Introduction
Prisoners experience numerous problems and disorders such as illness, loneliness, depression, anxiety, aggressiveness, and drug addiction among others (Crow, 2001). For this reason, they must be given special attention to avoid further complications. Hence, this research paper will recommend several treatment programs to help deal with the mentioned problems.
Psychosocial therapy
Crow (2001) argues that most inmates suffer from psychological and social problems like emotional imbalance, poor communication, aggressiveness, and anxiety among others. As such, the prison department should provide counseling and social skills to help the inmates learn how to solve their problems creatively. Personal and group therapy helps individuals to be able to cope with different situations together and co-exist in a good way. For Instance, it may help them learn how to deal with people of different personalities while expressing their opinion without violating the law and not hurting other people as well (Crow, 2001). Mental and behavioral balance is achieved when an inmate goes through psychological treatment. Prisoners suffering from mental disorders should be given proper medication and counseling sessions regularly even after prison especially when the patient has not recovered fully to ensure that there is no reoccurrence of the same problem. Additionally, there should be a follow-up program once the patient is out of prison.
Religious training
Most inmates lack a point of reference in their lives when they are behind bars. For this reason, the opinion is that regular religious teaching can offer a solution to emotional imbalances and moral decay (McGuire, 2002). Faith-based programs help individuals to change their behavior and attitudes towards life; humility, love, and hard work will enable them to change their way of thinking and make them fit to join the outside world once they are out of prison (McGuire, 2002). This can help them get jobs, support their families, and communicate in a good way. Their ability to understand the value of life and harmony with other people enhances their chances to change positively from their previous acts. This will also give them hope and make them understand that all is not lost, there is still an opportunity to make amendments in their lives and those of others in prison.
Drug and substance treatment
Drug abuse is an issue in our prisons today and therefore there is a great need to address this particular problem. All prisoners facing this problem should be put under a treatment program to reduce drug addiction (Clunies, 1995). This also helps them to cope with other inmates easily, lowers the chances of mental breakdown as a result of drug addiction, reduces chances of bouncing back to criminal activities, and enhances behavior and conduct change within the prison environment (McGuire, 2002). Once they have reformed, prisoners can have positive relationships with other people while coping with the outside world.
Education and work training
This type of treatment for convicts ensures that they have a way of survival once they get out of prison especially those with little or no skills (Crow, 2001). During this time of training, the inmates acquire skills such as personal discipline which will help them to manage the work environment. They also get skills on how to apply for jobs and attend interviews. Vocational education and work assignments will ensure that the inmates maintain their work skills and develop work ethics which is important in securing employment once outside prison (Crow, 2001). The inmates learn how to live a productive life and become independent; it also keeps them from criminal activities as a means of survival. This will protect them from committing a crime once out of prison. Apart from this, it will ensure that they are busy and this generally creates a sense of meaning.
Medical treatment
All prisoners have the right to medical treatment; it be should be done to ensure a healthy living among the inmates (Wettstein, 2000). Once the inmates are treated, they can live a healthy life without passing the burden to society. They can face the outside world in a healthy state. Moreover, if there are cases of infectious diseases, once they are treated the rate of disease transmission reduces hence reducing death rates.
Recommendation after the treatment session
Clunies (1995) insist that there is a need to ensure all treatment program works effectively, the inmates should be allowed enough time after treatment to reflect on the treatment without the pressure of time or interruption. Regardless of whether it is a religious, mental, social, or physical treatment, this concept is important because it will ensure that they have a humble time to think, analyze the individual situation, and digest what one has received regarding their situation.
This opportunity should be given to inmates because it will highly increase the ability to respond positively based on one’s problem since the human brain works well when one is presented with a chance to think and make a personal decision without any pressure of time and interruption. It also presents a chance for an individual to make a personal evaluation regarding what one has received. It also enhances personal judgment which enables an individual to relate well with the situation and decide the next course of action (Clunies, 1995).
References
Clunies, S. (1995). Planning for Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse Treatment for Adults in the Criminal. New York: Diane Publishing.
Crow, L (2001). The treatment and rehabilitation of offender. New Castle: Sage.
Masters, R & Masters, E. (2004). Counseling Criminal Justice Offenders: Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse Treatment for Adults. New castle: Sage.
McGuire, J. (2002). Offender rehabilitation and treatment: effective programs to reduce re-offending. New Jersey: John Wiley press.
Wettstein. M. R. (2000). Treatment of Offenders with Mental Disorders. New York City: Guilford press.