College Behind Bars

What? Several things stood out to me while watching College behind Bars. One thing that really stood out was how eternally grateful the inmates are for having the opportunity to learn. Many of the people who were interviewed explained out it completely changed their life and they needed it. One man said something about how it helps him keep prison life out because it is very easy to internalize. Being in school and working hard on something that means something to him helps him not think about his situation and how depressing it can be. One percentage really stood out to me as well. During a graduation ceremony, a man said that the recidivism rate among minorities is typically 50%, which are inmates who are released will come back to prison but among those who have gone through the Bard college program, the recidivism rate is only 4%. It is amazing to see statistically how much these programs really mean to the inmates and how much it truly benefits them. If these statistics are true then why isn’t more education offered in prisons? Funding is probably the main problem but if getting an education is really helping these people rehabilitate and become better then it should be offered more. In the beginning of episode 1, an inmate said prisons are there to punish not to rehabilitate. In order to rehabilitate you have to offer inmates something to help them do that. Shutting people in a cell for most of the day is not going to make them suddenly better and is why the recidivism rate is so high. Programs like Bard Prison Initiative and the programs our guest speakers are a part of are going to have a greater impact on inmates than prison itself.

Another part that stood out to me was that some inmates never learned how to be independent and some earned it quickly and how education in prison helped with both problems. A female prisoner describes her life before prison. She said that she learned that she didn’t really need an education or a job because if she married someone with a job then she would be set and never thought of getting an education or a job for herself. Later, she mentioned that being enrolled in the program has really helped her evolve into her own person. For the first time, while in prison, she is taking her own life and education in her own hands. She controls when she does homework, how much effort she puts in, and when she studies and she is so determined. Many of the interviewed inmates said they start their homework around midnight and work until around three am because that is when it is the quietest and they are able to focus. It is so easy to just sleep at that time but these inmates want this so bad and it means so much to them that they willingly stay up late so they can put as much effort and focus into their education as possible. Another inmate said he lost all of his parental figures within 2 or 3 years and was 14/15 when he was on his own. He didn’t know how to properly care for himself at that age so he got involved with a gang because they took him in. Being a part of the program showed him how to be properly independent and live instead of surviving. Something I didn’t think of before is that you can live in prison and not simply exist. This education program helps inmates live, develop, and grow while in prison which helps them become better people when they are released.

So What? One connection I made between the documentary and the stories our guest speakers told are the programs that effectively helped the inmates. Miguel and Ke had therapy that really helped them accept what they had done so they could learn and move on. Ke said at one point when they were asked to write about their crime it went from one page to fifteen pages. Once both Miguel and Ke were released they both started working for foundations that can help people that are in similar positions as they were. It shows how much this means to them. Ke also said that he turned down a well-paying job so he could do this. He knew it wasn’t going to make as much but it made an impact on people who he relates to and was, therefore, rewarding for him. Both Ke and Miguel’s purpose came from a hard time in their lives which I can relate to. Before my sister was born I was like any other kid and changed my answer to “what do you want to be when you grow up” almost every day. However, I found my purpose at seven years old. My sister was born with a critical congenital heart defect which made basically the left side of her heart nonfunctional. She has three open-heart surgeries, numerous other procedures and all the pediatric therapists under the sun. I have always enjoyed helping others which were intensified when my sister needed all the help she could get. I would always try to help the nurses, doctors, and therapists whenever they would come. When my sister had an occupational therapist, her OT let me help and be a big part of my sister’s sessions and is why I have known the answer to “what do you want to be when you grow up” for eleven years. If my family and I had not been through several years of difficult times I wouldn’t have found my purpose. I noticed in the documentary that BPI graduates sometimes end up working for the program which shows how former inmates feel about the program and current inmates, which is exactly what Ke and Miguel feel. They want to give back to the very thing that helped them and allowed them to grow and develop. They think it is important to continue because it is effective.

Now What? I looked into Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ). Their mission statement is “CURYJ unlocks the leadership of young people to dream beyond bars. We look to young people to lead the way by transforming their community and investing in their healing, activism, and aspirations.” They believe that youth are the experts about issues that impact their lives and encourage them to stand up and fight for what they believe in. Under their “Vision” page they have several bullet points on how they seek to create freedom and well-being for others. They want relationships to matter and young people from all backgrounds are valued and supported in the community. CURYJ believes that every young person is a blessing and has a purpose. They help youth embrace their stories, talents, and contributions instead of isolation and criminalization. They fulfill this in three ways: Promote and Elevate Youth Art and Talent, Provide Holistic Youth and Leadership Development Programs (including meaningful and well-paid employment opportunities) and Politically develop and empower youth to create their own solutions. CURYJ also wants to benefit Oakland natives who struggle with the gentrification of their communities. They want to train youth to voice their opinions and power to be involved in creating policies that will benefit them and many others. They do this by Lifting Up Formerly Incarcerated Leadership, Galvanizing Community Power to Remedy Unresolved Trauma, and Building Self-sustaining Communities & Self Determination. Another thing CURJ+YJ does is hold onto and respect their heritage and culture. They make sure their cultures and preserved by keeping their ancestry alive. They curate a culture of resistance, balance, and compassion by Promoting and Training Community in Transformative and Restorative Justice, Challenging Dominant Narratives with Black and Brown Solidarity and Creating Ecosystems of Wellness and Community Through Food, Art and Education.