Incarceration in WI County Jails…

Incarceration in WI County Jails… and Implications for Family Living Educational Programming Mary Huser, Program Specialist UW-Extension/Cooperative Extension August 2004

Poll: What is your current understanding of the WI inmate population? • [PlaceWare Multiple Choice Poll. Use PlaceWare > Edit Slide Properties... to edit.] • a) I have a great deal of understanding • b) I have above average understanding • c) I have limited understanding • d) I am just starting to gain any understanding

Poll: How well prepared are you to decide whether to do (or continue doing) educational programming with inmates? • [PlaceWare Multiple Choice Poll. Use PlaceWare > Edit Slide Properties... to edit.] • a) Completely prepared • b) Adequately prepared • c) Moderately prepared • d) A little prepared • e) Not at all prepared

U.S. Incarcerated Population • U.S. has highest rate of incarceration in the world • Midyear 2003, over 2 million persons were in U.S. prisons or jails; that’s 1 in every 140 U.S. residents • 2/3 in federal or state custody; 1/3 held in local jails Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 2003

Jail Definition • Jails: Locally operated correctional facilities that confine persons before or after adjudication. • Sentence of 1 year or less; exceptions common

U.S. Jail Population All Offenders Offenders Held in Jail Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 2003

U.S. Jail Population Bureau of Justice Statistics Correctional Surveys, http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/glance/jailag.htm

Poll: From 1992 to 2002, what was the trend in WI total jail admissions? • [PlaceWare Multiple Choice Poll. Use PlaceWare > Edit Slide Properties... to edit.] • a) Jail admissions decreased by 10% • b) Jail admissions remained fairly constant • c) Jail admissions increased 37% • d) Jail admissions increased 63% • e) Jail admissions increased nearly 100%

Wisconsin Jail Population From 1992 to 2002, total jail admissions in WI increased 62.8% • Decreased • Remained constant • 37% • 63% • 100% Adult Jail Populations in Wisconsin – 2002

Wisconsin Jail Population Adult Jail Populations in Wisconsin -2002

Wisconsin Jail Population County Jail Admissions (2001-2002) • 17 of 71 WI counties had decreases in jail admissions (range from -0.1 to -25.0%) • Remaining 54 counties had increases in jail admissions (range from 0.2 to 60.4%) Adult Jail Populations in Wisconsin – 2002

County Jail Admissions, % Change 2001-2002 What change in total jail admissions did each Wisconsin county experience from 2001-2002?

2001-2002 WI Jail Admissions, Counties Increasing 0.1-10.0%

2001-2002 WI Jail Admissions, Counties Increasing40.1-50.0%

2001-2002 WI Jail Admissions, Counties Increasing 60% or more

2001-2002 WI Jail Admissions, Counties Decreasing 0.1-25.0% Adult Jail Populations in Wisconsin - 2002

Characteristics of WI Jail Population • Gender • Race • Health and Living Conditions • Type of offense • Length of stay

WI Jail Population: Gender Adult Jail Populations in Wisconsin - 2002

WI Jail Population: Gender What are the implications to educational programming… …regarding gender trends in the jail population?

WI Jail Population: Race Based on 2002 U.S. Census Bureau estimated figures

WI Jail Population: Race What are the implications to educational programming… …regarding racial makeup in the jail population?

Jail Population: Health and Living Conditions • Mental Illness • Substance Abuse • Abuse (physical or sexual) • Homelessness • Unemployment • Literacy

Jail Population: Health and Living Conditions What are the implications to educational programming… …regarding the health and living conditions among the jail population?

WI Jail Population: Type of Offenses • No state data; need to obtain locally • Nationally, majority of offenders in jails committed property or public-order offenses • Convicted vs. unconvicted inmates

Poll: What is the average length of stay for a WI jail inmate... • [PlaceWare Multiple Choice Poll. Use PlaceWare > Edit Slide Properties... to edit.] • a) 19 days • b) 29 days • C) 39 days • D) 90 days

WI Jail Population: Length of Stay From 2001-2002, • Average length of stay = 19.3 days Implications to educational programming?

Jail Population: Educational Opportunities Census of Jails, 1999

WI Jail Population – Implications for Educational Programs ► SUMMARY: Education is one part of a comprehensive system-wide approach to addressing the needs of jail inmate populations (treatment and employment other crucial components). Family Living’s educational role (in life skills education) is one part of the education component.

Resources Cited from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice: • http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/pjim03.htm - “Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 2003” • http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/cj99.htm - “Census of Jail, 1999” from the WI Office of Justice Assistance: • http://oja.state.wi.us/docs_view2.asp?docid=2409 – “Adult Jail Populations in Wisconsin – 2002”

Additional Resources from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice: • http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/jic02.htm - “Jails in Indian Country, 2002” • http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/mhtip.htm - “Mental Health and Treatment of Inmates and Probationers”

Incarceration in WI County Jails… and Implications for Family Living Educational Programming Mary Geissler, Family Living Educator Chippewa County UW-Extension August 2004

Life After Incarceration Curriculum Developed by Aadron Rausch, Extension Specialist, Purdue University Submitted by Mary Geissler, UW-Extension Family Living Agent Chippewa County WI August 13, 2004 • Life After Incarceration (LAI) is a pre-release program designed to promote family reunification and enhance successful community reintegration for persons in a county jail. • The first three months after release can be a critical period for the offender and his family. • Inmates are personally interviewed by Extension Family Living Agent.

Life After Incarceration • The curriculum provides for twelve, ninety-minute sessions • Targets offenders about 3-6 months prior to their release • Physical setting of classes must be considered • Jail Orientation: Provided by jail staff (usually) prior to start of programming.

Life After Incarceration Curriculum Emphases: • Stress and Coping • Decision Making • Education • Vocational Focus

Life After Incarceration Emphases (cont.) • Returning to family and friends • Focus on children • Evaluation/Impact

Life After Incarceration What I might encounter setting up this program: • Jail staff can be “unreceptive” to programming for inmates • Initial class size may change due to inmate shifting to other jails/prisons, early releases, ankle bracelet monitoring • Be prepared for a some ‘bravado’ and unrealistic thinking patterns • Class times can be delayed by crisis situations occurring in other parts of the jail (lock-downs, etc.) • Prepare to teach very ethnically/racially diverse audiences

Life After Incarceration Positives about the program: • This population wants to be in your classes • Often is “ready” to listen and participate • Inmates are appreciative of programming – especially when they know the instructor isn’t getting ‘paid’, comes in after hours and teaches with what inmates perceive to be a sense of “fairness” without regard to ethnic/racial orientations. • Follow-up information can be professionally and personally rewarding to instructors

Incarceration in WI County Jails… and Implications for Family Living Educational Programming Karen Dickrell, Family Living Educator Outagamie County UW-Extension August 2004

Lessons Karen Learned: • Involve the learners in the educational planning. • Slow down and don’t push too fast. • Develop key concepts • Build in review time • Encourage peer teaching • Discussion Questions • Sharing

Still Learning… • Don’t try too hard to persuade • Our rightness may not be as universal as we think, there are cultural differences… • Remember your role is educator • Work at building trust • Comfort level • Sharing • Past educational experiences

Believe it or not… • Acknowledge the right to resist learning. • Some people just do not want to learn. • Encourage them to be involved in future topics if there is an interest. • “There’s nothing that says they have to learn and be involved.” S. Joseph Levine Michigan State University

Given the advice… • Read “Guide to Educational Programming with Incarcerated Audiences” written by Mary Huser and Kathy Miller. https://www.uwex.edu/ces/flp/apps/flrc/team/stress/index.cfm • Points to consider: • Will the effort adhere to our county and Extension’s educational mission? • Will it fit program guidelines? • Am I likely to positively impact the learners?

Educator Skill, Comfort and Safety Concerns: • Local Priority • Local Data • Fit into Plan of Work • Collaboration and Relationships key • Use and Apply Educational Info. • Complements other programs • Outcomes Consistent with Stakeholders? • Professional Training in place? • Training from jail/staff in place? • Your comfort Level • Facility Safety

Educational Program Design and Content Considerations: • Audience needs and learning styles • Access to effective educational resources • Evaluation Evidence • Program Intensity and Duration • Complements program focus and design. • Specific sub-groups

Other Considerations • Alternative Teaching Techniques • Scholarship • Fair Selection of Participants • Human Subjects Protection • Is this an area you are comfortable working in? • Do you need more information?

Poll: After this Wisline Web, how has your understanding of the WI inmate jail population changed? • [PlaceWare Multiple Choice Poll. Use PlaceWare > Edit Slide Properties... to edit.] • a) I now have a more complete understanding. • b) My understanding really hasn't changed. • c) I am more confused now than before.

Incarceration in WI County Jails…