Shortly after his inauguration, Governor McDonnell announced
that Virginia would take an entirely new approach to transitioning soon to be
released “offenders” back to the community.
Ten prisons were earmarked as re-entry facilities. Forget for a moment the Orwellian component
to to so much of this: inmates are now
called “offenders”; prisons are called “correction centers”; inmates, er
offenders aren’t released, they “transition” to their home communities; the
idea was 1) evaluate every offender for their likelihood to reoffend using a 120
question software program, and 2) have every offender attend “thinking for a
change”, a pre-packaged group-sharing program where offenders explore their
feelings. Both programs have been
implemented here. Any person with an
ounce of common sense can see already the only thing different with McDonnell’s
plan are the names. Nothing has changed.
“Thinking for a change” involves upwards of forty offenders
sitting in a room with a counselor exploring general topics such as healthy
sexuality, anger, good parenting and job attendance. Here’s the problem – prison creates an
environment where any honest display of feelings can, and will, be used against
you. Offenders use personal disclosure
as a sign of weakness.
Add to that the problem that the programs are, well,
lame. The counselors leading the groups
are touchy, feely. Most of the guys
getting ready to get out are repeat offenders having done prior short stints. The structural difficulties released
offenders face: drug and alcohol
addiction, mental health issues, poverty, court fines and fees, not to mention
severe limitations on employment opportunities (because Virginia is one of the
worst for discriminating against released felons), are not addressed by the
Governor’s re-entry program.
If the Governor and the General Assembly were serious about
ending the problem of recidivism they would dramatically change the department
of corrections. Parole would be
reinstated and offenders would earn early release commensurate with their
participation in meaningful rehabilitative programs. That means end warehousing offenders and
provide real, personalized treatment.
Don’t tell the public drug and alcohol rehab goes on in prison and pass
off the ridiculous ten week group meetings as evidence of that. DOC spends $1 billion each year. That is one of every eight dollars spent by
the Commonwealth and it is horribly misspent.
Then there is the 120 question “compass” test designed to identify
likely re-offender candidates. First,
any moron taking the test knows what the “correct” answer is (i.e. the answer
that will elicit the lowest threshold on the recidivism scale). Second, the test has no relevance to an
offender until you’re within your final year.
Take me for example.
I am in every low risk category used by the software designer and DOC
(age, education, nonviolent, no prior prison).
I scored a “1” in every category.
As the counselor giving me the test said, I’m “virtually no risk to
reoffend.” Yet, my release date remains
almost ten years from now. I have no
treatment programs on my “plan” other than “thinking for a change” and
ironically, because of my success in “the real world”, I will – in all
likelihood be a program mentor.
The Governor’s re-entry plan has changed nothing except
require a lot of inmate movement. It may
look good on paper, but recidivism isn’t about paper. It’s about flesh and blood and decisions men
– and women – make when released. If the
Governor really wants to break the cycle of recidivism he needs to be
bold. It’s time, Governor McDonnell, for
you to start “thinking for a change”.
It’s time for real corrections change.
It’s time for you to make real structural changes in rehabilitative and
education programs and early release.
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