Direct Inmate Supervision CCDC

This informational packet was prepared by Mary Tran, Jennifer Lanahan, and Katlyn Brady of the William S. Boyd School of Law. The William S. Boyd School of Law did not participate in the creation of this information nor does it endorse the views or material contained within.

Clark County Detention Center 330 S. Casino Center Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89101

Lieutenant Yancey Taylor [email protected]

Direct Inmate Supervision Modules Breaking the cycle and strengthening families from within the Clark County Detention Center.

DIRECT INMATE SUPERVISION MODULES - NOVEMBER 2015 1

Executive Summary

A recent study provides that one in fourteen children has had one parent incarcerated at one point in their lives.1 The potential effects of parental incarceration on their children include low self-esteem, emotional issues, and problems in school.2 We have long known the importance of parental presence during a child’s development, and although a person should be punished for her crimes even if she is a mother, options are available that would still uphold this punitive element without increasing the negative impact on her children. Inmates could obtain skills that would have a positive impact on their children’s lives and society at large upon their release. The Direct Inmate Supervision (“DIS”) program is one such program that is geared towards rehabilitating inmates, by helping to ensure those inmates possess the necessary life skills to avoid reoffending. Programs are offered to help with substance abuse, PTSD, Nutrition, Meditation/Yoga, Civil Forms, Self-Empowerment, Job skills, GEDs, and Parenting skills. Inmates who are provided with the necessary skills to be successful in family life and employment could positively affect their children’s lives and lower the risks of re-offense, thereby creating a safer society.3 If inmates are not rehabilitated to stay away from crime, it is only logical they will re-offend and stay stuck in a cycle of crime and punishment; because they do not know of any other way out.

Highlights The Clark County Detention Center, South Tower Bureau, was designed to provide a physical plant design for nineteen DIS modules. The program does not require extra funding to maintain. The social benefits of the program are numerous: inmates can successfully re-integrate into society, change their lives for the better, and can become positive role models in their children’s lives.

Objectives

• Lower rates of recidivism by providing inmates with the skills necessary to succeed in society.

• Help ensure inmates have the basic skills necessary to gain employment so they are able to help support their families.

• Provide the skills necessary for inmates to become better parents to their children and avoid becoming a part of the prison cycle.

Mission Statement The Mission of the Clark County Detention Center is to set the standards for American Jails, through Leadership and Excellent service; while focusing on the safety of the Community, Staff Members and Inmates. A critical part of the Direct Inmate Supervision philosophy is to strengthen families by providing inmates with the skills necessary to be successful parents and citizens when released back into society.

Keys to Success Inmates are less likely to reoffend if they have the skills to face life challenges and can attain gainful employment. This allows more parents to remain with their children and reduces the risk of their children becoming a statistic in the system.

1 http://www.childtrends.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2015-42ParentsBehindBars.pdf (research only accounted for parents that reside with the children—this number could be higher if incarcerated non-residential parents are included). 2 http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2015/11/how-parental-incarceration-affects-a-childs-education/414720/. 3 http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/07/prison-born/395297/ (research suggests prison nurseries reduces the rate of recidivism by mothers and promotes better outcomes for children).


What is Direct Inmate Supervision?

Direct Inmate Supervision (“DIS”) is a management philosophy (strategies like “set clear expectations, treat others as you want to be treated, manage your unit by walking and talking, be just and fair, etc.”) backed by a supervisory style (treating someone like a normal adult), and supported by a physical plant design (Open Dorm, Podular Remote). It places staff face-to-face with inmates with full responsibility for the management of inmate behavior. DIS is really a “state of mind” rather than a state of physical plant; it is how you approach and manage inmates.

Facts about Direct Inmate Supervision

• DIS actually began in 1970 in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The two areas that forced this philosophy were “Failure to Protect” and “Inmates have a constitutional right to be safe while in custody.” The response to the liability was to design and build jails that facilitate the active, continuous supervision of inmates, which developed into the strategy now known as DIS.

• There are many other jurisdictions operating under the DIS philosophy, such as Alameda County, CA; Baer County, TX; and the Denver County Jail. You can actually go on the American Correctional Association (ACA) and American Jail Association (AJA) websites at www.aca.org and www.americanjail.org, respectively, to research facilities running under this philosophy and their success stories.

• Lt. Taylor first learned about the DIS philosophy while working as a Corrections Officer with the Arizona State Department of Corrections (Level 4 Cheyenne Yard) in Yuma, AZ. After being hired by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Taylor was selected to be an instructor to teach the DIS Philosophy to line staff when the South Tower Bureau first opened in 2003. Due to his experience as a DIS Instructor, and true belief in the philosophy, Taylor volunteered to take this project on when it was proposed to him by his Command Staff. After six months of preparation and proposals, the first two DIS modules were opened back in July 2015.

• Due to the success of the first two units, three additional DIS modules were opened in CCDC now offering classes in: Parenting skills, Nutrition Awareness, PTSD and Reclamation to Society program, Meditation/Yoga, Self-Empowerment, Civil Forms, Job interview training, and certification courses (e.g., typing WPM, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint).

Benefits of DIS • Inmates feel safe and respect each other and their Corrections Officers.

• Holding inmates to high standards of behavior prepares them for their release back into society, and helps reduce the rates of reoffending.

• Providing inmates with the necessary skills to find employment will reduce their need to commit crimes.

• Helping inmates learn to be better parents will strengthen their families and their children.


The Effects of Parental Incarceration on Children A new report released in October 2015 by David Murphey and P. Mae Cooper studied the effects that having an incarcerated parent(s) can have on their children.4 The report analyzed data from the National Survey of Children’s Health and yielded the following findings:

• Over 5 million children in the U.S. have experienced parental incarceration at one point in their lives—this is three times higher than prior estimates which only factored in children with a parent currently incarcerated (an underestimate because it does not include children with a non-residential parent who was incarcerated).5

• Other studies have found links between parental incarceration and childhood health problems, behavior problems, and grade retention (in adulthood-poor mental and physical health).6

• Parental incarceration was associated with a higher number of stressors, emotional difficulties among children ages 6 to 11, and a higher likelihood of problems in school among children 12 to 17, along with less parental oversight.7

• Limited research “suggests that reducing the trauma and stigma these children experience, improving communications between the child and the incarcerated parent, and making visits with the incarcerated parent more child-friendly may alleviate some of the negative effects of this separation.”8

• “Children who have no resident parent with more than a high school education are 41 percent more likely to have experienced parental incarceration than are children with at least one parent who has had some education beyond high school.”9

• Of the children who have had an incarcerated parent, over “one-third had witnessed violence between their parents or guardians, and one-third has witnessed or experienced violence in their neighborhood.” Less than 10% of children not in that group had experienced either type of violence.10

• “Children ages 6 to 11 with an incarcerated parent were, on average 9 percentage points more likely to have school problems than those without.”11

• “Having an imprisoned parent is an example of a loss that is not socially approved or (often) supported, which may compound children’s grief and pain, leading to emotional difficulties and problem behaviors.”12

TED Talks on Prison in the United States “How Prisons Can Help Inmates Live Meaningful Lives” by Dan Pacholke

• In the United States, the agencies that govern prisons are often called “Department of Corrections.” And yet, their focus is on containing and controlling inmates. Dan Pacholke, Deputy Secretary for the Washington State Department of Corrections, shares a different vision: of prisons that provide humane living conditions as well as opportunities for meaningful work and learning.

“A Father-Daughter Dance . . . in Prison” by Angela Patton

• At Camp Diva, Angela Patton works to help girls and fathers stay connected and in each other’s' lives. But what about girls whose fathers can't be there — because they're in jail? Patton tells the story of a very special father-daughter dance.

“Why Your Worst Deeds Don't Define You” by Shaka Senghor

• In 1991, Shaka Senghor shot and killed a man. He was, he says, "a drug dealer with a quick temper and a semi-automatic pistol." Jailed for second degree murder, that could very well have been the end of the story. But it wasn't. Instead, it was the beginning of a years-long journey to redemption, one with humbling and sobering lessons for us all.

4 http://www.childtrends.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2015-42ParentsBehindBars.pdf. 5 Id. at 1. 6 Id. 7 Id. at 2. 8 Id. 9 Id. at 4. 10 Id. at 5. 11 Id. at 7. 12 Id. at 8.


Management Direct Inmate Supervision is based on mutual respect between the inmates and the correctional officers. Currently, there are five DIS modules in operation (one female module). Each module contains 74 inmates. Normally, one Corrections Officer is assigned to each module. A key focus of Direct Inmate Supervision is treating each inmate like a normal adult. By treating inmates like adults and showing them available alternatives, it allows inmates to break the cycle that results in reoffending. Giving inmates a sense of hope and motivation to better their lives will promote good behavior and help break the cycle of recidivism.

History of DIS at CCDC When the South Tower was built over a decade ago, it was built for the Direct Inmate Supervision program for 19 modules. However, due to administrative decisions, the Direct Inmate Supervision philosophy was not implemented. After being approached by LVMPD Command Staff, Lt. Taylor volunteered to implement the Direct Inmate Supervision philosophy and currently has five modules in operation—with the first two opening in July of this year, and several months later opened three more (including a female module). Each module contains 74 inmates. The modules recently went through a surprise “shake-down” to search for contraband items. No drugs or weapons were found and the worst offense was one inmate who had excessive linen. Following the success of the first modules, Lt. Taylor continues to work with Command Staff in an effort to expand the program to all 19 modules.

DIS Programs and Incentives DIS provides a number of programs and incentives to help teach inmates the skills they need to successfully reintegrate into society. Programs and incentives include:

• Prison programs that address addiction issues such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous.

• General parenting classes to teach inmates parenting skills and help them better connect with their children. As over 5 million children in the United States have one primary parent incarcerated these classes are increasingly important to the well-being of America’s children.

• GED classes. Nationally 68 percent of all male inmates do not have a high school diploma.13 These inmates lack the basic skills and qualifications necessary to find employment after being released. Unable to support themselves through legitimate employment these inmates often return to crime to survive.

• Hope 4 Prisoners. This program provides mentorship and vocational training to assist with the reintegration process. More information is available at: https://hopeforprisoners.org/

• Local businesses have contributed to a clerical program. This program consists of a 17-week course that teaches inmates typing and other skills. Inmates graduate with a certificate that can be used to gain employment.

• PTSD and Reclamation to Society. This program focuses on an individual examining themselves (past and present) and admitting when you need help from a troubled past; while opening up doors to counseling and recovery from a life filled with hurt and pain.

• Inmates in the Direct Inmate Supervision program have access to the other programs not available to the general population.

• Individual Corrections Officers provide other skill building activities, such as teaching inmates to fill out job applications and write individual resumes. The inmates participate in mock interviews and receive feedback. Trivia of the Week is given to help inmates expand their knowledge.

• Inmates apply for jobs within the module, which teaches them responsibility. Inmates have access to coffee urns, microwaves, electric hair clippers, extended free times, open seating privileges, and food items not offered on the general commissary.

13 http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_25771303/schools-v-prisons-educations-way-cut-prison-population


Commissary All incentives provided to inmates in the Direct Inmate Supervision modules come from the general commissary fund.

Tour Dates Lt. Taylor operates tours primarily on Tuesdays, but he is sometimes able to arrange individual tours to accommodate busy schedules. Please email Lt. Taylor at [email protected] to schedule a tour.


In Their Own Words Recently, the inmates were asked to share their feelings about how the DIS program has helped them. The following are submitted letters, poems, short stories, and artwork.








The above explanation pertains to the “Seize Your Opportunity” submission that immediately precedes it and was written by the same artist.





Documents

Direct Inmate Supervision CCDC