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DECEMBER 2019
Hancock State Prison (SP) is getting a new start and leading the way as the first level five facility to implement the Evidence Based Program. It is a two-year program with four phases that offers offenders different electives that are facilitated by both staff and offenders. It has been proven that these programs help offenders not return to prison.
Offender Ronald Smith was in the first group that started the Evidence Based Program at Hancock SP. He became a mentor about four months ago. Smith now teaches Narcotics Anonymous and has started to take a Spanish class that is also taught by another offender.
“The program is what you make it. It’s just like life. Whatever you put into it you get out. It gives you a chance to rehabilitate yourself. In prison, this is the time to invest in yourself. You’re supposed to come in here and change,” says Smith.
He says this program has improved the relationships with other offenders as well as staff. Smith also says it has transformed the prison’s atmosphere.
“This program has been a beautiful change to morale and integrity. It allows us to have more respect for each other and a common ground of growth and development for the inmates and administration. We’re coming together instead of promoting violence, strife, and discourse. Now we’re promoting encouragements, health and hope through all of these classes,” explains Smith.
The courses are intended to help the offenders find purpose and change their mentality. Some of the classes offered are Peace, Understanding Self, Managing Anger, and Gang Renunciation. Select offenders are also getting the opportunity to have their gang tattoos removed. An offender at Hancock SP says he came to prison when he was 17 years old with 14 gang charges. He started the program six months ago.
“I realized, that one choice I made when I was 17, I’m 25 now, will affect me consistently. Then I thought how I can make this beneficial for others,” says the offender.
This offender is also taking a Journalism 101 course. He says he hopes to use what he’s learned in the program to help other young people learn from his mistakes.
“Gang violence is a problem right now. It’s an outbreak, it’s too much but we have their attention since they want to be just like us. But they don’t understand we’re not like that anymore. We did what we did but we came to prison and now we’ve been reformed. I have a life sentence, 14 gang charges and a murder charge but now I’m in college going for a BA. Who would’ve thought this when I was sitting in that courtroom?” recalls the offender.
There was another offender who was also in the Gang Renunciation class although he was never in a gang. But he says the course helped him learn more about the other offenders.
“Taking the class gave me a chance to get to know those who were in gangs and solve a common goal to get better in our speech and behavior. We held each other accountable and exhibiting a certain behavior in the living quarter,” explains the offender.
He says the program is all about discovering who you are and what your purpose is. He says it allowed him to figure out the root of his issues that were repeatedly bringing him back to prison.
“The Evidence Based Program is the best kept secret of the Georgia Department of Corrections. I’m a repeat offender and I never addressed the primary problem about why I was committing those acts. It offered me a chance to get to know myself and understand why I did what I did,” says the offender.
He is now taking college courses to become a Rehabilitation Counselor. He is hoping his experience with substance abuse can help someone else.
“Prior to this class I didn’t think there would be another chance to step outside the chain gang world and go back into society and be successful. Now that I have the opportunity, I have given up my gang affiliation and remove my tattoos and become a white-collar worker. It’s a second opportunity for people that really want it,” explained an offender in the class.
The program started at Hancock SP in March 2018. The offenders in that first group will be graduating from the Evidence Based Program in March 2020.
“It gave me a way to be at peace within myself where I don’t have to worry about my family. I can build on me to be a better, positive person to re-enter society. I am thankful for that moment every day and that opportunity to be at this prison and be a part of this program,” said an offender.
The Evidence Based Program is changing how the prison system rehabilitates offenders and allows them to have a second chance at being a successful citizen in their communities.