One of the greatest benefits of the social work profession is the opportunity to practice in such a broad range of settings, those of which include jails and prisons. I have always felt a great level of compassion for those incarcerated. After acknowledging the wrongdoings and crimes committed, it is important to look further and see individuals who made a mistake, or mistakes--often times with factors such as deep-rooted societal oppression and disadvantage at play. Forgiveness means different things for everyone, and it's not even about forgiving or exempting offenders for their crimes, but rehabilitating to prevent future mistakes. There is a long standing (moral and philosophical) debate in our country between punitive and rehabilitative treatment in the penal system. As a social worker and firm believer in individuals capacity for change, I fall on the side that favors rehabilitative approaches. This is encouraged by the enormous financial burden that the overpopulated jails and prisons place on our society. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, as of the year 2009 there were 2,297,400 offenders in U.S. jails and prisons. In 2006, The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention reported 93,000 juvenile offenders in corrections facilities. The increasing prevalence of private for-profit adult and juvenile corrections facilities is a key consideration in the debate of punitive vs. rehabilitative approaches. Apparently, there is money to be made in keeping people behind bars and suppressing opportunities for change!!
And what does Horticultural Therapy have to do with this? Jails and prisons are among the many institutions such as sanatoriums, hospitals, and orphanages that implemented "work-farms" to sustain residents. Dating back to the 1800's, it was a common practice for jails and prisons to maintain gardens and farms that fed and occupied inmates. The produce grown was used not only in the institutes kitchen's but sold to generate revenue. This practice dwindled in the mid-1900's at residential treatment facilities for multiple reasons; including ethical concerns, time investment, the influx of pharmaceuticals as treatment, and a widespread shift in societal values and beliefs. Industry continued to replace agriculture and a mentality of competition vs. cooperation prevailed.
Recent literature demonstrates revitalized interest in the use of horticulture in corrections facilities. Rice and Remy (2008) discuss a program in a San Francisco jail in which inmates engage in regular maintenance of a large organic garden. The goals of The Garden Project (established in 1984) are to provide restorative experiences through the use of plants; with the belief that restorative experiences encourage reflection, the ability to direct attention, and the desire for new experiences. Consider the importance of these skills with an inmate population....Reflection of previous behaviors, mindfulness to present actions, and the ability to change negative patterns by creating new experiences.
Rice and Remy discuss the issue of "arrested development" among many inmate populations due to being raised in impoverished and violent environments. There is an identified need for rehabilitation that includes respect, understanding, and support; while fostering the development of social skills and optimism for the future. The Garden Project entailed 30 hours per week of inmate participation in the development and maintenance of the garden. Daily group discussions were facilitated to link garden activities to personal growth, health, as well as interpersonal, family, and community relationships. The produce and flowers grown at the jail were donated to shelters and a meal program for home-bound individuals with AIDS. (What an example of community service, and opportunity for self-forgiveness, and societal acceptance!!)
Research conducted on The Garden Project revealed a decrease in participants' levels of depression, hostility, risk-taking behavior, and increased their desire and ability to ask for help with various challenges. Results varied by personal history, gender, and race but were significant in comparison to the control (non-participant) group. The decrease in substance use was most significant in the study, and was further supported by Carl Jung's evolutionary theory of psychology. He believed that the human psyche had an innate and ancestral need for contact and immersion with the natural environment; and that American's disconnection from the natural world accounted for an inclination towards drug use and abuse. From the philosophy of Jung, "If I don't have what my psyche needs I become dangerous". It makes sense when you consider the disconnect from nature in urban, inner-city settings and the co-existing high rates of (drug-related) crime in those same areas.
Richards (1999) conducted a similar study, implementing an organic gardening program and lecture series in a jail setting. The program included a strong cultural component, focusing on Afro-centric principles such as sharing versus ownership. The use of organic gardening practices served as a tangible analogy for abstinence from drug use, "In the way that fertilizers and pesticides destroy the earth, so do drugs destroy the human body". The idea that, "just like a good landscape, human lives need balance, symmetry, and proportionality" was a big theme in the lecture and discussion piece of the program. The program required commitment from inmates, encouraging them to learn accountability and ownership. The results of the program demonstrated a decrease in participant's vulnerability to addiction, and an increase in their resistance to addiction.
In summary, I believe that horticulture related activities offer a tangible (and nutritional) opportunity for offenders rehabilitation. Through their experiences caring for plants a sense of self-concept is established, social and life skills improve, and there are countless opportunities for growth.
Rice and Remy explain that 19% of state prisons in the U.S. utilize some type of formal or informal horticulture program. Does anyone know what correctional facilities in Virgina are doing? Please share!!
This is a very thought provoking post. Although I thoroughly believe in the power of Horticultural Therapy for many purposes, I began reading the post with a negative reaction to the thought of the value of HT for prisoners. However, the more I read, the more the value of HT for prisoners became apparent. I believe that many of our incarcerated are spiritually or emotionally wounded individuals. They turn to a life of crime as a means of rebellion or to prove themselves. And working in a garden may have the ability to heal many of those emotional wounds. Learning the joys of giving life in a garden and nurturing and protecting plants to produce both beauty and food can be a very healing and rewarding experience. Thanks for the great insight!
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate this post. When I think about racial and SES disparities of those in prison, I realize that it is also a social justice issue, and that the original goal of prisons to rehabilitate is reflected in HT.
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