Research indicates that mental health problems tend to be present in all prisoner populations and undoubtedly contribute to the high levels of recidivism. Borderline Personality Disorder being a common diagnosis. It is generally thought to be precipitated by insecure, abusive or fragmented early experiences, which lead someone to develop a personality which is impulsive, risk-taking, self-harming, emotionally extreme and leads to great difficulties in forming consistent or mutually supportive relationships.
Women and juvenile with these behaviors are over-represented in prison populations, particularly prone to substance abuse, self or other harming, suicidal or acting impulsively.
The main benefit of providing therapeutic intervention in prison is that it provides a direct opportunity to address offending behavior.
Objectives:
Our main objectives include developing specialized programs to ensure that we address issues of public protection and reducing reoffending, help improve relationships and atmosphere within the prison so that the benefits are felt by prisoners, the prison community and wider society.
Expectations:
The process is expected to help prisoners assess where they are, where they want to be, and what they need to do to achieve their goals. The process also enables participants to assess their values and beliefs and assists them to consider these in relation to offending and destructive behaviors.
Effective intervention can lead to:
• Build self-esteem, self awareness and accountability
• Improve communications skills
• Develop emotional intelligence
• Develop life planning and goal achievement skills
• Develop conflict resolution skills
• Increase awareness of choice and personal responsibility
Monitoring and Evaluation:
The process shall be closely monitored and assessed. Quarterly reports shall be prepared and shared with stakeholders.
The success of the program shall be evaluated on the basis of:
• Increased motivation to self care
• Increased confidence
• Decrease in self harm
• Improved relationships and atmosphere within the prison
• Prisoners resourced to deal with issues relating to anger, borderline personality disorder and post traumatic stress disorder
• Prisoners able to control themselves in tense situations and hence be less destructive
• Increased awareness of offending behavior patterns, triggers, consequences and victim empathy
• Increased perspective leading to awareness of options and choices
VORPP is running two clinics in Juvenile and women prisons conducting
· Psychological assessment
· Individual counseling sessions
· Group counseling sessions
· Play therapy sessions for children in women prison to address their behavioral complaints
Child Rehabilitation Program
Children of women offenders are not receiving adequate services
Most women in prison are mothers and had children living with them before entering the prison. These women are likely to be incarcerated far away from home, because there are fewer prisons for women. Most of these women are charged with drug trafficking, being part of gangs kidnapping for ransom and murder, all these crimes carry long terms of conviction.
Pakistani law allows children below the age of 7 to live with their incarcerated mothers. Sparing young children from the pain of separation from mothers has many benefits nonetheless; the highly regulated and coercive environment of prison creates a context which has specific meaning for children. The trauma due to mother’s imprisonment is severe: children may have seen their parent commit a crime, witnessed the arrest, and fear the prison milieu for their parent and themselves.
The shame and humiliation, anxiety, fear and uncertainty about future are among the factors that require counseling to provide a therapeutic relationship for children who often maintain a painful silence shrouded in embarrassment.
Research indicates that children respond in the following manner:
Low Self-esteem: Children identify with the incarcerated parent. They are aware of the social stigma associated with imprisonment and suffer from low self-esteem.
Intrusive thoughts: Children experience intrusive thoughts about their parents. They have concerns about the future and may experience flashbacks.
Emotional instability: Children experience a wide range of emotions from fear, anxiety, sadness, loneliness, withdrawal, and abandonment, to embarrassment and guilt.
Depression: Children with incarcerated parents may suffer from depression, eating problems, sleeping problems, anxiety, attention problems, hyper-arousal and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Disruptive behavior: Children with parents in prison may exhibit aggression, acting out, and disruptive behaviors and often become involved with the juvenile justice system.
VORPP has initiated Child Rehabilitation Program to help these children cope with the trauma and loss of living a normal family life.
We are currently focusing on 15 children in Women Prison aged below 7, the program would Initiate rehabilitation of victim´s children later on.
VORPP has undertaken to arrange;
· Play therapy for children
· Toys for all children
· Toys for prison school
· Treats of candy/juice/milk on every alternate visit
· After written permission from all concerned (Authorities/parents) for Children schooling, put 6 children in formal school
· Pick n drop service, school books/stationary, uniforms shoes.
· Eid dresses/Jewelry/Shoes/Eidee for all children
· Facilitated adoption of a girl child born in prison as per her mother´s wish
· Therapy sessions for traumatized children
· Eating outs/visit to Fun Land/McDonalds
· Hosted Stay-the-Night Weekends for children at Director´s residence, thrice.