thing to work on myself while I’m here instead of worrying
about getting in a fight or having to defend myself over something that is petty.”
When hearing that members from Local 167 were in the
house, another client who admitted his violent past, stood up
to convey the power of the Steps to Freedom.
“My name Jones,” he began. “Basically, what this program is,
it’s a therapeutic community for people to manage their lives
outside these walls. We have people who take time out of their
day to show us how to conduct ourselves back into society. We
all have drug problems to the point where we would steal from
our mothers. I didn’t know how powerless I was over that addiction until I had this counseling.”
The counselor commanding the respect is Director of Treatment Melissa Niles, who exudes the qualities that are typically
part of a successfully-run prison unit. She has the clients’ trust
because she has their backs. She is not easy on them, but she
is fair.
“I believe you must have a humble posture in an encounter
group and therapy group,” Niles states. “We have to hold each
other to a higher level of respect. We’re not going to tolerate
mess. We’re all about raising each other’s awareness out of respect.”
Niles demonstrates as much by finishing her thought, then
turning to the population and asking, “What is the proper response?”
In unison, the clients respond:
“The proper response is, ‘Thank you,’ and ‘I will get right on
it.’”
Freedom of Information
Time out for a quick sidebar: Phillips has joined the Mercer
County contingent for this tour because she believes a re-entry program can take advantage of what corrections truly can
and want to offer their inmates. “I would like to explore using
the knowledge from the officers we have,” she reasons. “I believe we can be involved as counselors. We certainly don’t have
enough civilian counselors, and maybe we can find an accommodation to certify us. I would love to do something like that.”
When Local 167 reports to its supervisors and freeholders
about what took place in Cumberland County, there will be details about the posters that hang from the cell doors with the
“12 Steps to Freedom” and “The Word of the Day.” (The word of
the day on this day is “self-assessment.”)
And the Local 167 members will report the answer to the big
question, the one Land asked:
“What do they need to be qualified to be in the program?”
Inmates have to apply by writing a request, understanding
that it’s a minimum 12-week commitment. Niles compiles the
requests and each quarter sends a list to classification for authorization to be interviewed. If an inmate is approved, he is
screened for substance-abuse disorders, assault risk history
and up to 16 other mental health disorders. If he fits the diagnosis, he is approved.
Each approved inmate receives a letter of acceptance that,
in part, reads: “Shortly, you will have the opportunity to begin
a journey that leads to freedom from the consequences of drug
and alcohol abuse.”
Mr. Schulze articulates why they want to get in: “Everywhere
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