Peer-Reviewed Journal Article - OT's Role in a Criminal Justice Setting

The article I have chosen to write about for this blog post is entitled, "The Scope of Practice of Occupational Therapy in U.S. Criminal Justice Settings." The article discussed the current roles and practices of OTs in the criminal justice system in the United States, and how OTs specifically can help with the alarmingly high percentage of inmates that are re-incarcerated each year. The article also talks about the demographics of inmates who are re-incarcerated; the common trend for repeat offenders is those who are economically and socially disadvantaged. The purpose of the study was to establish a baseline inventory for training, describe OT's scope of practice in this setting, and to form a network of OTs working in this setting. Many of the respondents of the study used group interventions to address areas primarily in communication and problem-solving skills, but also concentrated on coping, stress management, goal setting, employment, leisure, wellness and fitness, financial management, developing community living skills, and work/job-related skills.

OT in the criminal justice system is currently an emerging area of practice. Just recently, I have begun watching a new docuseries on Netflix entitled, "Girls Incarcerated", which follows the journeys of teenage girls who are incarcerated, their progress throughout their various programs while in prison, and being reintegrated back into their communities. Before OT school, I never thought jails or prisons could be a setting in which an occupational therapist could work. After reading this article and watching the docuseries, I am more informed and educated on the desperate need for OTs in this area of practice.

Many individuals who re-enter society after being incarcerated do not have the skills they need to be a successful, functioning adult. An astonishing number of people lose their communication skills and coping mechanisms because of the context and environment they are in. It is difficult for them to have an outlet for releasing stress and anger, and many of them have anxiety worrying about how they are going to survive when they are released. "How am I going to find a job? Why would anyone want to hire me? Where am I going to live? Will I ever get custody of my kids back? How do I better myself so I don't end up back in here?." Many inmates ask themselves these questions, and more, every single day. OTs have an excellent opportunity to help these individuals succeed in life through group interventions related to the areas I have listed above. Many benefits would come from placing OTs in these settings; one in particular would be improving the economy.

If you think about it, if OT in prisons became a more popular practice area, we could help people reintegrate back into the community, decrease the amount of inmates in our jails, reduce readmission rates, save taxpayers money, and improve the economy overall. The important point is not about the numbers, though; the point is that all of these individuals are human. They all have hearts, souls, feelings, and emotions just like everyone else. If we continue to treat them like animals and keep them locked up in cages, then this problem will only get worse. We have to meet them where they are and help them get back to being productive members of society. Maybe, just maybe, one day they will want to pay it forward and help someone else that is in the position they were once in. Think about how much different this world would be...

I could go on and on about this topic, but I will wind it down. I have never really been interested in this until recently, but I think there is such a dire need for OTs, group therapy, and interdisciplinary collaboration with psychologists and social workers in this setting. It is my hope that in the next 10 years this practice area develops even more and OTs can help these individuals find their purpose again so that they can live the best quality of life possible.

12-Step Meeting Attendance

Last night, Haleigh and I attended a Narcotics Anonymous (Nar-Anon) meeting at a church in Bartlett, TN. My expectation going into this meeting was that I would hear personal accounts of individuals who have a drug addiction. However, when Haleigh and I first walked in the room, I noticed the facilitator, 2 couples, a single dad and a single mom. The facilitator asked if we were family of, and we replied no, and stated that we were there to witness a real-life group facilitation. They were very accepting and welcoming of us into their group. The group began by stating the 12 steps and traditions; every person went around the room and said each one until everything was said. The facilitator played a facilitative/hands-off role in this group. He started the discussion by talking about he and his wife and their experience with their adult daughter, who is addicted to drugs. He talked about distancing himself from her, and devoting more time to himself and his wife, and finally being able to be happy and live his life again.

The facilitator asked the members to share something they liked from their readings in the Nar-Anon book, and then he asked them to share about what they have learned or experienced from attending Nar-Anon meetings. He didn't push or pressure anyone to answer questions or share, but he encouraged that anyone who wanted to was welcome. I was interested to learn that the members at this particular meeting were not addicts, but family of addicts; mothers and fathers. Interestingly, many of the members had adopted their children, and had little knowledge about their children's home lives before they adopted them. The environment was set up so that the tables made a "C" shape in one of the Bible study rooms. Everyone was able to make eye contact and face each other in a circle, which made the meeting more comfortable for the members.

In my opinion, this group was very therapeutic. One member was in the very beginning stages of his journey, coping with the aftermath of his 20-year-old daughter's drug addiction. Others had multiple children that had been addicted to drugs for many years or were currently in rehab programs or living in a sober living facility. One of the mothers was teary-eyed when she talked about her son and how she can still see the sweet little 8-year-old boy in him. Another member, a father, was more realistic about his son's addiction, and didn't show as much emotion as some of the other members. Either way, members were able to get their point across in a respectful and appropriate way, without fear of judgment or ridicule from others.

I believe this group was geared around the Developmental Frame of Reference, specifically talking about the mastery of skills and coping mechanisms, the interruption of growth, and the impact of the trauma related to the actions made by the addict.