The Second Chance Project: Creative Approaches to Developing the Talents of At‐Risk Native Inmates

Abstract

This study compared the recidivism rate of two groups of Native Canadian inmates. The experimental group of offenders received intensive pre‐release support, including counseling, training in Creative Problem Solving, career awareness sessions (including résumé writing, interviewing, and impression management), and on‐the‐job experience. Inmates in the control group received no such support; at sentences' end, they were simply released into society to fend for themselves. The results indicated that recidivism can be reduced by a meaningful support program. Individuals in the experimental group were much less likely to re‐offend than those in the untreated control group.

Developing Creative Potential: The Power of Process, People, and Place

“…We were also able to capitalize on these applied engagements by conducting, supervising, and reviewing numerous studies of the real-world impact of CPS (e.g., Isaksen & Treffinger, 2004; Treffinger & Isaksen, 2005). Don was also able to help conduct numerous evaluations of other programs that relied on learning and applying CPS like Destination Imagination, Future Problem-Solving, Camp Invention, and Lost Prizes (e.g., Place et al, 2000; McCluskey et al, 1998; Treffinger et al, 2012; Saxon et al, 2003). I was able to conduct proprietary impact studies on the use of CPS in helping organizations meet their innovation challenges (e.g., Isaksen & Lewandowski, 1997; Isaksen, & Puccio, 1988; Isaksen, & Murdock, 1990; Isaksen et al, 1991).…”

Creative Problem Solving With Marginalized Populations: Reclaiming Lost Prizes Through In-the-Trenches Interventions

“…The distressingly high recidivism in the nontreated group is an indictment against the present practice of "warehousing" prisoners through the system, only to have them reoffend ad infinitum. The results of the Second Chance project, considered in more depth in another article (Place, McCluskey, McCluskey, & Treffinger, 2000), suggest that there are alternatives. And incidentally, the recidivism rate for the Second Chance participants has held at 39% for almost a decade.…”

An Analysis of Systems of Influences through the Lens of Balanced Time Perspective: A Qualitative Study on a Group of Inmates

“…Some studies have addressed the evaluation of the effectiveness of counseling interventions carried out with offenders. Moreover, Fitzgerald et al [24] found that career counseling increases prisoners' ability to explore and identify career interests, occupational options, job search skills, and goal setting; additionally, Place et al [25] highlighted that career counseling interventions, through the strengthening of problem-solving and career awareness skills, reduce the probability of recidivism. Furthermore, the importance that work holds in favoring the socio-occupational reintegration of prisoners is widely recognized in the panorama of theories that try to explain the motivations that drive people to commit crimes.…”