Take-the-baby-to-Prison Day, or Why Aren't There Any Rehab Prisons? (and this is the kind of post that will keep me from being elected to anything, ever)

So, on Saturday I was changing Tori's diaper in the bathroom of the visitors waiting room at prison and I got to thinking about this post I've been meaning to write.

Wait. Maybe I should start at the beginning.

Recently, we (we being Charlie, Sarah, and I) found out that an old friend of ours had gone down a rocky path. Once sober and happy, he'd hit a bunch of speed bumps--the brutal murder of a friend and business partner, the loss of a fianceé, the theft of his belongings--and it all added up to his choosing to return to using drugs and drinking rather than staying sober. In short order, this led to him being where he is now: behind bars, serving a two-year sentence. We'd lost touch with him over the years and had no idea he was in jail, but after exchanging a few letters decided to go visit him.

Visiting someone is prison is a nightmare in Philadelphia (perhaps it's more fun where you are). We arrived early, took a number, sat for a half-hour, then filled out a form, found out to our dismay that we couldn't take Tori to see our friend because we didn't bring her birth certificate with us (for fuck's sake), and then we waited. And waited. The room we waited in was about 100 degrees, and it took forever for them to allow us our visits (we each got a half-hour with our friend, and we had to wait 45 minutes between our half hours for some unknown reason). Once I was finally permitted to go back to see him, I was required to take off my shoes and shake out my socks, lift my shirt and shake out my bra, lift my hair and let the guard check behind my ears, let her put her hands in all my pockets, look "down" my pants, and also open my mouth and let her look under my tongue.

Our friend is lucky; he's managed to fight to get two years sober again in prison, but not because of any help the system has given him. He's in a special section of the prison dedicated to addicts and alcoholics and he only gets exactly ONE sobriety meeting a week (most folks believe in order to maintain sobriety, particularly early sobriety, you should go every day). He also gets to go to church once a week. Yet he says he could easily obtain drugs in prison, even in his special unit--in fact, he told me during our visit that most of his unit was "zannied out" (meaning they were taking xanax) and it was obvious to me that several of the other prisoners in the visiting room were completely stoned.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 16%-18% of crimes are committed because of individuals either behaving badly while on substances or committing crimes (such as robbery) to get money so they can procure MORE substances.  I think that number is actually insanely low; this Drug-Related Crime Fact sheet put out by the government claims that nearly 75% of criminals tested positive for drugs when they were busted here in Philadelphia (compared to only 42% in Anchorage, Alaska--Philly kicks ass again; Woot!).

Yet drug treatment remains a low priority for our criminal justice system. This fact sheet claims that nearly 75% of the 6.3 million people incarcerated in the United States NEED some form of treatment, but only 11% get it. Of course you can't force people to get help when they don't want it--most of us addicts and alcoholics do NOT, in fact, ever get better--but while this sheet claims that prisons offer extensive treatment, it's simply NOT TRUE.

Here in Philadelphia, sobriety meetings are taken in to prisons by non-prisoners on a regular basis. But it's a challenge (people willing to bring meetings must go through a major certification process, must not be ex-felons themselves, etc, etc). Most prisons allow no more than one meeting a month, at most, and do NOT allow the prisoners to organize their own meetings. Why can't prisoners hold their own meetings if they are supervised by a counselor or drug treatment therapist? Because there AREN'T ANY THERAPISTS OR COUNSELORS AVAILABLE TO THE PRISONERS.

I have wondered for years why there aren't prisons specifically for individuals that have committed crimes but are serious about getting clean and sober. I had a friend in early recovery that went to a sober high school; it was just like regular high school, but they also held daily meetings and had an overall focus on staying away from alcohol and drugs (wish I'd gone to one of those). So why aren't there sober prisons?

I understand that prison is, first and foremost, PUNISHMENT. I am not suggesting that we change the prison experience from typical prison to the luxury spa experience that Brittney Spears and Lindsay Lohan enjoyed during their stints in "Rehab." A rehab prison should still be a prison. But it should offer daily meetings, and have more frequent drug testing, and work harder to keep the drugs OUT (I really think it's despicable that drugs get into prisons so easily--and it's clearly NOT coming from the visitors; I couldn't have sneaked in shit).

If prisoners came out of prison sober, don't you think there is a much better chance of decreased recidivism? If prisoners are used to meetings, they will have a quick and easy way to plug back in to society (by going to meetings OUTSIDE of prison) that can help them find places to live and jobs and keep them out of trouble (people in meetings help their own), as well as making them more willing to utilize the services provided by the prison system (our friend is plugged in to his social worker for help with jobs and housing when he gets out this summer).

Getting sober isn't easy, and it's not fun. Why do you think so many people fail at it? Learning to live without alcohol and drugs for the addict or alcoholic is like learning to walk backwards. It is so much easier, sometimes, to just keep walking forward. Being sober, to the alcoholic/addict, is as unnatural as being drunk all the time is to the non-alcoholic. Being sober feels wrong, bad, awkward, uncomfortable. Like you are naked, or like your skin is on inside out. It sucks, and it take forever--months and months--for that feeling to lessen (it never quite goes away completely). Along with that comes the humiliation of realizing the harm you've caused, the truth of what a shit heel you've been for years, and the hard work you have to do to become a decent human being. IT SUCKS. No one should look at the act of getting sober as a "gift" being given to a prisoner. Getting sober is a nearly impossible struggle and has to be earned and fought for, and is painful and agonizing--don't think it isn't. So I truly do not believe that providing prisoners with a chance to earn their sobriety makes their stay in prison MORE comfortable. Trust me on this one--being high on xanax is a WAY better way to do your time.

I realize this is all fantasy on my part; no one ever wants to view treatment as a way to solve crime instead of punishment; a hammer is always seen as more effective than a hug. But right now, prisons are full to the brim with individuals doing obscene amounts of time for drug crimes thanks to the mandatory sentences that were instituted in the early 1990's; the way the laws were set up, individuals caught with three grams of crack did as much time as dealers caught with 300 grams (thankfully, that rule has been tossed). Eventually all of those individuals are going to get out of prison no better than they were when they went in, and in many cases, much worse. They will commit more crimes, and hurt more people, and end up right back there, costing us more money and filling up more jail cells.

Isn't it time to try something different?

Comments

[Rach]

I don't know. I've thought alot about this too, and I don't know. I don't think something like this appeasl to the public sense of justice, even if it makes more sense, sadly.

[Katie]

You're right we do need to try something different. I wish I could say things are better in the UK, but they're really not.
Glad you're back, I was starting to worry a little.

[Chickenpig]

I don't know anything about being an addict or a prisoner, but it makes sense to me that the prison system should do anything within its power to try and help prisoners become and remain sober as possible. Along with not enough resources being allocated to help drug/alcohol addicted prisoners, there isn't enough being done to help the mentally ill in prison, whom many of which are also addicts due to self medicating. It is more cost effective to help these ppl in prison and in related after release programs than it is to keep paying to incarcerate them. Sadly, I don't see the prison system making a turn for the better any time soon.

I've never read a description of trying to get/stay sober as enlightening as yours. I knew it was hard (duh) but as far as HOW it felt...well, lets just say your description made me thankful I'm not an addict, and made me understand what it's like a little.

[Pamala]

You are right though, why aren't there serious programs for those who have realized their mistakes and don't want to make them again? I guess it comes down to not being able to trust people. I mean how can you be sure someone is serious and not just trying to get into a program that looks good for parole or perhaps is a bit easier than real prison?
Also I think a major reason people turn back to crime when they get out is the taboo of being in prison. It's on their record and everyone runs background checks these days. We make life insanely hard on these people. Even the ones who've made a change and are wanting to be productive, have a hard time surviving. There comes a point when you have to ask, when do they stop being punished for their crimes? Because it rarely stops once they leave prison.

[Natalee]

Yep, I agree 100%. I had an uncle that was constantly in and out of prison due to his alcohol/substance abuse problems. He's been out for quite a while now (thank goodness), but he's been in so much, for so long, that he sometimes wishes he were back in, because it is so hard to deal with society on the "outside". Sad, but true.

[RainbowW]

providing treatment makes politicians look soft on crime.

won't happen in our lifetime.

[Heather]

Powerful essay! I really don't understand why ALL prisons aren't SOBER facilities. Like you I have heard the same thing, that it is easier to score drugs in prison than it is on the street. It makes no sense at all. Maybe we should start a movement, write our congress and senate reps.

[Anne]

Yes--I totally agree with you. I guess the only way for us to make a difference is the way we make any other difference--by contacting our politicians, over and over again, and letting them know that the status quo is not acceptable.

Thank you for your description of getting sober. As someone else said above, it gave me a sense of how it actually *feels* for an addict to get sober.

I've been a lurker here for a while now. I feel I need to speak on this topic. I work in a state prison in one of your neighboring states. First, I'm sorry that you had to go through what you did to visit your friend. We only require visitors to wear appropriate clothing and pass through a metal detector (unless, of course, there is reason to believe they are transporting drugs or some other type of contraband). I work in the Mental Health Department of a high security men's prison. We would NEVER consider using a drug such as Xanax in our state. NO WAY it would be approved, even if we wanted to use it. I agree that the 16% - 18% of crimes related to drug or alcohol use is absolutely ridiculous. We work under the assumption that approximately 80% of crimes are committed because of alcohol or drugs or while they are under the influence of those substances. I also agree that more treatment would be wonderful. The problem that I see with it is two-fold. Sadly, there is a very low number of offenders that are actually interested in real treatment. This certainly does a disservice to those that are committed to their sobriety but (sadly, also) it's a fact. When starting a new program for offenders (mental health programming or substance abuse programming), I usually put approximately 15 people in group. Almost without fail, I will end up with less than half that when it is over. Secondly, unfortunately, (at least in our state) funding is an issue. They keep decreasing our staff and budgets and expecting us to do more and more. When the states start taking these things more seriously, I think there will be people there that would love to offer more treatment for offenders. The media doesn't help matters. It seems that prisons can't win. If offenders are perceived as being "coddled" then the media is outraged that tax dollars are being spent to "let inmates live better than you and I". On the other hand, if there is a hint of abuse, the media is outraged that some who is locked up might be victimized. I have found it best to treat everyone there as I would like to be treated (unless they give me reason not to). (The inmate that threw urine on me didn't get a smile and a handshake). :) Your friend was right, drugs are easily come by in prisons. They are very creative on ways to get them. Visitors and (unfortunately) staff are the two main ways. My state does prosecute those who are caught but sadly, many are not caught. It makes it dangerous for us all to go to work each day. If a person is willing to bring drugs in to an offender, will it stop there? Would they also bring in a gun?

[JuliaKB]

If prison doesn't work to help the prisoner straighten out it simply becomes a mechanism to space out the offenses by the terms of each jail sentence. It just has to be more cost effictive to offer real help. And it seems that for alcoholics or drug addicts the first reasonable step is a good clean and sober program. Common sense to me. But then perhaps I am just not enough into vengeance.

[Rev. Dr. Mom]

Actually, Cecily, this is why we SHOULD elect you to something.

The criminal (in)justice system is another part of our society that is beyond broken. But as long as it keeps folks out of the way of the powers that be, then it's all good. SNORT.

And the whole concept of punishment--well, yes, criminals--real criminals who have hurt others, taken what doesn't belong to them--need to experience consequences for their behavior. But punishment carries with it lots of negative side effects.(Ask any parent who has relied solely on punishment for discipline or any kid raised that way). When we stick folks in prison for punishment without any hope of rehabilitation--education, mental health support, job training, support for re-entry into society when appropriate--we shouldn't be surprised when the outcome is less than positive.

Thanks for another excellent post.

[anne]

Bravo, Cecily, on such a well-written post about a controversial issue. You are so very good at writing about things society deems controversial - you are passionate, compassionate, and always thoughtful.

I applaud your description of what it means to get sober. I am going through it myself, and it is by no means easy. I struggle with the way society - and of course individuals - vilify alcoholics and addicts. I could go off on a tangent about that topic, but I will stop here, and say again - thank you for this post.

[Jen]

I also live in a neighboring state to yours, to the north. As part of my job (Child Welfare), I have spent time in numerous prisons and county jails, I've even attended a college graduation inside a prison. Never have I ever had to go through such a screening process that you have described. Like the poster above me, I simply had to wear appropriate clothing and go through a metal detector with all my personal belongings locked in a locker. And small children are always allowed in. In fact, in several prisons in my state, prisoners are allowed to have "family weekends" where members of their immediate family are allowed to visit in trailers on prison grounds. I've met several toddlers whose fathers have been in prison for the last 10 years.

I also have to agree with the poster above regarding the number of prisoners motivated to get into treatment. My friend helps run a college program within several prisons throughout our state. Study after study has shown that education is the largest factor in preventing recidivism. So why aren't college programs offered in more prisons? Because of the cost to taxpayers and the number of inmates who would utilize the programs (my friends program is run through a grant and costs the public nothing)would be relatively low. People want to know that their money is going to people who will use it and use it effectively, especially when you are talking about the convicted. I imagine that substance abuse programs would be similar.

The possible positive outcomes of these kinds of programs would be so substantial and would probably eventually pay for themselved, but until the legislature and the taxpayers can be convinced to fund these kinds of programs they will be few and far between.

[Jen]

Oops, also wanted to add, that in most states and in most prisons, it is exceedingly easy for visitors to smuggle in items for prisoners whether it be drugs or other prohibited items.

And correctional officers often come from lower to lower middle class families. In my state most officers are the sons of farmers whose family farms went out of business or who saw the prison system has a definite job. Many live 4-6 hours away from the prisons they work in and spent huge amounts of time away from their families. I imagine that smuggling in drugs for prisoners serves the same purpose to them as it does to dealers on the streets...a way to make things a bit easier at home when it comes time to pay the bills.

[Her Grace]

Amen. What's the point of punishment if your life is in ruins when it's over? The punishment is in the confinement, but why not, oh, I don't know, attempt some rehab at the same time?

December's Rolling Stone had an excellent article on the War on Drugs and the number of imprisonments for petty drug crimes. It's a good article, for those interested.

[LAura]

My father is a councelor (recovering Alcoholic drug addict of 23 years) he also worked in the prison in bellville Il for 12 years ... maybe its the particular state but they had an intense program there. i worked in a prison hospital here and we did not have any such beast that i am aware of so... shrug seems to me like we are letting people slip through the proverbial cracks in the prison system...i hope your friend finds what he needs so when he does get out he is not like our friend who just does not seem to get it and ends up back inside within a few months of being out.
Hugs and glad you are back on i missed you.
Laura

[Miss W]

I think you're right...but I also think you didn't take it far enough. As far as I'm concerned, there needs to be more of an effort made at prevention in the first place. And, sadly, that doesn't happen effectively. We've become such a hedonistic society -- one where people are willing to help others less and less. Whether it happens in schools, community organizations, churches...wherever. Adolescents picked up for the first time for drug and/or alcohol use should have some sort of rehab, meetings or otherwise. And those should be policed better. My cousin (who ultimately died 2 weeks shy of his 19th birthday) was ordered to go to meetings...in a building connected to the county jail...where the (majority of the)group went to the parking lot during breaks to get high together...where the drug counselor leading the meetings frequently went out to smoke (tobacco) and saw these kids using and didn't send them back to the judge for fear that his program would look ineffective and he'd be out of a job.
So yeah...it's needed in the prisons...but also long before so that maybe people have a better chance of not ending up there.

[Leanna]

I didn't read all the comments, someone may have posted about this, but here in tiny town Kentucky, about 10 years ago I was part of a team to establish the first rural drug court in the country. Drug Court works like this, If you are charged with a felony offense ( not violent offense, no sexual offenses and no trafficking) and have a drug or alcohol problem, you can ask the court for a referral to Drug Court, after assessment, you enter a plea of guilty, but sentance is diverted upon entry into Drug Court. You are assigned a counsler, and other professionals to address an entire range of problems. In a perfect world, local businesses partner and offer employment for participants, underwrite costs of counseling, testing and transportation. In the beginning you meet every day with group, or individual, classroom or job skills, workbook and journal. You appear in Court every week where a Judge reviews your progress, and EVERY detail of your life ( sometimes check stub, budget etc) Drug tests are randam and immediate. IT is factored in that relapses occur and sanctions are applied on an escalating basis.(if you flunk out, to prison you go... but you are given repeated chances) As you progesss, the court appearances are fewer and an individual treatment program is created. AFter the third phase, participants graduate from the program into an aftercare program - that many of them lead or are involved in. It is a wonderful concept and we have been using it here for 10 years. It has it problems, but people who really want help and whose problem is additction it is a wonderful alternative to jail. I was sold the day I sat in the courtroom in Lexington and saw a Judge holding the hand of a graduate , show a picture of the mess she was when she was arrested and listened to the woman as she told how she stayed clean- with the help of the program- during her pregnancy and birth of her child, after she had already had one child while smoking crack. She thanked the Court for her life and that of her child. !!(sorry so long, but there are alternatives!)

[Jen]

We have drug court in my state as well, think almost New England, but not quite that far up.

[Heather]

As always, thanks for posting this, Cecily. This one really hits close for me. My sister, 21 in 2 days,just finished a two year jail stint this summer. It had been her first aduly conviction, and hopefully, her last. It was an awful thing to have happen, and the only thing about it that I could be glad for was that at least it took her out of the situation she had been in before that. She is clean right now only because the drugs that were available in jail were of no interest to her,allowing her to detox, and the drug tests required by her parole officer ( she has been trying to thwart them for years, seriously, and has finally conceded that the only way to get around drug tests is to...not do the drugs..). The things that she went through in jail cast a lot of light on certain things that my families very conservative,southern lilt had not given us much of a chance to see.
Right now, she is on the other side of the country, were are separated by both parol and military duty. IT scares me for my baby sister to be trying to get it all together with so little help. The help she gets, she is forced to appreciate as some kind og handout, and most of our uber conservative family treats her like she doesn't belong, goig as far as to cast doubt onher paternity, and thus, he belonging to that part of the family. I get pretty sick of people looking at others in situations like that and seeing themselves as so superior. Many of the people who are looked down on have only made the same decisions that the rest of us have made, they just haven't had the fortunate outcomes of the rest of us. We think of people ending up in jail after series of bad decisions, but often, it is one bad decisions, one like all of us make, that because of fate or whatever you want to call it, has a worse outcome, neccessitating other "bad" decisios that the rest of us couldn't fathom having to make. I know there is a need to crack down on crime, but at the same, we need to add some compassion to the justice system. It is rough...this balancing act.Thanks again for the post; as far as I can see it, the best wat to find that balance is going to be people speaking up like you just have.

[carmie]

This is a topic near and sore to my heart. A close family member is in a supermax prison here for the rest of his life due to those insane drug laws, and also to some choices he made in prison. After hearing of the treatment he has received I have come to the conclusion that the system is fucked.

The search you underwent sounds pretty familiar to me. Be glad you couldn't take Tori in - when I visit my family member, the hardest part is having to let my son be pawed and frightened by strangers.

[Tyanne]

My brother had bad things happen to him when he was little. So he turned to drugs to numb things out. He first got in trouble with police at age 16, got out of workhouse at 18, back in a few years later, back out again. Then around 10 years ago, my brother was I think 29 at the time, he got out of prison, and I got an apartment with him so we could be roommates. He had never really had to worry about bills and everything, but he was doing a good job paying his bills, and staying out of trouble. Then he got invovled with a girl, and she smoked pot, wich got him back on the pot, then after about a year of being together she dumped him and went back to her ex. This left my brother very emotionally distraught, he got high on something, I asume it was cocaine, but not totally sure, and broke into a neighbors house. The police came to question him and do a search of our house, etc., and he had drug paraphanilia in his room, and some of the stuff from the ladys house. And he told me he didn't remember doing any of it, getting high, breaking into the house, etc. Anyway, that was has third strike, and after some court crap, he got 47 years.....Yep, ***47 YEARS***. Now, I understand he deserved to pay his dues, but there are rapists, murderes, child molesters, etc, out there that get as little as two years for this crap. Anyway, that really sucks.
It's ten years later and my brother is still in jail. He has seen people get killed and die. He has known people that have commited suicide. He has seen things I don't even want to think about. All for some stupid ass drugs. Please, if for some reason anybody out there might think they want to try drugs, please don't. Cause the first time you do it, you will get hooked, and then you have to figure out how to clean up your life. My brother is not eligible for parole for another 7 years.....it's just sad.
Tyanne

[mellie]

Amen. Setting aside any other benefit, I have to believe that it would be cost effective.

[R]

In a word, yes.

[Meira]

Amen, sister. When Bran was in prison I was horrified to read that many people get addicted to heroin *in* prison.