Prisoners generally follow two paths once they are released from incarceration, said rural sociologist Keydron Guinn. One prisoner may renounce criminal activities and never return. Another may reacquaint with the same people and activities that lead them astray, only to return to prison again. Family and human development extension agents from the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center are working to help ex-prisoners change behaviors and keep them from returning to jail. Using group dynamics and interactive workshops, the agents are working to decrease the recidivism rate of prisoners being released from two prisons in St. Gabriel.

For 18 months, a team of three extension agents has traveled Elayn Hunt Correctional Center and Louisiana Correctional Institition for Women as part of the prisons' pre-release service program. They discuss how decisions, patterns of behavior, and lifestyle should be changed in order to smooth the inmates transition back into society.

One message and challenge to the inmates is "to change the faces and the places," said Tiffany Franklin, program analyst. "We want them to give thought while they are incarcerated on what people, places, and activities influenced the bad choice or wrong act they committed and how they will remove themselves from it once they are released.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics 1994 Special Report on Recidivism, within three years of release from prisons nationwide, 67.5% of them were re-arrested, 46.9% were reconvicted for new crimes, 25.4% were re-sentenced for a new crime and 51.8% returned to prison.

"That's high," said Franklin. "It's obvious that they need some type of intervention to help break the cycle." These sessions are part of the initial stage of the Ag Center's Second Chance 2 Recovery Initiative. The program focuses on post release self-sufficiency. Discussions cover anger management, addictive behaviors, job interviewing, decision making, and family strengthening. "We have to help the person (the inmate) in order to help their families," said Franklin.

One of the initiative's goals is to answer the question of why so many of Louisiana's ex-criminals recidivate or are re-arrested, re-convicted, and re-arrested for a new felony. The inmates are polled to see what are their challenges upon release and the team prepares lessons and strategies to help the inmates plan ways to face the challenges and not commit another crime.

"We need to tap into the things that they see as challenges and help them deal with them," Franklin said, "These are real issues that they have difficulty dealing with." The agents varied backgrounds include criminology, case management, and human development, which allow them to effectively reach the population.

The team-teaching approach has also proven to work for Franklin, parent educator Delores Johnson, and extension agent Karen Stevens who teach the sessions monthly. The classes uses themes, principles, and skills that include caring for self, understanding, guiding, nurturing, motivating, and advocating said Kasundra Cyrus, family and human development specialist.

Several agencies have been developed nationwide to address recidivism, said Franklin. "So our goal is to not re-so what is being done but to enhance the prison's efforts in preparing inmates for release." The team will develop tools and a curriculum to better aid other service providers in their goals to combat recidivism.

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