A Resocialization Intervention Model in the Prison - The Family: People Helping People Project

Abstract

The Bahamas is suffering from a serious social fragmentation process, due to the cocaine crisis of the 1980's and its continuing sequelae. Burgeoning murder and violent crime rates associated with family and community disintegration have led to the incarceration of many young persons. The Family: People Helping People Project is a community based intervention designed to confront social fragmentation and promote re-socialization among the inmates at the Bahamas Department of Corrections. The method used is a dynamic supportive group process, involving storytelling, personal reflection and transformation based on the psychotherapeutic principles of the Contemplative Discovery Pathway Theory (CDPT). Since the program's inception, there have been 109 group sessions. A thematic analysis of these sessions indicates the four most common themes were violence, anger, revenge and addiction. The thematic analysis of the Prison group, described in this paper indicates the depths of negativity of shame but also provides hope for Resocialization and preparation for the inmates to live a meaningful and crime-free community life upon their release. This paper discusses the Resocialization process of a group of inmates who attended the program for three (3) years.

Social-psychological approach to the adaptation of persons under probation: a review of foreign experience

“…Несмотря на существенные различия, эффективность концепций оценивается объективно, исходя из силы воздействия, оказываемого на мировоззрение, ценности, установки, убеждения и представления поднадзорных лиц с учётом, конечно, социально-экономических и правовых условий, создаваемых для этой категории лиц 5 .…”

Group Process as a Resocialization Intervention: The Family - People Helping People Project

“…You feel like you're going crazy. After a while, you get used to it, get drunk and high and you feel numb" [22]. Another inmate described the depth of his anger when he disclosed:…”

“…The rest of my family members and neighbors scorned me. My daughter is my only love but sadly I've abandoned her and I hate myself because I've done to her what was done to me" [22].…”

“…I am happy I survived because I realize now that my children and my mother are waiting for me to get out. I have people I love and this keeps me going" [22].…”

“…They have also developed better conflict resolution skills and now have more effective communication. Even more so, they are now able to express vulnerability by sharing intimate, personal and emotional stories with the group [22].…”