In answer to Michael’s question today, “What changes would you like to implement in America’s prison system today,” I would have to say programming space.
While there are many things that need implemented in order to create a fairer prison system; such as much needed sensitivity training for officers, better living conditions, I think the lack of programming space in the hardest thing to overcome for some odd reason.
I have facilitated courses for almost a decade, and in that time I get the same response to a desire to facilitate a new class, “We do not have the space.”
Many times it is an excuse for laziness on staff’s part, they feel if an inmate facilitates a class that they will get stuck having to help in some way. But many times, like here at Thomson, there is no room for even the basic classes that are suppose to run, like Parenting. Let alone anything new we may bring to the table.
Without these much needed programs, the men and women in our prison systems will never increase self-awareness in a way that assures success, and be doomed to recidivate. And while courses like Santos’ are every helpful, many of the men and women need a structured class with a great facilitator to keep the energy flowing.
I would love to see Congress offer a solid solution to programming space, like a budget for modular buildings, or downsizing the populations at each facility to use units for class space.
Anything that stops growing dies. The men and women in our prison’s need to keep growing.
READ NEWSLETTER ARTICLE HERE: https://prisonprofessorstalent.com/journal-entries/newsletter-7/
