Inside the Current Issue

Teaching at Sing Sing Has its Rewards for Prof

Kimora

Although I am a professor of criminal justice at John Jay College of Criminal, I am also a prison educator. For the past 17 years, I have taught courses to incarcerated men and women in prisons, jails, drug treatment centers, and halfway houses in Minnesota, New York, and Canada. Since 2004, I have taught violent offenders who are about to be released from Sing Sing prison, located in Ossining, New York.

Below are some of the questions I am often asked about my work at Sing Sing. My responses are specifically about men (since Sing Sing houses only male offenders), but much of this can apply to women offenders as well.

Why would you want to teach in a prison? It is truly amazing to see how alert, smart, and interested in learning the students become after just a few minutes. Now, you might think that the offenders are manipulators. They may be, but in the end, the student has to prove to me that he has learned the material through positive actions. Years of experience and learning have made me aware of when students are trying to con me. It is rewarding to see some of the residents of Sing Sing making positive changes. And... this may surprise you, there are many talented leaders in prison. They have the potential to build strong, healthy communities if they are given positive role models to follow. I have met few people in prison who do not have the capacity to learn how to become a productive member of society.

Do you think that inmates can be rehabilitated? Some inmates can be rehabilitated. However, the offender has to discard his numerous cognitive distortions (examples: all or nothing thinking; maximizing, minimizing, dropping the negative thoughts, etc.). In addition, the inmate needs to deal with his addiction to drugs, power, sex, "the fast life", etc. Rehabilitation is a full-time job requiring that the offender be thinking about ways to transform his life in a positive way 24 hours a day. Rehabilitation is not possible if the offender is not interested in change. Rehabilitation is also not feasible if the offender suffers from a mental illness and is not properly treated.

Why do some inmates resist changing their life? Many inmates have no interest in changing their lifestyle; they need incentives. For some of them, having a family to take care of changes their outlook on life. For others, they want to make changes because they are "...sick and tired of being sick and tired...." One of the reasons many offenders resist changing their life is because they are addicted to "the fast life" - "fast cars, fast women, and fast money."

How do you provide an incentive for them to change? Oftentimes this is extremely difficult. Many incarcerated individuals suffer from "learned helplessness"; they always have excuses for NOT doing something, let alone something positive. But this doesn't mean that they are lazy. They have been conditioned to think they cannot make a positive difference in the world, but they can unlearn this "learned helplessness." They weren't born thinking that they were a failure. People gave them that idea. It is my job as a prison educator to teach students how to believe in themselves.

The key is to educate the offender so that he feels that what he does helps himself and others. This is a difficult task. I spent a tremendous amount of time teaching the students at Sing Sing the value of education. I tell them that education is power and that power leads to control of one's own life. But I also caution the student not to use power against people, but FOR people. Building community is stressed in all my classes. When people connect with one another, they are less likely to violate that other person.

Why would an inmate at Sing Sing want to get an education? The incarcerated individual wants to get an education to pass the time, become more aware of the world around them, get a degree, feel a sense of accomplishment, and fulfill a lifelong goal of educating themselves. Many folks at Sing Sing want to improve themselves. It is wonderful to see how many residents at Sing Sing go to the school on the grounds each week. They take classes on re-entry skills, reading, writing, cognitive skills, anger management, theology, and more.

Why should inmates get an opportunity to take classes? I believe that if the offender is educated about cognitive skills (social skills, rethinking emotions, especially anger, problem-solving skills, negotiation skills, creativity, values enhancement, and critical thinking skills), they will be less likely to commit another crime after they are released. This helps offenders realize the power of rationally arriving at a decision, without violence. Education helps everyone. If we are committed as a society to diminish crime, we have to realize that all citizens deserve a decent education to empower them.

Do inmates really change for the better? Aren't they just conning you? There is no question that many inmates do not change, but it is also clear that many DO change, and become more productive members of society through education. I know who is conning me. Those inmates get told (in a loving way) that they are not ready to be released, that they need to work on developing their cognitive skills. I would like to see legislation that requires that offenders pass a cognitive skills test before they are released. That makes more sense than just releasing some people "because their time is up."

Do you feel safe when you work at Sing Sing? Yes, the correctional officers at Sing Sing are professionals, and they protect us. The superintendent adheres to professional standards that enable me to work and thrive in this environment. Furthermore, I am aware of my surroundings, having worked in prison settings for many years. It's true that if you let your guard down, you can get hurt; some Sing Sing residents wait for that moment when people slip. I treat everyone with dignity and I demand that of everyone in return. I have never been assaulted or insulted in prison. If it happens in the future, it will be my own fault. Let me stress that prison is a dangerous place. If I don't come out some day, then I figure it is my time to go. I also believe that it is worth the risk because the human beings who are in there need help. They need strong mentors who can provide them with the courage to change for the better.

I would like to become a prison educator. What should I do to prepare for that career? If you are seriously interested in becoming a prison educator, be sure to get an undergraduate and/or graduate degree in fields like Psychology, Social Work, Criminal Justice, Law, or Education. Learn as much as you can about mental illnesses, especially Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD). Learn how to establish clear boundaries with anyone you encounter. Avoid thinking that you can "save the world" by working in prisons. That is distorted thinking! Learn to believe in yourself. Feel free to contact me - I will put you in touch with professionals who can aid you.

Dr. Kimora is a prison reformer/prison educator and an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She has designed and taught courses for inmates for the last 17 years. She welcomes your comments: kimora@jjay.cuny.edu. Her website is kimora.org.