Project 5. Prison Program

Prison Program

What is the Prison SMART Program?

Prison SMART Program

“If people get sick, we bring them to the hospital and give them the right medicines so that they get better. If people’s behavior is sick, we bring them to the prison, but we forget the medicines.” – Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

The Mission

The mission of the Prison SMART Program is to make a life-transforming difference in all people working in, or incarcerated within, the criminal justice system. Prison SMART teaches skills that reduce stress, heal trauma, and provides practical knowledge of how to handle negative emotions in order to live to one's highest potential and contribute to society in a positive way.

Basic Premise

The basic premise of the program is that no individual is really ‘bad’ but takes to crime because of stressors in their environment and surroundings. Stress is a common factor that affects everyone and the inability to effectively deal with these stressors is the root cause of all problems.

Prison SMART- Approach

The Solution - The Art of Living Prison SMART Program

Conceived by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar this unique program specifically reaches out to all caught up in the crime-nexus, whether perpetrators, or victims; law-breakers, or law enforcers. The Art of Living Prison SMART exists to circumvent the loss of valuable human resource that so often accompanies cycles of incarceration and release, and whose consequences reverberate through all sections of society. It aims to reform, transform and channelize this precious human resource into the upliftment of individual and society alike. The program opines that positive individuals with a progressive outlook form the foundation

The Art of Living Prison SMART provides the structure to deliver the common goal of uplifting human values within the criminal and the law-enforcing justice community. The program is a valuable tool for all those working to end the cycle of violence and abuse in society, whether through law enforcement, social rehabilitation, conflict resolution or human development. We work in tandem with probation departments, family and juvenile court systems, administrators and correctional officers of penal institutions and law enforcement departments to implement the various activities of the Prison SMART program.

We form strategic alliances with social service agencies and organizations whose clientele deal with the aftermath of crime and violence - i.e. ex-offenders’ transition, domestic violence shelters, rape crisis centers, substance abuse programs, families of murder victims - to offer tools that alleviate the experience of trauma. Studies conducted in the criminal justice arena have shown that such programs help to reduce and further prevent relapse into criminal tendencies.

The Challenge

Under conditions of confinement, violent tendencies and negative emotions, are only intensified, causing unimaginable damage to the psyche of inmates. This makes them hazardous not only to those around them, but to their own selves as well. Worse still is their degenerating mental and emotional states which make them even more dangerous, once they are freed.

The Result?

A very high likelihood that they will revert to a life of crime, and find themselves back behind bars, before long. ‘Punishment’ for its own sake is pointless, if it doesn’t transform the mindsets and attitudes of offenders. A prison can thus become a dangerous breeding ground for criminals, fuelling the very activity it seeks to deter.

Incarcerated individuals have little control over their circumstances or future. Years of confinement result in greater loss of self-worth, a growing sense of anger, anxiety and despair. Families of the incarcerated are also doing time. The burden can be crippling. Half of all male children of inmates will also enter the system as juveniles. Ex-offenders find that freedom from the impact of incarceration does not end at the moment of release. Years of built up anger and frustration accompany them as they transition back into the community. Many will return to commiting crimes within an year of release.

Law enforcement officers are the first line of defence in dangerous and life-threatening circumstances. The day-to-day challenges tax the body, mind and emotions.

Prison staff on a daily basis, work under incredibly stressful working conditions. The overcrowding that exists in many institutions adds to the anger and frustration of inmates which result in more frequent altercations between inmates and increased threat of staff assault.

Prison Program Testimonials

Participant Testimonials:

"I think that The Art of Living classes were very productive not only for the human body, but for the mind. It helped me realize and find what was wrong with me and how to fix it. It also helped me find the centre of my being, how to calm myself using a few tricks. I also think this is a program that should be taken by everyone that will soon be released to the street so that they too find a way to cope with this world that have treated us so bad."

Adult male, Federal Correctional Institution, Englewood, CO

"This class should be mandatory for all inmates. This experience has helped me heal my inner-self and the relationship that I have with my creator, by getting rid of all the negative things I was holding on to. There are places in my heart that are still closed, but this class has helped me realize this and I am now able to work through some of the pain."

Adult male, Grafton Correctional Institution, Grafton, OH

"I enjoyed my time here and I would like to return. It allowed me to relax my mind, as well as clear it, and build confidence that was hidden deep within, that I didn't know about. My times aren't the best right now, but I will strive on to survive. At one point in time in my life I wanted it to end, but as I concentrated and looked deep inside myself, I found vital value. There is a lot for me to live for. There are responsibilities I have to take care of; there is a lot for me to change for. Thank you for all you've done."

17 year old juvenile male, Challenger Memorial Youth Center, Lancaster, California

"The Art of Living has been a healing experience for me. I can now look out from the inside and see the sense of strength, inner peace and new found wisdom of the breath. It is allowing me to trust and let other people be there for me. There is a feeling of power, a feeling of joy and excitement that comes from learning these new techniques. I like the woman I am finding in me."

Adult female, Northeast Pre-Release Center, Cleveland, OH

Women Inmates

Prison SMART Program

If people get sick, we bring them to the hospital and give them the right medicines so that they get better. If people’s behavior is sick, we bring them to the prison, but we forget the medicines.” – Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

The Mission

The mission of the Prison SMART Program is to make a life-transforming difference in all people working in, or incarcerated within, the criminal justice system. Prison SMART teaches skills that reduce stress, heal trauma, and provides practical knowledge of how to handle negative emotions in order to live to one's highest potential and contribute to society in a positive way.

Basic Premise

The basic premise of the program is that no individual is really ‘bad’ but takes to crime because of stressors in their environment and surroundings. Stress is a common factor that affects everyone and the inability to effectively deal with these stressors is the root cause of all problems.

Prison Program Case Studies: Juvenile

Overview

Our first instinct when we meet a juvenile offender is to start the blame chain: the child, the parents, friends, surroundings and so on. The child is then abandoned in a home to fight his own destiny.

The Art of Living Prison SMART Program reaches out to juvenile offenders through a unique and practically designed program that addresses their level of understanding and maturity.

“I never knew that you had a kind of sports for the inside. It relaxes so much.” - Khodr, Lebanon

There are no quick–fix solutions to problems, no theories or concepts but only practical tools, which can help them to understand and deal with their own lives better.

During the Juvenile program sessions youth are encouraged to become aware of their inner potential and talents. They are taught to make the most of the moment and encouraged to think positively.

Several juvenile prisons around the world have popularly adopted the Prison SMART program as a successful rehabilitation program for inmates. It has been very successful in almost all countries like Bahrain, Lebanon, Philippines, Kosovo, South Africa, Canada, USA and India.

A survey with 41 party – drug users, shows that their drug usage and stress level was greatly reduced one week after the completion of the course. “I started using alcohol and hashish at the age of 15, but it continued very quickly into amphetamine, ecstasy, Rohypnol and more”, says Marius (20). But now, Marius is happy that he dropped this habit. “People think they will become happy if they get the nicest house and the coolest car. But happiness comes from within”, he adds.

LOS ANGELES

The County of Los Angeles Probational Department contains the largest Juvenile Detention Centre in the world. The county established the Violence Alternative Program (VAP), and given the success achieved by the Prison SMART Program across the country, it was included as a component of the VAP.

Prison - Morocco

On the 15th of January 2007, we conducted the first Prison SMART course in Morrocco thanks to the efforts of Amina and Ibrahim Slaoui, Directors of IAHV Morrocco and Nathalie Schaller, Morrocco. Thirty five juvenile delinquents in the Casablanca Correctional Center and five correctional officers took part in the pilot Prison SMART course and the strong connection was made between the young boys and the officers. Every day, we watched all forty participants getting stronger by the day, smiling and shining with joy and warmth.

Based on this pilot course, the prison management was to decide if the Prison SMART will continue in other prisons as well.

Six members from Youth Leadership Training Program used to come to the prison every day to help, translate and care for each course participant.

The last day of the course, prison managers and officials from the Ministry of Justice were invited to hear the sharing of the course participants and they were all deeply touched by the experiences of the young boys. The faces of the boys were shining with love and gratitude and their testimonies brought tears to the eyes of the prison officials and guests from the Ministry of Justice. Of course then THERE WAS NO DOUBT ABOUT CONTINUATION OF PRISON SMART IN MOROCCO. After hearing the testimonies, the Minister of Justice had brought the decision to build new facilities for the boys because the boys in the correctional center lived in terrible conditions. 100 boys were put in the small space which was meant to be for maybe thirty people and there were only two toilets.

The director of several youth prisons, Mrs Assiae Loudie was impressed by the transformations among the course participants and especially by the strong connection and feeling of belongingness between the young prisoners and the correctional officers. The director said that one of the biggest problems in the prison is the negativity among the prisoners and prison staff and she said that she could feel the strong connection made between the two groups thanks to the Prison SMART program. She also mentioned that the positive changes among the prisoners were so visible on their faces after the course and that she would give her full support to Prison SMART project hereafter.

Mrs Assiae, lovingly called Mama Assiae, organized the next Prison SMART course with forty girls in the Casablanca Correctional Center for female juvenile delinquents, and then again, another forty boys from the Correctional Center took the course. It took me only a few weeks in January and April to teach totally 200 youth delinquents (70 and 130 boys) and 20 educators.

The educators and prison guards in youth prisons have conclusively reported that Prison SMART:

• is vital for rehabilitation and education of juveniles and prisoners in general

• is the first program in their prison that deals with the cause of violent and criminal behavior and gives genuine rehabilitation

• has brought together prison staff and prisoners

Here are the experiences of some juvenile delinquents from Casablanca prisons:

• "I feel light, joyful and more calm"

• "Usually, nobody visits us in the prison, nobody asks how we are doing! This is why we will never forget the atmosphere of love and care during the workshop"

• "I sleep better during the night and I am less depressed"

• "I want to become Prison SMART teacher and help others to feel better"

• "It is so good to be in the present moment and less in the past or future"

• "I feel more togetherness with others and less lonely"

"Today, the Prison SMART courses are continuing in Casablanca prisons and we are hearing about wonderful transformations of prisoners, juvenile delinquents and prison staff."

Snjezana Nisevic

Full time AOL teacher

Prison-Program - South Africa

Prison Stress Management and Rehabilitation Training (SMART)

The Prison SMART program has been taught in South Africa since 2002. It has been very successful over the years covering seven prisons nationally. Two new prisons were opened in 2008, and to date over 7000 inmates have benefited.

Prison SMART has also received great print media coverage over the years which have built up its credibility. The team has also been instrumental in building up Prison SMART in Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Kenya through recommendations from the nine prisons in South Africa.

Research on impact of Prison SMART

A research was carried out on the impact of the Prison Program on the behavior and health of the inmates.

Results

Results showed a remarkable decline in the anger and aggression levels of inmates. Out of the 41 participants surveyed 20 were male and 21 were female.

Out of these:

• 75.6% shared improvement in anger levels; 68.3% said there was an improvement in clarity of mind

• 58.5% said their fears have come down; 68.3% reported decrease in sadness and depression

• 46.3% observed the need for medication changed and 29.3% saw no change

• 75.6% reported increase in energy levels and 2% saw no change

• 68.3% felt lethargy levels were reduced; sleep improved for 85.4%

• 75.6% found an improvement in physical well being

• 75.6% reported increase in energy levels

• Quality of sleep improved for 78%

The Leeukop Prison, Johannesburg

The first prison course held at the Leeukop prison took place in April 2002, facilitated by Mr.Tom Duffy. 45 inmates participated and within a short period of time the transformation in the offenders became more prominent.

Workshops began to be facilitated on a monthly basis. It was seen that inmates inspire their cellmates to take up the workshop.

“I am now feeling healthier and calm and I can cope with my stress accordingly and not to forget, my sleep has improved a lot. I personally think this course helps you to communicate with your inner self. And it really helps me a lot with becoming stable and calm” - Siphiwe.

“At this moment, I found the medicine to kick this killer disease, which means I have eternal life because of this program and I can live my life like a candle in the rain. I would like to thank almighty God to give you this chance to come here and teach us how to handle our lives, without harming ourselves. In this regard I am saying God Bless you for the rest of your life and have eternal life. I wish you Good Luck and Don’t Give Up! Thanks” - Eric Matau, Kwazulu Natal Prison Program.

41 inmates participated in the Prison SMART course. They loved every minute of it. They all arrived early for their sessions and eagerly waited for the program facilitators each morning. Everyone went through the yoga, breathing and knowledge with 100 percent focus and enthusiasm.

At their graduation all the inmates were personally congratulated by the Deputy-head of Development and Care (KZN head office) and the section social workers. Ms Dlamini and Ms Kheswa (she did the course with the youth) were sterling examples of selfless service.

The Boksburg Prison

Two courses were run in Boksburg in January 2007 at Medium Section with 53 inmates and another in June 2007 at Juveniles with 30 offenders. The results after the course have been fantastic, as evidenced at the Correctional Services Week where the introverted offender, Mzwakhe Luvuno spoke highly about the benefits of the course.

All the participants reported improved, and undisturbed sleep patterns. The participants are much more forgiving and accountable for their own goals and life ambitions. All participants requested that the other offenders and members do the course. Some offenders have returned to their studies and their level of memory retention has increased.

Groenpunt Maximum Security Prison

Is transformation of hard-core criminals possible? Transformation into what? What were they like before they got into crime? Were they born as dangerous and violent criminals?

Change begins to take place when the focus is on the answer to the last question. With a strong belief in the inherent good of humanity, volunteers from The Art of Living started a 7-day Prison Program for the inmates of Groenpunt Maximum Security Prison in South Africa.

The aim was to bring calmness and peace to them through effective breathing techniques as well as yoga postures. A look into the life of the inmates who are termed amongst the most violent in South Africa, reveals their human side. Most of them are young and imprisoned for life. The journey into crime began with one wrong step, the result of one bad decision and then the supposedly never ending vicious circle begins.