albums to reflect on or to share with other the pictures they've received by mail. Others pin pictures to their bulletin boards to keep the memories fresh. Pictures are sometimes the only way to see how life is happening while the prisoner is gone.
4. Share An Activity
You have to create opportunities to experience life together. Agree to read the same book or watch the same television show and discuss it together. Play tic-tac-toe, hangman, or other simple games together by mail, each taking a turn and mailing the game back with a return letter. Study together, or tutor by mail. Education is an important part of rehabilitation and you can be a part of that education.
5. Get Creative Together
Many creative people are in prison, but not many outlets exist to put that creativity to work. You can commission drawings, leatherwork, or other hobbycraft items to be made for gifts or for you to sell at church or in the community to help your loved one support himself. Prisoners who are not creative may even be able to purchase hobbycraft projects from other prisoners for you to sell for a profit. You could also write a short story together, each writing a page or several paragraphs at a time.
6. Ask For Advise Or Opinions
Prisoners still need to feel like they matter. If you are painting the house, ask for opinions on colors. If you are buying a car, ask for advise on makes and models. Include the prisoner in your decision-making to give him a sense of purpose, so he can feel included in your life.
What ideas have you used to connect with those you love who are in prison?
These are some simple ideas that you can use to build a relationship with a prisoner:
1. Visits
Face-to-face visits are by far the best way to build relationships. Nothing compares to the ability to read facial expressions and body language, and to share a loving physical connection.
2. Phone Calls
Most prisoners make $10-15 on average per month, so if you are able to accept collect phone calls or set up a prepaid account to keep in touch by phone this is the second best way to stay connected. Keeping good relationships at home is a key to reducing chances of re-offense.
3. Letters, Emails, and Pictures
Mail call can be a real let-down to prisoners who never, or rarely, receive mail. Even with the ability to email now available, receiving a letter through the mail can lift a prisoner's spirits. Many prisoners keep photo albums to reflect on or to share with other the pictures they've received by mail. Others pin pictures to their bulletin boards to keep the memories fresh. Pictures are sometimes the only way to see how life is happening while the prisoner is gone.
4. Share An Activity
You have to create opportunities to experience life together. Agree to read the same book or watch the same television show and discuss it together. Play tic-tac-toe, hangman, or other simple games together by mail, each taking a turn and mailing the game back with a return letter. Study together, or tutor by mail. Education is an important part of rehabilitation and you can be a part of that education.
5. Get Creative Together
Many creative people are in prison, but not many outlets exist to put that creativity to work. You can commission drawings, leatherwork, or other hobbycraft items to be made for gifts or for you to sell at church or in the community to help your loved one support himself. Prisoners who are not creative may even be able to purchase hobbycraft projects from other prisoners for you to sell for a profit. You could also write a short story together, each writing a page or several paragraphs at a time.
6. Ask For Advise Or Opinions
Prisoners still need to feel like they matter. If you are painting the house, ask for opinions on colors. If you are buying a car, ask for advise on makes and models. Include the prisoner in your decision-making to give him a sense of purpose, so he can feel included in your life.
What ideas have you used to connect with those you love who are in prison?
Friday, February 5, 2016
What Exactly Is Restorative Justice?
Anyone connected to prison for any length of time is likely to have heard the term 'restorative justice.' Finding a definition for restorative justice, however, is often difficult.
I recently read a book on restorative justice titled "The Little Book of Victim Offender Conferencing" (Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz) and contained in this book was an excellent definition of restorative justice:
"Restorative justice is an approach that involves, to the extent possible, those who have a stake in a specific offense and to collectively identify and address harms, needs, and obligations, in order to heal and put things as right as possible."
This definition actually originates from author Howard Zehr in his book "The Little Book of Restorative Justice.'
Having a succinct definition like this does not answer every question about what restorative justice is, but it gives a starting point for discussion.
Restorative justice practices are not routinely adopted by the court systems in Michigan, or most other states for that matter, but whether initiated by the victim or offender, these practices can have a beneficial and healing effect for both the victim of a crime and the offender. In future posts I will discuss some of the practical steps of restorative justice and why both victims and offenders may benefit from pursuing these steps.
I recently read a book on restorative justice titled "The Little Book of Victim Offender Conferencing" (Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz) and contained in this book was an excellent definition of restorative justice:
"Restorative justice is an approach that involves, to the extent possible, those who have a stake in a specific offense and to collectively identify and address harms, needs, and obligations, in order to heal and put things as right as possible."
This definition actually originates from author Howard Zehr in his book "The Little Book of Restorative Justice.'
Having a succinct definition like this does not answer every question about what restorative justice is, but it gives a starting point for discussion.
Restorative justice practices are not routinely adopted by the court systems in Michigan, or most other states for that matter, but whether initiated by the victim or offender, these practices can have a beneficial and healing effect for both the victim of a crime and the offender. In future posts I will discuss some of the practical steps of restorative justice and why both victims and offenders may benefit from pursuing these steps.
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