We have all heard on the news recently that our prisons are grossly over-populated. It is also apparent that our current system of incarceration isn’t effective either, as more than half of those prisoners end up re-offending within two years of their release.
Therefore – what can be done?
I believe that offenders should be given the tools, skills and confidence to try and change their behaviour. What would the implications of that be? Visit my website www.chrysalisprogramme.com and send me your thoughts!
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13 comments:
It makes sense that people should be given the tools to achieve their goals.. We all buy into the idea of helping those in developing countries by giving them tools to grow their own food and feed themselves.. is this so different?
Sounds great what you are doing.
I'm going to sit on the fence in this one. The idea is very plausable but will require carful planning. Alot of "law abiding" and "tax paying" people will not like the idea of re-educating these offenders in any way when schools are underfunded as it is. Given the choice, I think they would choose giving a non-offender the tools everytime.
But, at the same time they do deserve a second chance and giving them a way to do this is a good idea. The idea of getting to the root of their problems and getting them to express it through a medium like drama is going to be better for them than just getting a gcse in woodwork which doesn't address any problems/solutions to the offender.
I hate sitting on the fence but it's a tough one.
In response to the comments above. We are already investing in 'development' of these individuals and 'tax payers' are footing the bill. Add to this the fact that what we are currently doing is not rehabilitating offenders and their re-offending costs us billions every year, I can see no fault in adapting our approach.
You're right, they do deserve a second chance and so do the communities that they go back to. If the programme can change even one person who returns to their community as a change agent, the effects could be enormous.
The programme is not based around drama either. It is a programme that "combines leading-edge people transformation and behavioural development techniques of the calibre that would normally only be made available to senior executives"...it..."taps into proven corporate development programmes, resources and expertise; then combines this with best practice from Offender Management Services, Mentoring and ‘real’ work placements to create a fresh approach to offender development and rehabilitation." The 'drama' aspect probably makes up less than 2% of a 12 month developmental programme.
It's really not about just providing skills anymore, which has been tried and failed. This is about changing behaviours first and helping the individual realise that there is another way.
The scope of this approach is phenomenal, I applaud it.
Far more information needed on what you will actually do with these prisoners. I understand that you are using methods to change behaviour and attitudes but not clear on how. Also what 'tools' are you giving them to help them get a job when they get out of prison.
I am very supportive of schemes that work at rehabilitating inmates - just need more info on how you will do this and how the scheme will work.
Judging by the third post, this discussion forum is a bit goaless. Anyone with a negative attitude to this programme is facing an uphill struggle. Seems like the programme is going forward whatever people think. Also the post was anoymous when its clearly someone from the scheme?
It's a discussion, which means views from all angles are welcome surely?
This is a fantastic concept, changing the attitude of offenders, showing them that there is another way and helping them to address the root cause for their offending, working with them to reduce their re-offending. Prison rehabilitation doesn't appear to be working, due to a lack of resources etc., so a new approach has got to be worth a try. I am confident that this can work so lets embrace it!
Improving prisoner literacy must surely be of far greater importance than providing so-called senior executive skills, much as the website provides no details on what these might be. Correcting the poor grammar used on the website wouldn't be a bad first step, though.
Thank you for pointing out the adjustments that we needed to make to the website. We have now updated the grammar as well as adding the Concept Brief and Info Sheet to the website in order to provide a little more detail for our readers.
As this is a side project we sometimes miss the details, so any help and input you can provide us is really useful. Please let us know how we can improve.
Also, literacy skills are a key element as you point out. We are currently working with an organisation that provides a fresh approach to this area and will be including this as part of the offering. Hopefully we'll have some more news on that soon.
Deer Anoneemus numba 7, eye doant fink that yew shud fowcas on the paw grammer on this payge wen it is shurlee maw impawtent to fowcas on the content of the debate? Wat do yew fink of the skeam? Doant worree, thay will probeblee yews ovver peepal two teech them the three R's - reedin, ritin and riffmatik.
Dear Miss Punkchewayshan !!!
U R A Star because...
You've hit on something very very important... The gift of laughter and fun !!!
Let's not forget to give the gift of happiness and self belief to our brothers and sisters who need help. We can do the professional stuff and get the grammar right and have all sorts of good people contributing... But one has to be happy on the inside to be able to improve on the outside ..!!!
We have to connect with hearts and minds and lifts the spirits of everyone who has made choices that have caused offense and hurt to others. We only have one life... and we all have a responsibility to give back to the needy regardless of what they have done. Let's get cracking !!!
I think the programme could really help people, who can not find any particular vocation in life.
The programme looks at many different things starting from the basics and working forward for example confidence etc.
I dont think there can be any critism, only constructive with regards to the Chrysalis programme.
The public want offenders to become law abiding citizens, after their eventual release from prison.
I think injecting money into a programme like this isn't a bad idea at all.
You either inject money into something positive or inject money into prison which is surely a negative.
Well done to David Apparicio for his work and any one else who contributes, to this on going success!
As an ex-offender myself, I absolutely applaud this scheme. Society quite rightly does not want to continue footing the bill for offending behaviour. The best way to do that in my opinion, is to give people the realise that they have the resources within themselves to find alternatives to their lifestyles. One of the main reasons, I have not re-offended was because I had a support network of friends who loved me and believed in me. Many inmtes do not have that as they lead very chaotic lives outside, and prison offers them a form of stability. This is what I wish to do. Keep up the good work.
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