What it's like being a woman working in a men's prison pt. 3
Empowering Recovery Through Understanding
From the start, I decided to leave the past behind and focus on moving forward. The inmates’ crimes didn’t matter; what did was whether they were addicts and how we could help. I taught them the 12-step program differently than before. It wasn’t about dictating this is the only way. I believed recovery was a personal journey and each person had to find their own path, discover what worked for them, and what would sustain their sobriety.
With twenty inmates, I cracked open a 12-step book. We read it line by line, debating and discussing each sentence’s meaning. Armed with a dictionary, we deciphered outdated language that most of them struggled with since 70-80% lacked a high school education. Understanding the words and sentences became a key to unlocking their recovery.
Empowering Inmates Through Choice
What stood out about this approach was the freedom it granted the inmates—something they rarely experienced. I recall one of them asking, We get to decide? We get to choose? I responded, Yes, of course. This method wasn’t just enlightening for them; it also taught me a lot. It allowed me a glimpse into their minds, revealing their thoughts, values, and denials.
Each week, we delved into two or three steps, dissecting their meanings thoroughly. We wouldn’t move on until everyone in the room felt sure they understood and could relate the step to their own lives. That personal application was a major breakthrough.
The ability to laugh, debate, and truly comprehend each other brought us closer together and marked a significant step forward.
Exploring Morality and Identity
When we weren’t revisiting the steps, we dove into life skills and how the biopsychosocial model applied to each person. Right off the bat, I asked them, Do you believe children can be born evil? This question always sparked heated debates. The group comprised Christians, Muslims, Jews, non-denominationals, and atheists, creating a vibrant tapestry of opinions.
The discussions remained lively yet focused. Is it a biological issue? A social one? Personality or genetic? Were they born this way, inheriting traits from parents, or shaped by their environment? Was it cultural influences, ethnicity, or personal fears?
As a white instructor leading a predominantly black class, I constantly dismantled barriers. They learned to look past appearances and truly listen, deciding for themselves who I was beyond the surface.
It was just as important for them to learn who I was, as it was to learn who they were. I was always surprised and elated to find how eager the inmates were just to be heard.
Rarely during my internship did I have to deal with disrespect from inmates that were in the treatment dorm. The inmate clerk that was assigned to my class did an excellent job behind the scenes.
Correcting bad behavior, or inappropriate dialogue from the inmates was something he addressed when I was not around. I was grateful for his assistance and that I could just do my job and teach.
At the end of my internship I had already graduated with two associates degrees and was taking classes at another college to complete a bachelor’s in behavioral science.
On my last day the staff and inmates held a “come back” party instead of a going away one. I felt pretty secure that the prison would offer me a full-time position.
Stay tuned for future essays. P.S. I got the job…