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 …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” …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,
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 …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” …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,