Rehabilitation and Work Programs AnaMarie Sonoma State University

Problems with Our System High disparity between minorities and whites in the system Contextual Discrimination within the sentencing of prisoners 50% of ex-cons will recommit a crime within 12 months of release 80% ex-cons will be unable to obtain employment (Slide information from: Garth-James, Kimberley (2013). Eleuthera Reader. Compiled. Chapter 8: Postscript and Walker, Samuel, Cassia Spohn, and Miriam , Delone (2012). The Color of Justice: Race, Ethnicity, and Crime in America. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth) There are many problems with our criminal justice system. Our society needs to recognize these truths in order to find effective means to correct these wrongs. There are a high number of minorities incarcerated within our system. As the picture above shows four out of the five inmates are black. This seems outrageous that we can incarcerate such a high number of minorities and claim we are in a post racial world. We are far from this ideal goal, because of this disparity within the system. Racial minorities also receive a harsher punishment compared to whites, furthering the racial gap. The system also stigmatizes many ex-cons, and prevents them from becoming law abiding citizens. They allow a high number to reenter the system after release. The graph shows that there is a high number of inmates returning especially after three years. This is because many ex-cons are unable to find jobs which promotes criminal behavior. They become trapped on the economic merry-go-round. Our system needs to look to rehabilitation as a means to curb the number returning to the prison population. This would be a better system to help the individuals receive job opportunities and skills. The system needs to acknowledge these problems so they could correct them.

Rehabilitation: Change is Possible (Here is the link for the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lydxtz5ntrQ) In this video Professor John Paitakes discusses the values of rehabilitation, as he tries to clear up some misconceptions about the criminal justice system. He explains that incarcerated criminals are capable to change their behavior; as long as they are provide the tools an truly want to change. Although not all offenders want to change, society should acknowledge that some offenders are capable of change and should not be judged solely based on their past. Society promotes change and growth of non-offenders; understanding that many people would say they are a quite different person from who they were when they were 10 years old. This is because their world and experiences change their perceptions, facilitating the change in their behavior. Society needs to understand this is the same for past criminals. They are capable of turning their life around if it is something they would like to do. They are only stuck in a vortex of criminal behavior if society refuses to provide the essential tools to allow them to grow and become functioning and law abiding citizens. Rehabilitation and work programs allow the inmates to gain marketable skills that can be taken outside of the correctional facility. There is no competition with business because they can only sell products to other correctional facilities and the government. This system does not hinder our market therefore should be no backlash on such programs arguing that it will hinder the competition of the market. These programs could help many transform into vital members of society and curb crime because inmates would have other means to make a profit.

Garth-Francom Model The Garth-Francom Model stresses the importance of e-learning and work programs as means to curb recidivism. Without these programs: They become victims of Social Conditions such as unemployment and poverty Illiteracy puts them at risk to commit crimes and join gangs because they are unable to obtain a job with their lack of literacy With these programs: They become a changed offender which is likely to be on parole, reenter society successfully, and be a vital member of the community and family. (Slide information from: Garth-James, Kimberley (2013). Eleuthera Reader. Compiled. Chapter 8: Postscript) The Garth-Francom Model shows the value of e-learning and work programs. These are vital in order to stop the economic merry-go-round inmates become accustomed to. When they are just punished by isolation, they fail to truly learn how to change their life and break away from a life of crime. The main reason many individuals turn to crime is because they do not have the proper skills and are suppressed by society. Many minorities are unable to get substantial education to break away from the life of poverty. They then turn to gang and other means to gain a higher economic status. They then become captured by the correction system and spit out with any real headway to make a legitimate life for themselves. They struggle to read and are unable to be marketable for low end jobs. Therefore recidivism is inevitable. When looking at the graph describing illiteracy, it shows that many people who enter prison suffer from illiteracy compared to the adult population. The inability to read pushes individuals to crime, which should be addressed by our criminal justice system. There is no need for this high disparity of literacy. Rehabilitation through work programs and e-learning provide the individual to gather the skill set which would allow them to be functioning member within society.

Work Programs Job Training Partnership Act: Provides literacy and vocational training Provides vocational programs: animal grooming, automobile work, baking, business education, cosmetology, computers, drafting, electronics, home economics, masonry, meat cutting, landscaping, office services, printing, upholstery, and warehousing Small paychecks: $.35. $.75, $.95 per hour Provides job experience (Slide information from: Garth-James, Kimberley (2013). Eleuthera Reader. Compiled. Chapter 5: From Predator to Producer p58) Work programs serve a beneficial and fundamental part between the transition between predator to producer. The work programs not only correct problems that prevented the inmate from getting a job in the first place, such as literacy; but also gives sufficient training to make them more desirable in the job market. They receive a variety of vocational training options. The programs reach out to a lot of people and offer variety, so they will not get bored and will be more likely to continue with the program once released. The experience is vital as it allows them to attain technical skills, work in teams, responsibility for products, and understanding management skills. The skills shown in the graph are able to curb recidivism. This is vital if the system wishes to stop inmates from reentering the system.

Benefits of Rehabilitation Obtains a positive mindset Possesses a vision of life without crime Refraining from criminal activity Demonstrates practical ideas to solve problems Earns respect and controls violent outburst Willing to take responsibility for actions Working to obtain a high school diploma or GDE Has some work experience Counseling to help with substance abuse Emotional and social stigma of ex-convict Participating in joint ventures and accountability through wage deduction for family, victims’ restitution, saving (Slide information from: Garth-James, Kimberley (2013). Eleuthera Reader. Compiled. Chapter 5: From Predator to Producer p45) The rehabilitation is a very beneficial program to inmates, which really allows them to transform their life. It provides a stable support to provide the resources and tools for the inmates to acknowledge their wrongs and work towards making a better life for themselves. Many receive educational assistance which was not offered in their prior neighborhood, and hindered their ability to find a job. They also are able to get work experience, which allows them to gain marketable skills. This could lead to job opportunities in the future. Rehabilitation provides emotional support, through counseling programs. This allows the inmate to show remorse for the crimes they committed and acknowledging legal means to achieve goals. They gain emotional support with dealing with the ex-convict stigmatization, and dealing with difficult situations. These programs provide a foundation for change, and encourage inmates to exit the economic merry-go-round. They would be able to become legitimate. When looking at the pictures you can see many blacks are present in the prison population compared to any other race. These programs benefit the racial minorities obtain skills that might not have been offered to them within society. Many of them were suppressed and pushed towards a life of crime; unable to receive an education or legitimate work. Rehabilitation not only allows them to pay for their crime, but gain the skills to correct their life so they do not hurt more people. Rehabilitation could potentially prevent the high recidivism rates for these minorities, thus lowering the disparity of these groups.

References [Complete Illiteracy Graph] Retrieved on: November 17, 2013 from: http://2.bp.blogspot.com Garth-James, Kimberley (2013). Eleuthera Reader. Compiled. [Inmate Counseling Groups] Retrieved on: November 17. 2013 from: http://www.optionsrecovery.org [Inmates in Class]. Retrieved on: November 17, 2013from:http://sureshotbook.files.wordpress.com [Inmates Learning to Write] Retrieved on: November 17, 2013 from: http://2.bp.blogspot.com [Inmates in Lineup] Retrieved on: November 17, 2013 from: http://www.gastongazette.com [Inmates Working] Retrieved on: November 17, 2013 from: http://www.doc.state.nc.us/NEWS/SCRAPBK/tshirt/Collar.jpg [Recidivism Rates Graph] Retrieved on: November 17, 2013 from: http://4.bp.blogspot.com Walker, Samuel, Cassia Spohn, and Miriam , Delone (2012). The Color of Justice: Race, Ethnicity, and Crime in America. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. [Working Outside] Retrieve on: November 17, 2013 from: http://alexandriava.gov [Work Programs Graph] Retrieved on: November 17, 2013 from: http://www.lao.ca.gov