NCJ Number
211258
Date Published
2005
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This chapter argues that a prison as a place where individuals are housed in a controlled environment is not necessarily a debilitating experience in itself, but rather the quality of life in the prison is the determining factor in the prison's impact on the lives of the residents.
Abstract
The chapter presents the "intermediate care programs" (ICPs) in New York State as an example of how prison settings can be "reinvented" to provide a rehabilitative outcome. ICP units are designed for moderately emotional disturbed inmates, using specially trained corrections officers with mental health staff providing input and services. ICP units have been operating in New York State for decades, but were only recently reviewed in the context of a survey of mental health services in the State's prisons. The report indicated that the ICP staff were among the most compassionate employees encountered in the State prison system, as they were committed to producing a climate conducive to the rehabilitation of unit residents. Correctional officers in ICP units were noted to work closely with mental health staff in joint treatment decisions through case conferences. Officers work with prison personnel outside the units to arrange for the appropriate placement and programming of ICP residents. ICP officers gain rewards and personal satisfaction from work-related achievements linked to inmate progress that transcends supervision and control objectives. The chapter concludes with a listing of 15 characteristics of a prison that can produce positive change in the lives of inmates. 13 references