Reading to children promotes good behavior behind bars
From Correctional News
Reading a book to a child is an effective way of encouraging prison inmates to behave behind bars. That may sound idealistic or even naïve, but that is exactly what is happening at Saguaro Correctional Center in Eloy, Ariz.
Read to Me International Foundation, a Hawaii-based nonprofit dedicated to child literacy, implemented a version of its reading program at Saguaro — where many inmates from Hawaii are housed — called Fathers Bridging the Miles, in which inmates get to read a book while being recorded onto a DVD disk, and the recording is then sent to the child. Participating inmates are also allowed extra on-site or video visits with their child. The group implemented the program in partnership with the Hawaii Department of Public Safety and Corrections Corporation of America.
“When faced with the decision [to engage in prohibited behavior], they’re thinking about their children and they make the right decision,” Saguaro’s Warden Todd Thomas said of prisoners in the reading program. As such, the program has been recognized as a top strategy for reducing misbehavior among the facility’s inmates.
“I’ve seen some pretty hardened guys and I’ve asked them, ‘what benefit do you get from the program?’” said Thomas. “And one guy said to me, ‘I haven’t spoken to my son in five years. This gives me something to talk about, something we have in common. He looks forward to talking to me, and I look forward to talking to him.’ Another said, ‘I’m older now; I want to spend quality time with my family. I’ve never spent quality time with them before.’
The fact that it helps to reestablish an inmate’s connection to his family is also a factor in their improved behavior,” said Thomas. “It puts them back in touch with a stable home environment. That’s why it’s so strong and powerful.”
Saguaro opened its doors for occupation in July 2007 and Read To Me International’s program was implemented in November of that year. Inmates who apply for acceptance into the program are screened to verify that they have minor children and approval is obtained from the custodial parent before they are given the go-ahead to participate.
Accepted inmates are subsequently provided with a list of age-appropriate books from which they are allowed to select the ones they would like to read to their child. They are then recorded reading the book and the recording, along with a copy of the book, is sent to the child.
