the pathway from prison carey ewing reintegration manager
TRANSCRIPT
THE PATHWAY FROM PRISON
Carey EwingReintegration Manager
STRUCTURE
LESSON ONE – Getting someone out of prison is comparatively
easy compared to keeping them out
One of our clients reflects on this when he comments on the period before release
“you need to know what you’re getting in to. You don’t get out and go; ‘hey man this isn’t for me’. Pathway laid
it out at the beginning.”
It was important for us to learn that:
TOTAL REINTEGRATION STRATEGY (TRS)
Another quote from one of the men in the report reflects the value of this better than I can when he simply said;
“they haven’t given up on me, and i’m not gonna give up on them.”
This was another important lesson for us
LESSON TWO – Relationship is key, it is the only meaningful tool we have to work with our men
LESSON THREE – to focus only on what we could do and do it very well. Instead of trying to meet all of the needs around you.
DEVELOPMENT
YEAR FIVE
YEAR FOUR
YEAR THREE
YEAR TWO Prayer Team Budgeting ServiceMentor ProgrammeCommunity Work Days
x2 one bed flatsare purchased to address the need for more housing
2nd Social WorkerIncreased client loadHealth ServiceWhakaora RJ ServiceBike Programme
Funding for more accommodationEmployment Programme supported by Corrections
YEAR ONE
Pre and post release supportDrug and alcohol supportRestorative JusticeEmployment with Oak Tree
GROWTH
REFLECTIONS
What was also encouraging was that of the 12 men interviewed all but one directly credited the support from Pathway with assisting in keeping them out of prison, some were unequivocal;
“if I didn’t have their support, I would be in jail.”
“I would still be going back to jail if they hadn’t have been there.”
LESSON FOUR – Some things can work, but boy is it hard work!
The lesson we took from the comments is that unlike the reports from the 1970’s into prisoner reintegration that implied nothing works
Another quote taken from the evaluation reflects this in action
“Pathway support, they’re consistent with you. Even if you stuff up they are there. I find them really reliable,
really loyal. They didn’t give up.”
THEORETICAL BASE• Disistance Theory• Good Lives Model• Motivational
Interviewing
LESSON FIVE – It’s good to have an idea where you are heading and how you plan to get there, a framework to operate within.
Especially on the days when it feels like it is all falling
ap a r
t
COLLABORATION
LESSON SIX – Collaborations work best when they bring value to both parties
LESSON SEVEN – When someone gives up a life of crime, they often have given up a lot, long before they see many rewards for the changes….. so expect challenges, bad days and attempted shortcuts
“society and the community fear me and the criminal elment of the cominuite fear me and i hate both communities cas I have found them both as dishonest as each other
bit ova the years i have made a few close friends and i mean a few 2 in jail doing life an 2 out here that i would die for an now ive got an x prison chaplin that i am honourd to class as a true freind an trust like i have not let myself trust before .
so thank you for all u have done, I know i dont show it but im so thankfull i have had ur support and encouragement cas i know I would b in jail if it wasnt for u
but even tho i have misbehaved out here, i have not wanted to let u down.so if u dont stop sending me ur little bible quations im gona ring ur bloody neck...na ill let u away wth it u deserve that much .
bet u didnt expect this on this nice day so keep the good work up cas its days like today when u get a tx from a hardened crimal that dosent like to show emotion that u know you r doing a good job
so u have good day my brva.”
QUESTIONS
www.pathway.org.nz