I’m here to speak with you today about pathway to change the jail labyrinth
pathway to change the jail labyrinth
pathway to change the jail labyrinth project and documentary this was a
project and documentary this was a
project and documentary this was a collaboration that involved many
collaboration that involved many
collaboration that involved many different disciplines within our local
different disciplines within our local
different disciplines within our local community Hampshire County Jail is
community Hampshire County Jail is
community Hampshire County Jail is situated just outside the city of
situated just outside the city of
situated just outside the city of Northampton it is home to approximately
Northampton it is home to approximately
Northampton it is home to approximately 250 inmates while I was employed at the
250 inmates while I was employed at the
250 inmates while I was employed at the jail I had the opportunity to attend a
jail I had the opportunity to attend a
jail I had the opportunity to attend a workshop involving the labyrinth I was
workshop involving the labyrinth I was
workshop involving the labyrinth I was so impressed I asked the facilitator if
so impressed I asked the facilitator if
so impressed I asked the facilitator if she would come to the jail and do a
she would come to the jail and do a
she would come to the jail and do a pilot program for the incarcerated men
pilot program for the incarcerated men
pilot program for the incarcerated men that I worked with there our program was
that I worked with there our program was
that I worked with there our program was so successful that we then went on to
so successful that we then went on to
so successful that we then went on to develop a 12-week curriculum this was
develop a 12-week curriculum this was
develop a 12-week curriculum this was the skill based program with topics that
the skill based program with topics that
the skill based program with topics that included forgiveness moral development
included forgiveness moral development
included forgiveness moral development mindfulness problem-solving and
mindfulness problem-solving and
mindfulness problem-solving and decision-making just to name a few after
decision-making just to name a few after
decision-making just to name a few after the lecture held in the classroom at our
the lecture held in the classroom at our
the lecture held in the classroom at our Correctional Facility the men were then
Correctional Facility the men were then
Correctional Facility the men were then led in a guided meditation they then
led in a guided meditation they then
led in a guided meditation they then walked a portable labyrinth that we had
walked a portable labyrinth that we had
walked a portable labyrinth that we had laid out on the floor at the conclusion
laid out on the floor at the conclusion
laid out on the floor at the conclusion of class we discussed options for
of class we discussed options for
of class we discussed options for behavioral changes and ways to implement
behavioral changes and ways to implement
behavioral changes and ways to implement them into their daily living at one of
them into their daily living at one of
them into their daily living at one of the workshops the idea of constructing
the workshops the idea of constructing
the workshops the idea of constructing an outdoor labyrinth came up when we
an outdoor labyrinth came up when we
an outdoor labyrinth came up when we approached sheriff Garvey at the jail he
approached sheriff Garvey at the jail he
approached sheriff Garvey at the jail he responded yes if you can get the funding
responded yes if you can get the funding
responded yes if you can get the funding go ahead with the project now you may
go ahead with the project now you may
go ahead with the project now you may wonder what a labyrinth is and why we
wonder what a labyrinth is and why we
wonder what a labyrinth is and why we would do a program like this at a
would do a program like this at a
would do a program like this at a correctional facility facility this is a
correctional facility facility this is a
correctional facility facility this is a labyrinth on the coast of Maine and they
labyrinth on the coast of Maine and they
labyrinth on the coast of Maine and they are an ancient and sacred symbol over
are an ancient and sacred symbol over
are an ancient and sacred symbol over 4000 years old they are not affiliated
4000 years old they are not affiliated
4000 years old they are not affiliated with any particular religion the
with any particular religion the
with any particular religion the labyrinth has one entrance it follows a
labyrinth has one entrance it follows a
labyrinth has one entrance it follows a circuitous path leading into a center
circuitous path leading into a center
circuitous path leading into a center and then back out again I like to refer
and then back out again I like to refer
and then back out again I like to refer to it as a moving meditation the
to it as a moving meditation the
to it as a moving meditation the benefits of walking allowed
benefits of walking allowed
benefits of walking allowed are many it clears the mind revitalizes
are many it clears the mind revitalizes
are many it clears the mind revitalizes energy calms the body and reduces stress
energy calms the body and reduces stress
energy calms the body and reduces stress correctional facilities can be very
correctional facilities can be very
correctional facilities can be very chaotic places in which to live
chaotic places in which to live
chaotic places in which to live short periods of serenity as those
short periods of serenity as those
short periods of serenity as those experienced on the labyrinth are highly
experienced on the labyrinth are highly
experienced on the labyrinth are highly prized as an aside in a small research
prized as an aside in a small research
prized as an aside in a small research study that we did we found another
study that we did we found another
study that we did we found another benefit of walking the labyrinth not
benefit of walking the labyrinth not
benefit of walking the labyrinth not surprisingly it lowers blood pressure
surprisingly it lowers blood pressure
surprisingly it lowers blood pressure and pulse the volunteer crews of
and pulse the volunteer crews of
and pulse the volunteer crews of incarcerated men did countless hours of
incarcerated men did countless hours of
incarcerated men did countless hours of manual labor this is early in the
manual labor this is early in the
manual labor this is early in the project when they’re just opening up the
project when they’re just opening up the
project when they’re just opening up the field where the labyrinth is going to be
few more examples of the men working
few more examples of the men working correctional staff also participated in
correctional staff also participated in
correctional staff also participated in the project operating heavy equipment
the project operating heavy equipment
the project operating heavy equipment when it was needed these are supplies
when it was needed these are supplies
when it was needed these are supplies being delivered the pathways for our
being delivered the pathways for our
being delivered the pathways for our labyrinth which was 80 feet it’s very
labyrinth which was 80 feet it’s very
labyrinth which was 80 feet it’s very very large labyrinth and the first of
very large labyrinth and the first of
very large labyrinth and the first of its kind in the United States within a
its kind in the United States within a
its kind in the United States within a correctional facility probably in the
correctional facility probably in the
correctional facility probably in the world these are blue stone being
world these are blue stone being
world these are blue stone being delivered that were part of the pathways
delivered that were part of the pathways
delivered that were part of the pathways and they were set in gravel this is the
and they were set in gravel this is the
and they were set in gravel this is the added bonus because we had to do
added bonus because we had to do
added bonus because we had to do underground piping to divert water from
underground piping to divert water from
underground piping to divert water from the actual labyrinth we had this water
the actual labyrinth we had this water
the actual labyrinth we had this water feature that sits beside the labyrinth
feature that sits beside the labyrinth
feature that sits beside the labyrinth this is one of the members of our local
this is one of the members of our local
this is one of the members of our local community who came in to work with the
community who came in to work with the
community who came in to work with the men and taught them how to maintain the
men and taught them how to maintain the
men and taught them how to maintain the labyrinth all the plantings that are on
labyrinth all the plantings that are on
labyrinth all the plantings that are on the labyrinth that you’ll see in further
the labyrinth that you’ll see in further
the labyrinth that you’ll see in further slides were donated by the local
slides were donated by the local
slides were donated by the local community this is sheriff Robert Garvey
community this is sheriff Robert Garvey
community this is sheriff Robert Garvey he is a very pro education and treatment
he is a very pro education and treatment
he is a very pro education and treatment Sheriff in 2005 he was the number one
Sheriff in 2005 he was the number one
Sheriff in 2005 he was the number one sheriff in the United States he’s a
sheriff in the United States he’s a
sheriff in the United States he’s a remarkable man this is him addressing
remarkable man this is him addressing
remarkable man this is him addressing the guests that came to the labyrinth
the guests that came to the labyrinth
the guests that came to the labyrinth dedication ceremony held at the jail
dedication ceremony held at the jail
dedication ceremony held at the jail this is done right he’s one of the
this is done right he’s one of the
this is done right he’s one of the incarcerated men and you can see many of
incarcerated men and you can see many of
incarcerated men and you can see many of the other men that worked on the project
the other men that worked on the project
the other men that worked on the project he is addressing the crowd that came for
he is addressing the crowd that came for
he is addressing the crowd that came for the dedication and this is the crowd in
the dedication and this is the crowd in
the dedication and this is the crowd in the auditorium at the jail giving the
the auditorium at the jail giving the
the auditorium at the jail giving the men a standing ovation for their work on
men a standing ovation for their work on
men a standing ovation for their work on this project one of the men that
this project one of the men that
this project one of the men that participated in the project as a laborer
participated in the project as a laborer
participated in the project as a laborer and you can just see the pride in his
and you can just see the pride in his
and you can just see the pride in his face at the accomplishment of completing
face at the accomplishment of completing
face at the accomplishment of completing the labyrinth this particular picture
the labyrinth this particular picture
the labyrinth this particular picture shows the stark contrast between the
shows the stark contrast between the
shows the stark contrast between the razor wire surrounding the correctional
razor wire surrounding the correctional
razor wire surrounding the correctional facility and the beauty of the labyrinth
facility and the beauty of the labyrinth
facility and the beauty of the labyrinth as one man put it when he walked when I
as one man put it when he walked when I
as one man put it when he walked when I walked the labyrinth I’m no longer
walked the labyrinth I’m no longer
walked the labyrinth I’m no longer locked up I’m free now I’d like to share
locked up I’m free now I’d like to share
locked up I’m free now I’d like to share some very very compelling statistics on
some very very compelling statistics on
some very very compelling statistics on the state of corrections in our country
the state of corrections in our country
the state of corrections in our country today the United States leads the world
today the United States leads the world
today the United States leads the world in the number of people we incarcerate
in the number of people we incarcerate
in the number of people we incarcerate right about 698 people per 100,000 the
right about 698 people per 100,000 the
right about 698 people per 100,000 the country second behind us is Rwanda with
country second behind us is Rwanda with
country second behind us is Rwanda with 492 people per 100,000 this stat shows
492 people per 100,000 this stat shows
492 people per 100,000 this stat shows the lifetime likelihood of United States
the lifetime likelihood of United States
the lifetime likelihood of United States citizens born in the year 2001 to be
citizens born in the year 2001 to be
citizens born in the year 2001 to be incarcerated so they looked at two
incarcerated so they looked at two
incarcerated so they looked at two different groups men and women and they
different groups men and women and they
different groups men and women and they looked at white Latino and black and
looked at white Latino and black and
looked at white Latino and black and these numbers are they’re horrifying
these numbers are they’re horrifying
these numbers are they’re horrifying so for white men we would expect to see
so for white men we would expect to see
so for white men we would expect to see about one in seventeen incarcerated for
about one in seventeen incarcerated for
about one in seventeen incarcerated for Latino men one in six and for black it’s
Latino men one in six and for black it’s
Latino men one in six and for black it’s one in three for white women one in a
one in three for white women one in a
one in three for white women one in a hundred and eleven for Latino one in
hundred and eleven for Latino one in
hundred and eleven for Latino one in forty five and for black women that
forty five and for black women that
forty five and for black women that number is one in eighteen the Bureau of
number is one in eighteen the Bureau of
number is one in eighteen the Bureau of Justice estimates our total population
Justice estimates our total population
Justice estimates our total population of incarcerated people at about 2.2
of incarcerated people at about 2.2
of incarcerated people at about 2.2 million additionally this does not
million additionally this does not
million additionally this does not additional numbers include
additional numbers include
additional numbers include 4.7 million people that are on probation
4.7 million people that are on probation
4.7 million people that are on probation and parole
and parole
and parole many of these are for nonviolent
many of these are for nonviolent
many of these are for nonviolent offenses and they are due to changes in
offenses and they are due to changes in
offenses and they are due to changes in sentencing law and policy now to talk a
sentencing law and policy now to talk a
sentencing law and policy now to talk a little bit about the cost of
little bit about the cost of
little bit about the cost of incarceration each individual in the
incarceration each individual in the
incarceration each individual in the United States is paying about two
United States is paying about two
United States is paying about two hundred and sixty dollars per year to
hundred and sixty dollars per year to
hundred and sixty dollars per year to keep people incarcerated in our country
keep people incarcerated in our country
keep people incarcerated in our country the total number on that is about eighty
the total number on that is about eighty
the total number on that is about eighty billion dollars per year to keep people
billion dollars per year to keep people
billion dollars per year to keep people incarcerated this is a very poor return
incarcerated this is a very poor return
incarcerated this is a very poor return for our investment as far as I can see
for our investment as far as I can see
for our investment as far as I can see and there are collateral costs we look
and there are collateral costs we look
and there are collateral costs we look at the increasing number of women that
at the increasing number of women that
at the increasing number of women that are incarcerated in our country and we
are incarcerated in our country and we
are incarcerated in our country and we have to look at the placement of their
have to look at the placement of their
have to look at the placement of their children and the services their children
children and the services their children
children and the services their children need in order to be maintained we look
need in order to be maintained we look
need in order to be maintained we look at child welfare social services
at child welfare social services
at child welfare social services education and in many cases these
education and in many cases these
education and in many cases these children are placed in foster care
children are placed in foster care
children are placed in foster care because there aren’t family members to
because there aren’t family members to
because there aren’t family members to care for them these costs are not
care for them these costs are not
care for them these costs are not reflected in the numbers that I’ve given
reflected in the numbers that I’ve given
reflected in the numbers that I’ve given you on the cost of incarceration and
you on the cost of incarceration and
you on the cost of incarceration and these are just dollars and cents costs
these are just dollars and cents costs
these are just dollars and cents costs can you imagine what it would be like to
can you imagine what it would be like to
can you imagine what it would be like to be a child brought up with one or both
be a child brought up with one or both
be a child brought up with one or both parents incarcerated the great majority
parents incarcerated the great majority
parents incarcerated the great majority of people that are locked up in our
of people that are locked up in our
of people that are locked up in our country today if you trace their crimes
country today if you trace their crimes
country today if you trace their crimes back they are related to drugs and/or
back they are related to drugs and/or
back they are related to drugs and/or alcohol and many times mental illness
alcohol and many times mental illness
alcohol and many times mental illness sometimes both some people are dually
sometimes both some people are dually
sometimes both some people are dually diagnosed in our correctional facilities
diagnosed in our correctional facilities
diagnosed in our correctional facilities these these these have long been
these these these have long been
these these these have long been illnesses alcoholism mental illness and
illnesses alcoholism mental illness and
illnesses alcoholism mental illness and drug addiction they are illnesses and
drug addiction they are illnesses and
drug addiction they are illnesses and they are treatable so we need to see
they are treatable so we need to see
they are treatable so we need to see treatment for these people within the
treatment for these people within the
treatment for these people within the correctional system many of the people
correctional system many of the people
correctional system many of the people that we incarcerate have huge
that we incarcerate have huge
that we incarcerate have huge educational deficits they haven’t had
educational deficits they haven’t had
educational deficits they haven’t had the opportunities that all of us here
the opportunities that all of us here
the opportunities that all of us here today have just the single fact of
today have just the single fact of
today have just the single fact of receiving a high school equivalency
receiving a high school equivalency
receiving a high school equivalency while incarcerated greatly increases a
while incarcerated greatly increases a
while incarcerated greatly increases a person’s chance for success after
person’s chance for success after
person’s chance for success after release and lastly
release and lastly
release and lastly these people many of them do not have a
these people many of them do not have a
these people many of them do not have a marketable skill so to put vocational
marketable skill so to put vocational
marketable skill so to put vocational training programs into the correction
training programs into the correction
training programs into the correction system would offer them a chance to earn
system would offer them a chance to earn
system would offer them a chance to earn a decent wage once they are released
a decent wage once they are released
a decent wage once they are released within corrections we have a chance to
within corrections we have a chance to
within corrections we have a chance to offer a different model and a different
offer a different model and a different
offer a different model and a different a different model one of treatment and
a different model one of treatment and
a different model one of treatment and education not punishment progressive
education not punishment progressive
education not punishment progressive correctional facilities have large
correctional facilities have large
correctional facilities have large staffs of volunteers to support their
staffs of volunteers to support their
staffs of volunteers to support their programming our project at Hampshire
programming our project at Hampshire
programming our project at Hampshire County Jail was funded by two sources
County Jail was funded by two sources
County Jail was funded by two sources grant monies and a generous anonymous
grant monies and a generous anonymous
grant monies and a generous anonymous donation all of the labor and work done
donation all of the labor and work done
donation all of the labor and work done on this project and the time and energy
on this project and the time and energy
on this project and the time and energy put into it was by the crew of men who
put into it was by the crew of men who
put into it was by the crew of men who were incarcerated that volunteered to go
were incarcerated that volunteered to go
were incarcerated that volunteered to go out and build the labyrinth by community
out and build the labyrinth by community
out and build the labyrinth by community volunteers who came in and worked with
volunteers who came in and worked with
volunteers who came in and worked with jail staff and by the jail staff
jail staff and by the jail staff
jail staff and by the jail staff themselves I think we have to look for
themselves I think we have to look for
themselves I think we have to look for ways to find creative solutions to help
ways to find creative solutions to help
ways to find creative solutions to help solve this problem in our country if we
solve this problem in our country if we
solve this problem in our country if we can find a way to do this in our
can find a way to do this in our
can find a way to do this in our community people all over the United
community people all over the United
community people all over the United States can do the same thing the now
States can do the same thing the now
States can do the same thing the now sheriff in Hampshire County Jail Patrick
sheriff in Hampshire County Jail Patrick
sheriff in Hampshire County Jail Patrick K Lane has said that we should remember
K Lane has said that we should remember
K Lane has said that we should remember 98 percent of incarcerated people will
98 percent of incarcerated people will
98 percent of incarcerated people will be returning to our communities if we
be returning to our communities if we
be returning to our communities if we can do something while they’re in our
can do something while they’re in our
can do something while they’re in our care and custody to better their lives
care and custody to better their lives
care and custody to better their lives it betters all of society I want to just
it betters all of society I want to just
it betters all of society I want to just end by paraphrasing an Irish poet and
end by paraphrasing an Irish poet and
end by paraphrasing an Irish poet and philosopher John O’Donoghue he said that
philosopher John O’Donoghue he said that
philosopher John O’Donoghue he said that you can judge a country by the way they
you can judge a country by the way they
you can judge a country by the way they treat their incarcerated people and
treat their incarcerated people and
treat their incarcerated people and their mentally ill people I think we can
their mentally ill people I think we can
their mentally ill people I think we can do better don’t you thank you
do better don’t you thank you
do better don’t you thank you [Applause]
”
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