In
dozens of blogs, I’ve written about the longer term recidivism prognosis for
inmates who earn college degrees while behind bars. No rehabilitation or re-entry
program used in any prison matches the results achieved when an inmate becomes
a college graduate. Recidivism is virtually eliminated. That piece of paper
does what no other program behind bars can do: it stops released offenders from
returning to prison.
“College
classes start.” Ask the public about support for school behind bars, ask about
empathy for the horrible conditions in most prisons, and the average polled
law-abiding citizen will say, “the hell with them. That’s what they deserve for
breaking the law.” I know, I used to say it myself. Somehow, in spite of that
ignorant attitude, there will be college again.
In
March, twenty vets – almost all of whom served post-9/11 – will begin college
classes in the IT program. I’m always surprised when I see politicians and
citizens line up to say how much they appreciate the sacrifices made by our men
and women in the armed forces. Words are cheap. PTSD is in epidemic proportions
among the post-9/11 vets. Depression (and suicide), drug-abuse, homelessness,
and yes, criminal convictions, are all at watershed levels. The VA is impotent
when it comes to Veteran Mental Health. “Thank you for your service.” Yeah
right. Still, vets from all five MSR facilities (medium security, re-entry) are
signing up to move here and participate in our GI college program. “College classes
start.” It has a nice ring to it.
That’s
the “macro” view, the big picture. Here’s the “micro” look. We almost lost the
program. For six months, the money had dried up. Guys got discouraged. They put
in for transfers. “College is dead,” was the word all over the compound. Try
keeping seventy guys positive in this environment. It was tough. Then came
“black Thursday” when two of our college aides got locked up. Three times after
that I was called to the investigator’s office. “We can lock you up,” they’d
tell me and I’d smile. Hell, I’d think, I’m already locked up.
Three
times our building’s been shook down. “Where are the thumb drives? Where are
the burned CDs?” Nothing was found and college, well we got the computers back
and we’re starting … again.
One
of my new “projects” is to prepare the guys for success in school. Time
management, study habits, note taking, research methods, and writing skills –
five areas most men here sorely lack competency in. I told the guys the other
day, “We’re under the microscope.” Many here – officers and inmates alike – are
pulling for us to fail. The night before our class meeting I noticed “Bridge
Over the River Kwai” was on one of the classic movie channels.
“Watch
the movie,” I told the guys. “And watch the British Colonel at the beginning.”
For you movie buffs, you’ll remember the Colonel shows up and he sees thousands
of British P.O.W.s out of uniform, stealing from each other, and carrying on
with no discipline. “You are behaving exactly the way the enemy expects you
to,” he tells his officer corp. “The men must remember they are soldiers in his
majesty’s army.” The Colonel then confronts the Japanese camp officer. The
Colonel risks his own life to show his men what it means to conduct yourself
with pride and decorum.
My
point? People expect men in prison to behave a certain way. Instead, we need to
act with pride and dignity and show all these naysayers we’re better men that
our convictions.
“College
classes start.” You could see it in their faces yesterday when guys came by to
get their textbooks and when my friend Mike led an impromptu math review class
on set theory to get everyone up to speed. I was walking back after work with a
few of the guys when one of them started whistling. “It’s ‘Bridge Over the
River Kwai’,” another guy said. “Catchy tune.” Yeah, school is back in session.
Thought dead and resurrected. “College classes start.”
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