Counselors

Every inmate ends up relying on their “counselor”. That’s a strange word to use, given there is no counseling that actually takes place. Much like George Orwell detailed in his great novel 1984, there isn’t any counseling done by the counselors, it’s just a word. Like the term “jumbo shrimp”, calling these folks “inmate counselors” is an oxymoron.



The concept is good. Each inmate is assigned a counselor who develops an “annual plan” to move the inmate toward release. Problem is, every inmate’s “plan” says virtually the same thing: “Keep charge free and get a job.”


The other problem is the people that work in “treatment” (that’s “DOC speak” for the counselor’s department at the prison) are lazy and not very bright. That may sound harsh, but the truth usually is. Counselors – more than any other operation at the prison, except for security – are the crucial link between an inmate and his release. Each building has an assigned counselor with an office in the building itself.


But, the counselor never shows up to the building to meet with inmates. We’ve seen our counselor less than two hours over the last two weeks.


DOC procedures require each inmate to have an annual review with their counselor. August is almost concluded and yet none of the August inmates have had their reviews. And this isn’t an aberration; this is “standard operating procedure” – run 30 to60 days late on reviews.


The counselors avoid meeting with inmates because, well candidly, they don’t understand their own policies. Take the case of Kareem. Kareem was sent to prison at the age of 17 for a second degree murder. Four weeks ago, at the age of 31, he left prison. He should have left the first of June, moved to New Jersey to live with his Mom and start college. Why didn’t he? Good question.


Six months ago he met with the counselor and filled out the interstate compact forms that are, in essence, a request from Virginia to New Jersey to accept a released inmate. The counselor lost the paperwork. Without written authorization from New Jersey to accept him, Kareem had no home plan. No home plan and DOC can hold you an additional 30 days. It normally takes 90-120 days for interstate compact approval.


It took Kareem’s family in New Jersey raising hell to expedite the paperwork. The counselor just shrugged it off.


Then there’s Malik. Malik has been locked up for the past 20 years. Throughout his entire bid, his wife remained by his side. They decided to renew their vows for their 25th Anniversary. Malik meets with the chaplain and the warden and the ceremony is approved. He submits a list of guests to the counselor who will be coming in for the ceremony. Security approves the list (background checks had to be run).


The “big day” arrives and the guests file in. All that is except for the wife. The counselor “forgot” to include her on the list. The ceremony had to be postponed and rescheduled due to this “small glitch” (the counselor’s words).


Two examples out of dozens collected. Fact is, you want to know something about a DOC policy or procedure – research it yourself.


Each day guys are given incorrect information; paperwork is lost and/or improperly filled out. These are the state professionals charged with getting inmates rehabilitated. Is it any reason there’s a 40% recidivism rate?