According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2014, there were 2,224,400 people in prisons in the United States. This is the highest rate of incarceration in United States history (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2014). With the average cost to house an inmate being $31,286 per year taxpayers and prisons are looking for ways to reduce recidivism (Vera Institute of Justice, 2012). Non-traditional rehabilitative programs such as gardening, animal-human interaction, education and religion are new techniques being implemented in an attempt to reduce recidivism rate.
Pre- 1970s, gardening was a common activity in many penitentiaries in the United States. With the rise of a “get tough on crime” mentality, gardening and other, more recreational and rehabilitative services, were removed. In the decades since the 1970’s, however, gardening has once again become a trend in prisons across the country. One of these gardening programs is housed in the Eastern Correctional Institution in California. In order to qualify for this program, inmates must be non-gang affiliated and have a clean behavioral record. Once selected, prisoners work up to 10 hours a day tending to the almost acre garden situated on the prison grounds. This program has two main functions to benefit the inmates: teaching goal setting and providing positive relationships (Rosendale, 2015). In his TED talk, the urban ecologist James Jiler, discussed how important it is for humans to be connected with the environment. …show more content…
When he first piloted a prison gardening program, he wondered what he could do to connect with the inmates. He started his class by saying “I’m going to teach you how to grow really great pot”. Although this was said factiously, he explained that he was trying to engage a population with many members who had never had any connection wilderness (Jiler). The idea of connecting with nature, Jiler comments, can teach inmates some very valuable life lessons. One of the more important of these lessons is being responsible for something. Jiler elaborates “For prisoners, many of whom have suffered frequent failures in the job place and the frustrations of being marginalized in society, horticulture is a process that allows them to control their environment through shared responsibilities in an unspoken contract between person and plant” (Jiler).” “Accomplishment is its own reward, generating new goals and productive efforts in a person’s life. As skills develop and projects increase, individuals achieve a greater sense of empowerment, along with a newfound pride their role in the workplace.” (Jiler, 2006). Most people obtain this achievement through school or jobs but for the inmate population it is possible, and even likely, that they have never held a steady job nor finished their education. The Bureau of Justice Statistics found that 68% of state inmates do not have at least a high school diploma (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2003). Gardening also allows inmates to practice goal setting techniques. For example, a prisoner’s goal might be to ‘“I will pull weeds for 30 minutes every time I garden in order to give my plants their best chance at success.”’ (Jenkins, 13) Gardening can teach inmates the fundamentals of goal setting, following through and achieving a successful result. This allows them to experience the pride that accompanies following through on a goal. In addition, gardening allows inmates to foster relationships with other inmates, and the guards. …show more content…
Inmates can form relationships with other inmates by providing emotional support, sharing tools and sharing gardening techniques. “The support group of an individual may be widened and strengthened through gardening programs” (Jenkins, 16). Guards can play the role of both an advisor and emotional support system while gardening. Many people do not receive constructive criticism well and gardening can be a time for guards to critique inmates without them becoming defensive. This mentorship along with spending more time with inmates in a non-hostile environment lead to a closer and more positive relationship between the inmates and guards (Jenkins, 15). The effect gardening programs have on recidivism rates vary by program but many have shown a decrease in recidivism for inmates enrolled in these programs overall. Approximately one third of prisons in the United States already have some environmental program put in place and another third are actively setting up these programs (Khatib & Krasny, 2015; Feldbaum, Kirschenbaum, Mukamal, & Pinderhughes, 2011). New York
Pre- 1970s, gardening was a common activity in many penitentiaries in the United States. With the rise of a “get tough on crime” mentality, gardening and other, more recreational and rehabilitative services, were removed. In the decades since the 1970’s, however, gardening has once again become a trend in prisons across the country. One of these gardening programs is housed in the Eastern Correctional Institution in California. In order to qualify for this program, inmates must be non-gang affiliated and have a clean behavioral record. Once selected, prisoners work up to 10 hours a day tending to the almost acre garden situated on the prison grounds. This program has two main functions to benefit the inmates: teaching goal setting and providing positive relationships (Rosendale, 2015). In his TED talk, the urban ecologist James Jiler, discussed how important it is for humans to be connected with the environment. …show more content…
When he first piloted a prison gardening program, he wondered what he could do to connect with the inmates. He started his class by saying “I’m going to teach you how to grow really great pot”. Although this was said factiously, he explained that he was trying to engage a population with many members who had never had any connection wilderness (Jiler). The idea of connecting with nature, Jiler comments, can teach inmates some very valuable life lessons. One of the more important of these lessons is being responsible for something. Jiler elaborates “For prisoners, many of whom have suffered frequent failures in the job place and the frustrations of being marginalized in society, horticulture is a process that allows them to control their environment through shared responsibilities in an unspoken contract between person and plant” (Jiler).” “Accomplishment is its own reward, generating new goals and productive efforts in a person’s life. As skills develop and projects increase, individuals achieve a greater sense of empowerment, along with a newfound pride their role in the workplace.” (Jiler, 2006). Most people obtain this achievement through school or jobs but for the inmate population it is possible, and even likely, that they have never held a steady job nor finished their education. The Bureau of Justice Statistics found that 68% of state inmates do not have at least a high school diploma (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2003). Gardening also allows inmates to practice goal setting techniques. For example, a prisoner’s goal might be to ‘“I will pull weeds for 30 minutes every time I garden in order to give my plants their best chance at success.”’ (Jenkins, 13) Gardening can teach inmates the fundamentals of goal setting, following through and achieving a successful result. This allows them to experience the pride that accompanies following through on a goal. In addition, gardening allows inmates to foster relationships with other inmates, and the guards. …show more content…
Inmates can form relationships with other inmates by providing emotional support, sharing tools and sharing gardening techniques. “The support group of an individual may be widened and strengthened through gardening programs” (Jenkins, 16). Guards can play the role of both an advisor and emotional support system while gardening. Many people do not receive constructive criticism well and gardening can be a time for guards to critique inmates without them becoming defensive. This mentorship along with spending more time with inmates in a non-hostile environment lead to a closer and more positive relationship between the inmates and guards (Jenkins, 15). The effect gardening programs have on recidivism rates vary by program but many have shown a decrease in recidivism for inmates enrolled in these programs overall. Approximately one third of prisons in the United States already have some environmental program put in place and another third are actively setting up these programs (Khatib & Krasny, 2015; Feldbaum, Kirschenbaum, Mukamal, & Pinderhughes, 2011). New York