Program for Inmates
The STOP Violence Program for Inmates offers a proven rehabilitation option for offenders. Through facilitated discussion guided by a curriculum written by inmates for inmates, participants examine the roots of their violent behavior and learn alternatives for coping with stress and anger.
Barbara J. Carter, Past Director Lansing, KS Correctional Facility |
Background
In 1978, members of the Kansas State Penitentiary "Lifers Club" wrote an article correlating child abuse with those incarcerated. Ninety percent of the two hundred inmates living in Cell house B at the time participated in the survey. Eighty percent of those surveyed talked about being abused as a child. Subsequently, inmates expressed their desire to volunteer in an effort to prevent child abuse.
Out of this research emerged the STOP Violence Program for Inmates: a self-help program dedicated to encouraging inmates to examine the roots of their violent behavior and learn alternatives for coping with stress and anger. The secondary goal of the program is to then engage inmates in educating children and families about these issues.
Need
The recidivism rate in Kansas is 50-55% and the federal rate is even higher. Yet only 23% of those who participate in this program return to prison—clearly demonstrating that the cycle of violence can be broken.
Program Design
The program is inmate-driven and inmate governed with elected officers. For many, the opportunity to thrive within a structured setting is transforming. As the program is completely voluntary, inmates who want to change attend. Community volunteers from outside the prison attend the weekly meetings to give inmates perspective from outside the walls and to lend emotional support. Some of the topics addressed in the program are anger, forgiveness, parenting, personal responsibility, abuse, and communication. Members of the program meet weekly, giving up recreational time to discuss different topics. They take turns researching topics, such as anger management. Armed with new found confidence and knowledge they successfully lead the group's discussion.
Real life situations are discussed, and what is said in the meetings stays in the meetings. This is critical in that inmates learn to rely on one another, build trust in one another, and support one another as they work through their issues. The ability to trust a group in a prison setting provides important respite to an otherwise callous environment.
Participants develop and use new skill sets to examine the roots of their behavior and to adjust to socially accepted behaviors. The inmates do the work in this program. The success is theirs, and that makes all the difference. The sense of accomplishment is genuine and, as evidenced from so many other self-help programs, change that is wrought from the self is more lasting than that forced from without.
The program gives the inmate the opportunity to serve as a positive role model for other inmates and as a positive influence for young people outside prison whom they reach through speaking engagements. Participation in the Stop Violence Program is an opportunity to explore ideas of non-violence, growth and change that has proven to increase the likelihood of success as constructive member of society. We connect groups and supporters with a quarterly newsletter, "Inside & Out." This publication contains material written primarily by Kansas inmates and gives voice to participants, allowing them to share in successes, transformation and concerns.
More than 1,000 inmates have participated in these groups sine the program began in 1982. Inmate attendance is voluntary and is not mandated by the Department of Corrections.
Initiated at the Kansas State Penitentiary in Lansing, KS, the program now serves 13 total groups in correctional facilities in El Dorado, Hutchinson, Lansing, Larning, Norton, Osawatomie, Topeka, and Winfield.
Volunteer Sponsors
An integral part of the program, community volunteers attend weekly meetings to give inmates perspective from the outside, and increase coordination with the Stop Violence office and the Department of Corrections. Volunteers help keep inmates on the right track and show first-hand that someone cares about them. It should be noted that the volunteer's role is not to lead the group, but to be a resource and member of the group. Volunteers go through a period of training, and are provided with a Sponsor's Guide that discusses how to start, support and run the program. To find out how you can become a volunteer email Shirley Troupe or call her at 816.777.0356 ext. 232.