0 - National Criminal Justice Reference Service

Finally, in Phase IV the inmate is given the chance to integrate his knowledge and experiences
(b and plan for reentry into general population and/or progressive moves to a lower custody level
housing unit and/or a CCC. Part of aftercare planning includes a periodic staff follow-up
questionnaire or interview. This phase focuses specifically on the inmate demonstrating and
presenting a written plan to utilize the support services within the community to which he will be
discharged; writing an extensive and personalized individual essay regarding his own recovery and
future recovering, which will be reviewed by staffand group members and will be used as a
therapeutic tool to assess the individual’s readiness for treatment termination and discharge;
engaging in group termination and group closure exercises; counseling geared towards the
continuity of addictions treatment within the specific community to which referral was made
following discharge &om the SCI; demonstrating effective utilization of 3 relaxation techniques;
being involved in the Activities Department’s Life SkilldLeisure Activities Program, being
involved in a standardized parent education training program(PET); and continuing to impress his
assertiveness skills with specific progress towards relapse prevention. Inmates must show
knowledge of stress management techniques, life skills and leisure activities, relapse prevention,
assertiveness skills, community support services, show recovery tools that they use, and
demonstrate positive leadership skills.
i
When all that is completed, inmates will be successllly discharged after they have been
successfhlly staffed, received peer recommendations via pop sheet, maintained an average PPI
score weekly, conducted a find farewell speech to members of the LSTC, and completed and
reviewed an Aftercare Plan.
Daii’y Activities
According to inmate interviews, each inmate must report to the morning meeting every day,
which begins at 8:15 am and lasts until 8:45 am. Mer that time, each inmate participates
throughout the day in phase groups, AA/NA groups, and small groups. Inmates described Phase
groups as a school-like atmosphere. Inmates listen to a lecture and are expected to hand in
homework assignments and take tests. Topics in phase groups include criminal thinking,
cognitive restructuring, anger management, and drug addiction. Small groups were described as
smaller, more personable groups, in which the inmates can discuss any problem they may be
dealing with and are able to acquire feedback from other inmates. In these groups, inmates are
able to learn fiom each other and help each other with their problems, whether it concerns drug
addiction or something else they may be going through at that moment. M A groups are the
basic 12-step groups and they mainly meet in the afternoon or evening hours.
For each activity and group, the intended objective is for inmates to learn how their addiction
and other issues led to their incarceration, and what they can do to change their previous
behavior. It is also hoped that by receiving an adequate education on these topics and from
listening to other’s situations, bates will gain the knowledge and tools to help them from
relapsing and recidivating once they are on the outside.
8
This document is a research report submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice. This report has not
been published by the Department. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s)
and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.