prison rehab is working

There was a column Tuesday stating that prison rehabilitation programs in California “don’t work.” I both work and volunteer in the prisons, but I have been working with ex-offenders since the 1970s (CETA program). I currently teach for IVC in the prisons, and just a few comments. In that article it stated, “Inmates completing CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Programs) experience recidivism at approximately the same rates as those inmates who don’t.” The column ignores many positive rehabilitation activities that have been impacting prisoners for decades.

According to Prison Fellowship, a Christian program begun in 1976 by Chuck Colson, an imprisoned member of Nixon’s leadership team the recidivism rate for Prison Fellowship participants and other Christian ministry participants is significantly lower than other parolees. Here in the Imperial Valley, we see great work by New Creations, Turning Point and other ministries in helping people stay out of prison.

Now the column talked about CBT programs, but there are many other rehabilitation programs bearing more fruit that the research ignored. Prisons have both 12 step programs (Alcoholic Anonymous, etc.) and other activities (AVP) that help inmates get out and stay out. I am a volunteer for KAIROS, a prayer and share prison program (email me if you are interested in helping change lives at (shinnjc@sbcglobal.net), and although I haven’t seen data about our graduates, I’ll bet it is good.

Data from prisons that offer a two-year degree, like we do here at IVC, show that recidivism drops to single digits if they get their associate’s degree while incarcerated. Education changes lives and so do other activities. Many of you don’t know that the Apostle Paul (formerly known as Saul), was a terrorist! People can change. The Gospel is powerful, but there is secular resistance to acknowledging this fact.

Another one of my IVC students/KAIROS participants is getting out next month. I will bet my car he will never be back to the CDRC. Email me if you want to take the bet, or become part of the pipeline that doesn’t return people to prison.

Jim Shinn El Centro