The surprising reason our correctional system doesn't work | Brandon W. Mathews | TEDxMileHigh

[Halli]

He does not mention a very important factor governing the US "correctional" system: A huge part of it has been privatized and is run for profit! There are very influential forces in the US that thrive on sending as many people as possible to prison, and returning "customers" are more than welcome. Is it any wonder that rehabilitation in the US is, at best, an afterthought?
This guy has an epic battle on his hands if he wants to change anything that reduces the profits of some wealthy people.
I hope he gains a following and eventually succeeds.

[ruthc]

There is a very small proportion of inmates that are either sociopathic or psychopathic, and will always be a danger to others, and for whom rehabilitation is incredibly difficult. But the vast majority for 'criminals' we can and should be enabling them to become productive, valued members of society

[obeyamichael]

Education is an important factor in rehabilitation that wasn’t discussed. A lot of people in prison don’t have complete education, so in prison they should have have schools for inmates. This makes it easier for them to find a job after re-entering society, and helps give direction.

[SmilingAtheist]

I’ve been to jail many times. I’ve been to prison once, probably about 12 years ago or so. The court offered me to go to a rehab once I was put on probation because I used drugs. I completed the rehab, it was 6 months. It was get up, go to AA/NA meetings and that’s it pretty much it. I, personally never really did good with those two programs for my addiction. So I ended up using again and violated my probation. Once in prison, I spent the next two years while I was there pretty much on survival mode 24/7. I didn’t have any chance to ever go through a program or counselor to talk to why I was there and how can I work on myself and not coming back. It was survival, that’s it. I got out and very soon ended up using again. My family and friends would always ask “Didn’t you learn from being there for so long?” . I went to prison for theft of property over $1, 000. I did learn something in prison. It was to never trust anyone, always be on guard, keep to myself, and isolate as much as possible. Luckily I haven’t been back to prison since. I’ve gotten older and wiser but certainly not perfect. I do things differently than I did when I was 20 years old. It’s a flawed system for sure.

[halalgal]

I have worked with prisoners for 11 years and have sensed a core 'division' with mental health staff and custody officers. Watching this has helped me recognize what a shift is truly needed to improve the correctional system...because honestly, it's a failing money pit.

[slothjafoofa]

I know he wont see this cause its 3 years late and he's not constantly checking comments but Mr. Mathews this was the best Ted Talk I have ever watched. Just wanted to let you know.

[jayanthony]

Well privatizing prisons certainly is a big factor. When "locking people up" becomes a profit based endeavour, there is something very wrong!

[chordchaser]

I work for a prison industry that hires inmates inside the prison, ostensibly so I can teach them job skills. He is describing prison accurately; rehabilitation is an afterthought. Non-custody staff are sometimes as embedded with the idea of punishment as custody staff. You cannot teach someone to have empathy without empathy. US prisons need to change drastically, but it won't happen until we change how we think about crime, punishment, and rehabilitation.

[that_girlbob]

This is now my ALL TIME favorite Ted Talk. WOW WOW WOW WOW. Bravo. I am also in the field, and I have never heard of this innovative solution. What a brilliant, founded, idea.

[evgeniya]

I think we all should try the Norwegian system of rehabilitation. I’ve read that In Russia (where I live) the recidivism rate is even higher, about 90%. And inmates face difficulties in reentering society. We So, the situation and community push them to commit a crime again. And no one really cares about their rehabilitation. In this way our society punishes not only prisoners, but also ourselves. Hope, the situation will change.

[dbungfitz]

i love this guy, please make him richer. he really understands how the prison systems work and what will actually modify behavior. genius.

[HamsterTMS]

Yeah, as a US citizen myself, it is true that a very high percentage of the prisoners that have left prison end up coming back to prison within three years after committing new crimes, the percentage gets even higher every year. Doctors, scientists, therapists, and psychiatrists in America believe that criminal Behavior can be treated in a different way because some of these prisoners are mentally ill and need to be treated the right way like a lot of other mental ill people and not correcting the mentally ill people with punishments, some of these prisoners are also people who probably had bad childhoods or haven't experienced what it's like being loved or doing nice things with one another, if these prisoners learn what it's like being loved or doing nice things, it can help turn their lives around in a good way. As of right now Rehabilitation is still extremely rare in the United States in fact it is so rare most Americans don't even know what Rehabilitation is, Rehabilitation has been forgotten since the 1980s when Rehabilitation was failing with criminals doing drugs or selling drugs.

[mintakayogahealing]

What a great talk! Wish this idea could be implemented in SA. However, quality rehabilitation is not only an after thought it doesn't seem to excist in our country.

[brycemuir]

Great TED. Something to consider when discussing the “most dangerous” inmates and subjecting them to your punishment track. Much is gain by treating and challenging the thinking of the “most dangerous” incarcerated people. Chiefly if they have release dates… in fact in the interest of public safety, more resources are warranted.

[tombaker]

Way to go, Brandon. That was an awesome presentation that suggests a realistic way to modify our prison system for the benefit of all communities.

[rhcprule]

I work as a CO in NC. It's a very corrupt system.

[gtaeverrr]

I don't believe there should be any 'punishment track' because the loss of freedom while incarcerated is punishment in and of itself. there's no need to double down with even more punishment

[prodigalson]

Good video. My thoughts on the subject?

As an ex-felon I approve of what some misperceive as the United State "running on slavery" in regards to the 13th Amendment. Combined with the 9th and 15th Amendment the 13th amendment makes the right to Rehabilitation obvious. This includes showing the disenfranchisement of ex felons being illegal under the Constitution.

I am a firm believer in indeterminate sentencing, abandoning the degree system, except for capital offenses, and replacing prisons with penal communities that teach prisoners how to function honestly in society. I don't think anyone should be released who has not proven they have broken out of their criminal cycle.

This will only come by teaching people to have moral integrity. As such, persons who refuse to comply with Rehabilitation while incarcerated should be placed in a traditional prison setting. This setting should be uniformly referred to as the "dump truck block." And used to encourage prisoners to stay out of dump truck status. Anyone who has ever done time can tell you that title speaks volumes.

[candyce]

I was an inmate for 13 years I went in at the age of 19. I had never been in trouble before and had family ties. He spoke of an assessment that is completed when you first arrive this is true BUT the evaluation of course is slanted they go by your race, If you were in a gang and even if you have never been in a game but they associated you with a gang your points go up. The type of crime that you were were sentenced to gives you points The prison is by a point system so no matter even if you've never been in trouble before you'll go to a high ranking level prison if the crime was a serious crime.

[kenpanderz]

people who want criminals to just be punished, and nothing else, have antisocial issues.