Reaching Through the Walls

1. While it is undisputed that connection to family can be a cornerstone to effective rehabilitation during and after incarceration, the ability to maintain contact with family members, particularly for defendants with long prison sentences, is extraordinarily difficult. This difficulty commonly results in family and friends losing contact with their incarcerated loved one.

o A social worker can help coordinate visits and ensure that an incarcerated person does not loose contact with family members.

2. The vast array of issues that arise for prisoners may include physical and/or sexual violence, insufficient medical/ psychiatric care, and an inability to access legal resources/ rehabilitative support.

o A social worker can be very effective in providing non-litigation advocacy within the prison system by contacting the appropriate prison staff and respond to a prisoner who may have nowhere else to turn.

3. A mental illness among criminal defendants is often exacerbated by incarceration and adds further challenges to their rehabilitation.

o Assistance with medical and mental health concerns is particularly enhanced by the involvement of a social worker.

4. Most individuals convicted or under trial at some point return home and the problems facing them prior to incarceration will often likely increase. Temptations of drug addiction may return, and the lack of health care options may cause medical and mental health needs to go ignored.

o A social worker can identify the appropriate resources to respond to these concerns, and assist in indentifying and meeting these needs with the help of philanthropists and activists organizations.

5. Life change, even when positive, is incredibly stressful. Learning how to respond to stress, without re-offending, is sometimes the biggest challenge.

o Providing support and guidance during this period can help avoid relapses and encourages them to learn healthier ways of responding that can continue even beyond their association with a social worker.

VORPP social workers serve as “helping professionals” not only for inmates but also for prison staff. A report based on the needs of inmates/ prison staff would be shared with authorities to improve conditions for the benefit of all concerned.