Tag: Rehabilitation

Good Time Still Makes Good Sense

The article discusses the ongoing challenges of Michigan's prison system, particularly the lack of broad good-time and earned-time credit policies, which allow prisoners to reduce their sentences through good behavior and rehabilitation participation. Currently, Michigan's average minimum sentences have increased significantly, contributing to a higher prison population and increased corrections spending, which exceeds $2 billion annually. Evidence from other states illustrates that good-time credits can reduce recidivism and lower costs while promoting safety and rehabilitation. The author argues for reform, emphasizing the importance of creating incentives for prisoners to engage positively with rehabilitation programs, which in turn fosters public safety and effective reentry.

GPS Monitoring and Parole: Safety Tool or Lifetime Burden?

I have previously written about my experience wearing a GPS Tether while on parole in an article called Tether Ball and Chain that was published back in December of 2018. Since then, as part of my ministry, I have spoken with other people who have had to wear a GPS tether as a condition of parole and a surprising number of them who must wear it for life.  I thought it was time to revisit the topic with up-to-date information regarding electronic monitoring as used by the State of Michigan, with context about how this practice is used in other states and by the federal government.

Locked Down: How Prison Lockdowns Undermine Mental Health and Rehabilitation in U.S. Prisons

In many U.S. prisons, “lockdown” no longer describes a rare emergency response to a riot or a narrowly targeted security incident. It has become a recurring operational mode: housing units sealed, movement halted, yard and dayroom time canceled, phones restricted, visits suspended, and education, treatment, and job assignments paused—sometimes for days, weeks, or even months. Reporting in recent years has documented extended lockdowns tied not only to violence but also to chronic understaffing and overcrowding, raising a stark question: When a prison can’t run its basic schedule safely, are we still operating a rehabilitative institution or merely warehousing human beings behind steel doors?

Hurts, Hang-Ups, and Habits: An Introduction to Celebrate Recovery

While I was incarcerated one of the programs offered by the chaplain was an introductory course on Celebrate Recovery.  There was an AA program at the prison, and I knew a lot of guys who attended because they always had a coffee urn, but CR was different.  I had recently read Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life book and was looking for concrete information on healing. The old expression says “Time heals all wounds,” but mine weren’t.  I was in pain; my hurt wasn’t going away.  I was looking for a faith-based program that could provide me with an actionable process to systematically address my brokenness and guide me toward healing. In this post, we’ll explain what Celebrate Recovery is, what a typical meeting looks like, and why the same CR principles that help people in church communities can also bring real hope behind bars through Celebrate Recovery Inside (CRI), the prison and jail extension of the ministry.

April Is Second Chance Month: Why It Matters More Than Ever

Every April, communities across the United States pause to recognize a powerful truth: no one should be defined forever by their worst mistake. April is Second Chance Month, a nationwide effort to raise awareness of the barriers facing people with criminal records and to promote policies and practices that support successful reentry, restoration, and community safety.

The Valley of Dry Bones

The blog urges the Church to support returning citizens, drawing parallels between Ezekiel's vision of the Valley of Dry Bones and the realities faced by incarcerated individuals. It emphasizes that many in prison feel abandoned and stripped of identity, akin to dry bones waiting for renewal. The author promotes the idea that transformation requires collective effort and highlights the necessity of providing hope, community, and support for reentry. Key actions for the Church include advocating for housing stability, creating employment pathways, and building mentorship programs. The message is clear: with commitment and compassion, recovery and restoration are achievable for those previously imprisoned.

What’s in a name?

Our name is how we are identified from birth.  It represents us conceptually to others.  Hearing someone's name that we know often brings their face, personality, or character to mind.  We can remember conversations, funny anecdotes, or life encounters that inform our opinion of who they are. When we hear a stranger’s name it is just a name until we have information to associate with it.  Information may come in the form of gossip passed along from another person, social media viewed online, or news reports. 

July 2017 Letter

We must all take responsibility for our own reformation. No one can reform you, you must want it for yourself. It is up to society then to insure that the MDOC provides the right atmosphere in which reform can take place. Society should want this because it is in the best interest of everyone to ensure the safety and security of all its members, including 'the least of these' represented by those convicted of crimes against the society.

Sabotage

A guy with a parole in his pocket gets caught with spud juice. (Happens more often than you would think.) His “friends” tried to talk him into closing his brewery, but he told them that he needed to stack up coffee bags since he was going to Detroit Reentry Center (DRC) for a residential substance abuse program and he needed to be able to buy heroin while he was there. His friend’s comment was I guess he didn’t really want to go home.