Life as an Offender - Programs

 - Schedule of Programs in Field & Work Release -

The Department of Corrections seeks to create a prison environment that requires offenders to make progress toward demonstrating some of the same pro-social attitudes, behaviors, and skills that contribute to the success of law-abiding citizens in the community. The goal is to reduce the offender’s risk to the community upon release and provide assistance to encourage a positive transition back into the community.

What are some of the offender change programs available to offenders?

Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) - This is a step-by-step cognitive behavior program designed to assist the offender in analyzing his or her life, setting and achieving present and future goals, and making decisions at a higher level of moral reasoning. The goal is to reduce the chance of re-offending by increasing pro-social reasoning and behaviors.

Relapse Education Program (REP) - This is a cognitive behavioral program for chemically dependent or anti-social offenders. The goals are to increase sobriety, decrease criminal behavior, and increase pro-social behavior by encouraging or requiring participation in Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, or other self-help programs. It should be noted that this program is not a substitute for the Chemical Dependency Treatment Program.

Stress and Anger Management (SAM) - The goal of SAM is to create an understanding of stress and anger triggers and processes. This program helps offenders adopt tools to channel stress and address anger in healthy, non-violent ways.

Job Hunter - This is a pre-employment preparation program that provides instruction in résumé writing, job applications, interviewing, and job retention skills.

Partners In Parenting (PIP) - This program emphasizes building skills, providing support and helping parents understand the needs and abilities of children in different stages of development.

Long Distance Dads (LDD) - A character-based educational, self-help and support program to assist male offenders in developing skills to become more involved and supportive fathers.

Nurturing Fathers (NF) - This program is structured to provide fathers with experiences that allow new cognitive (thinking) and affective (feeling) responses, providing the opportunity to change parenting attitudes and behaviors.

Getting It Right (GIR) - This program features rational self-counseling, transtheoretical model of change (stage model of change), social learning theory and interactive journaling providing structured programming for each individual. Participants make the transition into the community and toward responsible living.

 

 

Divider image - horizontal green bar