Homeward Bound - Kentucky Department of Corrections

Homeward Bound Offender Newsletter June 2012A S E C O N DC H A N C E T OM A K EA F I R S TI M P R E S S I O NS P E C I A LP O I N T S O FI N T E R E S T :• Art ProjectToStrengthenFamilies• Jail mural inthe exitlobby of theLouisvilleMetro jail inJeffersonCountyI N S I D E T H I SI S S U E :Art in the Jail 1-6Most7FrequentlyAskedQuestionsHOMEWARD BOUNDV O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 6J U N E 2 0 1 2KY DOC Supports Art To Strengthen FamiliesAffected by Incarceration by Judi JenningsChange often begins with imagining a new way of doing things. Inthe case of the mural pictured on page 6, now permanently installed inthe exit lobby of the Louisville Metro Jail, change began as a visionaryconcept by dedicated corrections officers who believed that art hasa place in the halls of justice.As the officers imagined art inside the jail, a mother participating invideo visitations with her incarcerated son envisioned how artactivities could make the visitors lobby more welcoming andsupportive of children and families impacted by incarceration.Initially unconnected, these two great ideas merged in 2007-thanks tothe generous anonymous donation of the mother and the support ofart-friendly allies within the Louisville Metro Department ofCorrections.Today, an innovative approach to strengthening families affected byincarceration is beginning to emerge as a result of a uniquepartnership between the Kentucky Foundation for Women (KFW)and its local and state-level allies in the Department of Corrections.Incorporating great ideas in 2007 led to KFW commissioning twohighly skilled visual artists to collaborate with more than one hundredpeople, including jail staff, incarcerated persons and their loved ones,to identify positive images that evoke the importance of family,continued on page 2“A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION” 1 1-877-INMATE 4 OR 1-877-466-2834

Homeward Bound Offender Newsletter June 2012P A G E 4Here is a scene described on one Sunday evening:“In addition to thegenerous supportof the anonymousdonor, KFW’sSpecial Project hasreceivedcontributions fromtwo local churchesand severalindividuals,including twoincarceratedindividuals.”An eight-year-old boy sits at a plastic folding table, workingintently on creating a “charm bracelet.” He draws small picturesof himself, family members and loved ones to cut out and paste ona yarn band he has just woven with the help of an arts-activitiesleader. When he tries to paste some of the small pictures on theyarn, they crinkle up and won’t lie flat. Seeing his frustration, anearby teenager offers to help, holding the small pictures straightwhile the boy applies the paste. The boy tells the teenager abouteach of the people he has drawn as he carefully places the pictureson his bracelet.An experienced art-activities leader reports, “There are severalfamilies who now know us very well. When they see us with theart box, they are eager to get started. Sometimes new visitorshesitate to approach the table; but once they begin, theydemonstrate a certain confidence that shows itself through beamingpride. Although some caregivers say it’s ‘for the kids,’ many ofthem make art, too, and exclaim how proud they are after theycomplete an activity. Additionally, we are establishing levels oftrust with the young people there. They know each artist by nameand often begin conversations where they left off the previous timewe saw them. The art activities create a more welcomingenvironment and increase positive factors of accomplishment asvisitors of all ages and backgrounds learn new skills andcreate art they can show their incarcerated loved one viavideo and take home and share with others.”KFW’s Special Project has received contributions fromtwo local churches and several individuals, including twoincarcerated individuals. Ms. Williams still serves asNational Artistic Director to the Special Project, andremains committed to its further development.“A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION” 4 1-877-INMATE 4 OR 1-877-466-2834

Homeward Bound Offender Newsletter June 2012V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1P A G E 5In addition to the generous support of the anonymous donor, KFW’s Special Project hasreceived contributions from two local churches and several individuals, including twoincarcerated individuals. Ms. Williams still serves as National Artistic Director to theSpecial Project, and remains committed to its further development.Beginning in January, 2012, KFW embarked on a partnership with the KentuckyDepartment of Corrections to educate the larger community about the power of art tostrengthen families and serve as an integral part of successful reentry. In cooperationwith two Re-Investment Neighborhood Groups (RINGs) in the Shawnee and Newburgareas of Louisville, the Kentucky Foundation for Women’s Special Project is expandingits activities to community-based settings and its vision to strengthen the protectivefactors in children after they’re reunited with formerly incarcerated parents.Collaboration with highly respected and well-established youth and family-orientedservice organizations is a key factor in introducing art-based activities to families in theseareas. KFW does not withhold any of the contributed funds for administrative costs; allfunds are applied directly to strengthening families and to the crucial reentry work beingdone in the Louisville Metro area. Special Project staff and art activities team membersinvest over thirty cumulative hours a month exploring collaborative opportunities, creatingand fine-tuning artistic programming, and facilitating family bonding activities with thechildren and families who are committed to supporting their loved ones during, and after,incarceration.If you would like more information about the Special Project, and its ongoing dedicationto the health and wholeness of Kentucky’s families who are impacted by incarceration,please contact KFW executive director, Judi Jennings at Judi@Kfw.org .Please see page 6 for a picture of the mural and two photos of close-up work for detail.“A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION” 5 1-877-INMATE 4 OR 1-877-466-2834

Homeward Bound Offender Newsletter June 2012Tile Mosaic located in the exit lobby of Louisville Metro JailThese two enlarged views of the mosaic represent “positiveimages that evoke the importance of family, nurture, hopeand new beginnings”.“A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION” 6 1-877-INMATE 4 OR 1-877-466-2834

Homeward Bound Offender Newsletter June 2012MOST FREQUENTLYASKED QUESTIONSQUESTION: What are the basic principles of evidence-based practice?ANSWER: Three basic principles of evidence-based practice have been gathered fromthe scientific research about what work to reduce recidivism among offenders undercommunity supervision: 1) the risk principle; 2) the needs principle, and 3) thetreatment principle.QUESTION: What do we mean by an “intervention”?ANSWER: Intervention refers to any planned activity to change offenderbehavior which can include a rehabilitation program, probation supervision practice,or even a judge’s courtroom conversation with the offender if undertaken for thatpurpose.QUESTION: What are “static” and “dynamic” risk factors?ANSWER: First, “risk factors” are offender characteristics that are associated withhigher likelihood of future criminality. “Static” risk factors are risk factors such as age,gender, age at first arrest and prior criminal history that predict future criminalityand cannot be changed or reduced in order to reduce the risk of re-offense. Risk ofrecidivism is dynamic; it changes over time, increasing and decreasing in light ofchanging circumstances in an offender’s life and choices made by the offender. Risk isalso changeable: it can be changed by effective intervention. “Dynamic risk factors(also knows as “criminogenic needs”) refer to those risk factors that predict futurecriminality but that also can be changed or reduced in order to reduce the risk of reoffense.“A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION” 7 1-877-INMATE 4 OR 1-877-466-2834