Many of these inmates are starving for love and kindness and, as hard as it may be to extend those things to the inmates convicted of the worst crimes, it really is a key to reforming them. Even if they never leave those prison walls, kindness and opportunities to work and learn, will very likely increase their confidence and intrinsic motivation to become kinder, rule-abiding members of their communities—whether they stay in prison or reenter society.
Truth. I'll never understand why we don't want people to have the opportunity to become a better version of themselves no matter who they are or what they did. We tend to think of the worst (movie) scenarios when most of the time, but our inmates are most often just flawed and broken people who could become so much more with some guidance and support.
Shocker how when you treat someone not as they are what they did, but as "you did something bad, now let's help you get back on track," you get a positive response and more trust and respect from everyone involved. This makes me happy to hear about a system like this and one that is near me. I live in Minnesota.
Imagine if we were all treated like the worst thing we ever did! What you're saying is absolutely behavior modification 101... what we give our attention to, we get more of. Shocker that our prisons are violent, cold places not in the business of rebuilding people. 😒 Thank you!!
Excellent, Bridget. Models like The Farm make perfect sense when you factor in attachment disorders. I’d hazard that many inmates’ addictions stem from disrupted attachment — the inability to form a genuine human partnership. That’s also why 12-step programs work: community and sponsorship begin to repair those broken bonds. Where addicts once sought connection through substitutes — substances or compulsive behaviors that bankrupt them emotionally, spiritually, and physically — they start to rediscover it through real human relationship and belonging.
This is a great point. Connection is the opposite of addiction. Addiction demands that we stay detached from self and others, and yes!!! being in community changes this. Why we think that solitary confinement and isolation will fix or cure or change anything is batshit crazy. Thank you for this comment (and for your work in the world!).
Thank you for sharing Troy's wisdom and story. It's heartbreaking as are so many of these stories. Keep writing, keep sharing, keep advocating...... it all matters! A little $$ support went out for you!
I live about a half hr from Waupun Correctional Institute, a WI state prison that's been there forever and has been in the news for all the wrong reasons -- inmate deaths, understaffing resulting in long-term lockdowns of prisoners, etc. -- over the past few yrs. Recently, I saw a news story about the Governor's current plan: "Gov. Evers’ comprehensive corrections plan also proposes to convert Waupun Correctional Institution into a state-of-the-art, medium-security institution designated as the state’s first “vocational village.” Based on models from other states like Michigan, Louisiana, and Missouri, vocational villages emphasize vocational training and workforce readiness to ensure individuals who have completed their time in Wisconsin’s correctional institutions have the resources, training, and skills to join the workforce, be contributing members of society, reduce their risk of reoffending, and improve public safety. Waupun Correctional Institution would close temporarily while major renovations were conducted, including demolishing the existing cell halls, replacing them with modern housing for 600 at medium-security, and establishing space for the 'vocational village.'" - https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WIGOV/bulletins/3f7083c It sounds like an upgrade and improvement over the current system, but I also don't know how effective/humane such projects have been in other states (& haven't looked it up yet). I'm also doubtful it will happen here, at least in the near future. Our current Gov is a Democrat; state legislation is majority Republican, and our state is pretty purple right now. Dodge Cty, where the prison is located, is very Red/Republican.
For sure, the entire nation is looking at how to do incarceration differently but so far, these models only look at things like vocation and cost reduction because that's sexy to people who don't see prisoners as humans with human needs. The problem lies in our classifications and old mindsets around making "bad" people only pay and never grow. These well-meaning projects don't seem to take bigger philosophical questions into their 'new' plans because people freak out about 'soft on crime' insinuations. Stay tuned for more on this because what Troy is proposing in an exciting shift in thinking. I'm so glad you're here.
Great post!
Thank you for being here!
Many of these inmates are starving for love and kindness and, as hard as it may be to extend those things to the inmates convicted of the worst crimes, it really is a key to reforming them. Even if they never leave those prison walls, kindness and opportunities to work and learn, will very likely increase their confidence and intrinsic motivation to become kinder, rule-abiding members of their communities—whether they stay in prison or reenter society.
Truth. I'll never understand why we don't want people to have the opportunity to become a better version of themselves no matter who they are or what they did. We tend to think of the worst (movie) scenarios when most of the time, but our inmates are most often just flawed and broken people who could become so much more with some guidance and support.
Shocker how when you treat someone not as they are what they did, but as "you did something bad, now let's help you get back on track," you get a positive response and more trust and respect from everyone involved. This makes me happy to hear about a system like this and one that is near me. I live in Minnesota.
Imagine if we were all treated like the worst thing we ever did! What you're saying is absolutely behavior modification 101... what we give our attention to, we get more of. Shocker that our prisons are violent, cold places not in the business of rebuilding people. 😒 Thank you!!
Excellent, Bridget. Models like The Farm make perfect sense when you factor in attachment disorders. I’d hazard that many inmates’ addictions stem from disrupted attachment — the inability to form a genuine human partnership. That’s also why 12-step programs work: community and sponsorship begin to repair those broken bonds. Where addicts once sought connection through substitutes — substances or compulsive behaviors that bankrupt them emotionally, spiritually, and physically — they start to rediscover it through real human relationship and belonging.
This is a great point. Connection is the opposite of addiction. Addiction demands that we stay detached from self and others, and yes!!! being in community changes this. Why we think that solitary confinement and isolation will fix or cure or change anything is batshit crazy. Thank you for this comment (and for your work in the world!).
Thank you for sharing Troy's wisdom and story. It's heartbreaking as are so many of these stories. Keep writing, keep sharing, keep advocating...... it all matters! A little $$ support went out for you!
Thank you for your kind and tangible support, always. The fight continues for things to make more sense. I'll pass your support and note onto Troy.
I live about a half hr from Waupun Correctional Institute, a WI state prison that's been there forever and has been in the news for all the wrong reasons -- inmate deaths, understaffing resulting in long-term lockdowns of prisoners, etc. -- over the past few yrs. Recently, I saw a news story about the Governor's current plan: "Gov. Evers’ comprehensive corrections plan also proposes to convert Waupun Correctional Institution into a state-of-the-art, medium-security institution designated as the state’s first “vocational village.” Based on models from other states like Michigan, Louisiana, and Missouri, vocational villages emphasize vocational training and workforce readiness to ensure individuals who have completed their time in Wisconsin’s correctional institutions have the resources, training, and skills to join the workforce, be contributing members of society, reduce their risk of reoffending, and improve public safety. Waupun Correctional Institution would close temporarily while major renovations were conducted, including demolishing the existing cell halls, replacing them with modern housing for 600 at medium-security, and establishing space for the 'vocational village.'" - https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WIGOV/bulletins/3f7083c It sounds like an upgrade and improvement over the current system, but I also don't know how effective/humane such projects have been in other states (& haven't looked it up yet). I'm also doubtful it will happen here, at least in the near future. Our current Gov is a Democrat; state legislation is majority Republican, and our state is pretty purple right now. Dodge Cty, where the prison is located, is very Red/Republican.
For sure, the entire nation is looking at how to do incarceration differently but so far, these models only look at things like vocation and cost reduction because that's sexy to people who don't see prisoners as humans with human needs. The problem lies in our classifications and old mindsets around making "bad" people only pay and never grow. These well-meaning projects don't seem to take bigger philosophical questions into their 'new' plans because people freak out about 'soft on crime' insinuations. Stay tuned for more on this because what Troy is proposing in an exciting shift in thinking. I'm so glad you're here.