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• Helping Ex-Offenders Make the Mental Shift from
  Criminality to Work

Helping Ex-Offenders Make the Mental Shift from
Criminality to Work
Dr. Steve Parese SBP Consulting, Inc.
Danbury, NC
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Todays Agenda

• Part 1 INTRODUCTION
• A. Predictors of Criminality
• B. What Actually Works?

• Part 2 THE PROBLEM
• C. Lack of Prosocial Skills
• Use of Antisocial Thinking
• Contrast with Employer Expectations

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Todays Agenda

• Part 3 THE SOLUTION
• Stages of Change
• Cog Skills New Tools
• Cog Restructuring New Rules
• Practicing the Intervention

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Part IINTRODUCTION
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Prison Slang Quiz
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Prison Slang
1. What is a Shank? a. Piece of meat. b. Part
of a handcuff. c. Handmade weapon. d.
Correctional officer.
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Prison Slang
1. What is a Shank? a. Piece of meat. b. Part
of a handcuff. c. Handmade weapon. d.
Correctional officer.
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Prison Slang
2. What is Clicking Up? a. Getting promoted. b.
Getting assigned to a better cell. c. Joining a
prison gang. d. Lighting a cigarette when not
permitted.
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Prison Slang
2. What is Clicking Up? a. Getting promoted. b.
Getting assigned to a better cell. c. Joining a
prison gang. d. Lighting a cigarette when not
permitted.
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Prison Slang
3. Who is Chester? a. Prisoner who cant
function in outside world. b. Officer who
smuggles in contraband. c. Prisoner avoids hard
work. d. Child molester.
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Prison Slang
3. Who is Chester? a. Prisoner who cant
function in outside world. b. Officer who
smuggles in contraband. c. Prisoner avoids hard
work. d. Child molester.
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Prison Slang
4. What is Riding Leg? a. Homosexual
relationship. b. Becoming friendly with staff
for a favor. c. Making up a story to gain status
with prisoners. d. Receiving contraband.
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Prison Slang
4. What is Riding Leg? a. Homosexual
relationship. b. Becoming friendly with staff
for a favor. c. Making up a story to gain status
with prisoners. d. Receiving contraband.
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Prison Slang
5. Who is Sancho? a. Correctional officer. b.
Informer or snitch. c. Latino prisoner. d. Man
having an affair with your wife or girlfriend.
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SANTERIA by Sublime
I don't practice Santeria I ain't got no crystal
ball Well I had a million dollars but I I'd
spend it all If I could find that heina and
that Sancho that she'd found Well I'd pop a cap
in Sancho and I'd slap her down
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Prison Slang
5. Who is Sancho? a. Correctional officer. b.
Informer or snitch. c. Latino prisoner. d. Man
having an affair with your wife or girlfriend.
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Prison Slang
5. Who is Sancho? a. Correctional officer. b.
Informer or snitch. c. Latino prisoner. d. Man
having an affair with your wife or girlfriend.
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Optical Illusions
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What do you see?
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What about NOW?
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What do you see?
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What about NOW?
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Left side only
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Left side only
What do you imagine will be HERE?
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Right side only
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Right side only
What do you imagine will be HERE?
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The whole picture
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Its all a matter of PERSPECTIVE
PERSPECTIVE
PERSPECTIVE
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Introducing Randy

Randys been in jail for the past 6 months, this
time for assaulting a man in a local bar. Randy
got a few bruises, but the man lost an eye.
We were both talking crap, and things just got a
little out of hand. Its no big deal. Hell be
okay. Besides, I was drunk!
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Introducing Maria

Marias just getting released after eight months
in prison for passing bad checks, one of many
illegal things she did to support her crack
cocaine habit.
My little girls been in foster care while Ive
been locked up, and I want her back so bad it
hurts. If I could just catch one lousy break...
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Introducing Damon

Damon went into a juvenile training school at 15
and was moved to an adult prison at 19. Hes 21
now, back on the street and seldom straight.
Im making up for lost time. Im not bothering
no one so whats the big deal if I want to hang
with the fellas and smoke a blunt?
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A. Predictors of Criminality

What elements of ENVIRONMENT and/or PERSONALITY
most accurately predict later criminality?
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What Predicts Criminality?

6 Low Levels of Personal Achievement (academic,
vocational, etc.)
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What Predicts Criminality?

5 Criminality and Psychological Problems in
Family of Origin
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What Predicts Criminality?

4 History of Antisocial Behavior from an early
age
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What Predicts Criminality?

3 Temperament Personality Factors (poor
impulsive or anger management, poor insight, etc.)
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What Predicts Criminality?

2 Association with antisocial peers Isolation
from prosocial peers
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What Predicts Criminality?

1 Antisocial and procriminal attitudes
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B. What Actually Works?

Which approach has the greatest success?
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So What Works?

1. Psychodynamic Approaches
TRAINING 4-10 years DELIVERY Individual or
groups 6 months - several years
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So What Works?

1. Psychodynamic Approaches
Minimal impact on institutional adjustment 1
reduction in recidivism
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So What Works?

2. Behavioral Approaches
TRAINING Several hours on the job DELIVERY
Instantly ongoing
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So What Works?

2. Behavioral Approaches
Immediate but fading impact on institutional
adjustment 10 reduction in recidivism
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So What Works?

3. Cognitive-Behavioral Approaches
TRAINING 1 week content specific
DELIVERY Groups, 2-3x weekly
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So What Works?

3. Cognitive-Behavioral Approaches
Gradual impact on institutional adjustment
30 -50 reduction in recidivism
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KEY POINT 1
The strongest predictor of criminality is
antisocial thinking. As a result, the most
effective approaches are cognitive behavioral
interventions (CBI)
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KEY POINT 1
which target antisocial thinking and help
ex-offenders learn prosocial skills for handling
challenging situations.
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Part IITHE PROBLEM
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THE PROBLEM COGNITIVE DEFICIT 1
LACK OF
PROSOCIAL
SKILLS
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C. Antisocial Skills

Individuals raised in poverty and crime often
develop antisocial behaviors that help them
survive harsh lives.
However, these same behaviors can also keep them
from escaping that life.
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Prosocial Skills

• The personal and interpersonal skills needed to
  meet ones needs and interact with others without
  the use of illegal or harmful behaviors.

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Team Activity
BRAINSTORM 5-6 PROSOCIAL SKILLS NEEDED TO FIND
AND HOLD A JOB IN TODAYS WORLD OF WORKE.g.,
Time management
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Work-related prosocial skills

• Self-control skills
• Handling stress
• Recognizing triggers
• Ignoring provocation

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Work-related prosocial skills

• Communication skills
• Understanding directions
• Expressing complaints
• Dealing with criticism

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Work-related prosocial skills

• Social skills
• Joining social activities
• Empathizing
• Reading body language

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Work-related prosocial skills

• Problem solving skills
• Prioritizing problems
• Avoiding assumptions
• Organizing resources

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Why do so many ex-offenders fail to use these
important skills?

• 1. SKILL DEFICIT
• 2. MOTIVATION DEFICIT
• 3. COGNITIVE INCOMPATIBILITY

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Imagine youre a secretary at a busy law firm
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(No Transcript)
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_at_ this!! Enough is enough!
Youve reached
COGNITIVE INCOMPATABILITY!
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15-minute BREAK
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THE PROBLEM COGNITIVE DEFICIT 2
Trapped in Antisocial
THINKING
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D. Antisocial Thinking

Individuals steeped in a criminal mindset often
perceive events in ways that justify their
illegal or harmful behaviors.
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Antisocial Thinking Cycle
Antisocial Beliefs
Antisocial Beliefs
Antisocial Beliefs
Antisocial Beliefs
Antisocial Beliefs
Based on a model created by Jack Bush, Ph.D.
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Marias Thinking Cycle

Maria is a 38-year-old woman who works as a
clerk in an all-night convenience store. Her
19-year-old supervisor Sarah tells her to clean
up a spill in the back. Maria scowls and finds
other things to do for the next 45 minutes. She
calls her friend to complain
Im not going to let some KID tell me what to
do. If shed asked nicely, I might have said
yes, but _at_ that!
Later, Sarah confronts her angrily about the
spill. Maria walks off the job, convinced shes
just standing up for herself.
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Antisocial Thinking Cycle
BELIEF No one has the right to TELL me what to
do. least of all a kid!
Based on a model created by Jack Bush, Ph.D.
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Antisocial Thinking Traps
Addiction, violence, poverty and criminality
often create antisocial patterns of
thinking. This thinking can justify behaviors
which ultimately perpetuate the cycle of
incarceration.
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Antisocial Thinking Trap 1
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Antisocial Thinking Trap 2
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Antisocial Thinking Trap 3
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Antisocial Thinking Trap 4
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Antisocial Thinking Trap 5
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Randys Problem

Randys brother playfully suggests that he get a
hair cut before he shows up for family dinner
Thanksgiving.
Listen, bro, this is me -- take it or leave it.
If your _at_ wife has a problem with the way I
look, she can kiss my _at_!
Which personal belief is he using?
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Damons Problem

Damon gets cut off in traffic, then follows the
other vehicle for 5 miles. At a stop light, get
gets out and screams at the other driver,
threatening him with a baseball bat.
He almost ran me off the road! Didnt even say
sorry! Somebody had to teach him some manners!
Which personal belief is he using?
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E. Employer Expectations

Almost all employers have a number of written
policies and procedures which they share with new
employees. Most also have a list of UNSPOKEN
expectations which they just assume workers will
abide by.
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Babysitter Rules

• Imagine that you hire a babysitter to watch your
  2-year old
• What expectations are SO BASIC you wouldnt even
  bother to state them?

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Employer Expectation 1
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Employer Expectation 2
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Employer Expectation 3
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Employer Expectation 4
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Employer Expectation 5
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Antisocial Beliefs
Employer Expectations
versus
Look for opposing rules.
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Opposing Beliefs
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Opposing Beliefs
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Opposing Beliefs
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Opposing Beliefs
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Opposing Beliefs
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Randys Side

Randy gets a maintenance job at a major hotel
chain. He has a disagreement with his supervisor
when she asks him to cover his tattoos.
Whats wrong with showing my tattoos? Im proud
of them! Im not going to pretend to be somebody
different just to keep this stupid job.
Which personal belief is he using?
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Employers Perspective

He doesnt understand that all those tattoos and
piercings can scare off some of our more
conservative guests. In our business, you have
to keep up a certain image.
Which Workplace Expectation is she using?
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Damons Side

Damon works as a flagman on a road crew. One
day, a driver zoomed by him too close. Damon
cursed him out and threw a rock at the car. When
the driver called the owner of the company, Damon
was let go.
He nearly ran me down! Was I supposed to let
him get away with that?
Which personal belief is he using?
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Employers Perspective

Sometimes drivers are rude or even unsafe around
our guys. Its not right, but it happens. But
that doesnt justify that kind of profanity! And
throwing a rock?? Hes lucky they didnt press
charges!
Which Workplace Expectation is he using?
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KEY POINT 2
Ex-offenders have often never learned the
prosocial skills and attitudes that are necessary
for success in the world of work.
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KEY POINT 2
Their antisocial perceptions are often in
opposition to employers unspoken expectations
and can cause serious problems with co-workers
and supervisors.
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Part IIITHE SOLUTION
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So What Works?

3. Cognitive-Behavioral Approaches
Gradual impact on institutional adjustment
30 -50 reduction in recidivism
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(No Transcript)
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Youre an All-Star linebacker on your high school
football team.
TACKLE HIM ! TACKLE HIM!! TACKLE HIM!!!
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The basketball coach approaches you and says, I
need you on my team!
TACKLE HIM!
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Players learn to CODE-SWITCH from the rules of
football to the rules of basketball.
Ex-offenders must learn to CODE-SWITCH from
the rules skills needed for home and
criminality ---gt the rules skills need for
work and professional life.
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F. Stages of Change

How does lasting change take place with addictive
habits, including habits of thought?
(Prochaska, Norcross, DiClemente, 1992.)
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Stage 1 Resistance

It isnt that we cant find a solution its that
we dont see the problem. The Resistance Stage
can last for years.
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Stage 2 Thinking

We are aware of the problem and its consequences.
We may plan to do something in the next 6 months
or so, but havent made a real commitment to it
yet.
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Stage 3 Planning

Sometimes it takes a major event to move us from
just thinking about change to seriously planning
for it. In this stage, we intend to make a real
change in the next 30 days.
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Stage 4 Action

We take action by changing our behavior, our
experiences, and our environment. This stage
usually lasts for the first 6 months after making
a change.
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Stage 5 Maintenance

Weve been fairly successful in making change
during this period, and new habits are fairly
well established. We enter this stage about 6
months after making a change.
Good Things in Life
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Randy admits he has a problem with fighting
I DO lose my cool from time to time. I know I
ought to do something about it, cuz I get in
trouble all the time for it, but nothing seems to
work for me. I guess Im just hotheaded by
nature.
Which stage of change is he in?
Stage 2 Thinking
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Maria struggles day to day with her addiction to
crack
Its a day-by-day thing. Ive been clean and
sober for nearly a year now, going to NA meetings
and all, but there was a time when I thought I
wasnt going to make it.
Which stage of change is she in?
Stage 5 Maintenance
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Damon smokes marijuana daily
But only for fun! I could quit anytime I want
to. I just dont WANT to. Besides, its NOT
like crack, you know...
Which stage of change is he in?
Stage 1 Resistance
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Moving Through Stages
From RESISTANCE to THINKING Acknowledge the
problem and become aware of its consequences,
both to yourself and others.
From THINKING to PLANNING Take personal
responsibility for fixing the problem. Find the
strength and courage to believe that change is
possible.
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Moving Through Stages
From PLANNING to ACTION Get ready for
temptations and set up a support network.
From ACTION to MAINTENANCE Voluntarily make
significant changes in behavior and surroundings.
Keep up changes by avoiding high risk people and
situations.
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KEY POINT 3
Lasting change takes place in a predictable
series of stages, beginning with outright
resistance. Forcing the process or skipping
stages usually fails.
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Part IIITHE SOLUTION
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Intervention 1 COGNITIVE SKILLS
Teach the
TOOLS
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Intervention 2 COGNITIVE RESTRUCTURING
Teach the
RULES
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G. Cognitive Skill Building

CBI STRATEGY 1 Cognitive Skill Instruction is
most useful when antisocial behavior is due to a
lack of prosocial skills.
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Team Activity
Come up with a clear example of a client/customer
whose problem was because of a Lack of prosocial
skills.
E.g., Customer interrupts you on the phone
because they lack skills for remaining patient.
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Identifying Skill Steps

Randy gets fired because he doesnt know how to
accept criticism without arguing. He attends a
class to help him deal with criticism more
effectively.
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Identifying Skill Steps

SMALL GROUPS Brainstorm YOUR ideas about how
to handle constructive criticism.
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Handling Criticism

1. Stop think 2. Listen carefully 3. Show you
understand 4. Ask how to resolve 5. Agree, or
explain your side
From Workin It Out soft skills training
curriculum
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COGNITIVE SKILLS methodology
Cognitive Skills Instruction is generally
provided in small group classroom settings.
Instructors present a challenging social
situation, then break down the skills needed to
handle it prosocially. Skillful responses are
demonstrated and role played.
TOOLS
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KEY POINT 4
Cognitive skill building is most useful when
problems are the result of a lack of prosocial
skills.
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KEY POINT 4
Typical skills include anger management, logical
problem solving, dealing with criticism, etc.
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H. Cognitive Restructuring

CBI STRATEGY 2 Cognitive Restructuring is most
useful when antisocial behavior is due to
entrenched antisocial beliefs.
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Team Activity
Come up with a clear example of a client/customer
whose problem was because of Strong Antisocial
Beliefs.
E.g., Customer interrupts you on the phone
because they truly believe that THEIR needs
outweigh anyone elses.
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COGNITIVE restructuring methodology

1. LISTEN
2. CAPTURE
3. CHALLENGE
4. RESPECT

RULES
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COGNITIVE restructuring CORE BELIEFS
The most important skill in Cognitive
Restructuring is IDENTIFYING THE CORE BELIEF used
to justify the antisocial behavior.
RULES
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Randy admits he has a problem with fighting
I DO lose my cool from time to time. I know I
ought to do something about it, cuz I get in
trouble all the time for it, but nothing seems to
work for me. I guess Im just hotheaded by
nature.
What Im doing is okay because
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Damon smokes marijuana daily
But only for fun! I could quit anytime I want
to. I just dont WANT to. Besides, its NOT
like crack, you know...
What Im doing is okay because
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COGNITIVE restructuring THE CHALLENGE
You can CHALLENGE a justification on the basis
of
1. Unspoken Rules of Work From a personal
perspective, that makes sense. In your personal
life , you wouldnt EVER let someone tell you how
to dress. But at work, the rules are different,
and an employer DOES have the right to set a
dress code.
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COGNITIVE restructuring THE CHALLENGE
You can CHALLENGE a justification on the basis
of
2. Self-Interest Yeah, but I dont buy it
Youre way too smart to believe that the
satisfaction you got from walking out was worth
the hassle youre going to have to put up with if
you have to look for a new job again.
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COGNITIVE restructuring THE CHALLENGE
You can CHALLENGE a justification on the basis
of
3. Pre-established Goals I dont buy it
Youve always said that you wanted to prove to
your family that youve changed, that they could
trust you again. Have you given up on that goal?
Cuz if you keep this up, itll only show that you
CANT be trusted.
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COGNITIVE restructuring THE CHALLENGE
You can CHALLENGE a justification by
4. Relabeling Behavior I dont buy it You
can say you were only borrowing those tools,
but we both know what happened you took
advantage of a unsupervised moment to walk off
with something that wasnt yours. Thats not
borrowing, its stealing. Youve lost more than
your job today -- youve lost my respect as well.
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Maria gets to work 30 minutes late, and her
supervisor writes her up. Later that week,
she has to stay 2 hours late to cover for a
co-worker who doesnt get written up. Maria files
a grievance with the district manager claiming
she was treated unfairly.
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CODE SWITCHING WITH MARIA
1. LISTEN
2. CAPTURE
She got you in trouble, so you had the right to
get her in trouble too. Fairs fair, right?
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CODE SWITCHING WITH MARIA
3. CHALLENGE
that the RIGHT thing to do would have been to to
swallow your pride and save your job. Didnt you
say that you NEEDED this job to get your daughter
back? Are you willing to throw that away over an
employee write up?

4. RESPECT
I respect your right to make your own decision,
but I dont see this as a good choice, and I
cant support it.
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Practice with Randy

Randy gets a maintenance job at a major hotel
chain. He has a disagreement with his supervisor
when she asks him to cover his tattoos.
Whats wrong with showing my tattoos? Im proud
of them! Im not going to pretend to be somebody
different just to keep this stupid job.
Role play a 11 Cog Restructuring Session with
Randy 1. Listen 2. Capture 3. Challenge
4. Respect
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Practice with Damon

Damon works as a flagman on a road crew. One
day, a driver zoomed by him too close. Damon
cursed him out and threw a rock at the car. When
the driver called the owner of the company, Damon
was let go.
He nearly ran me down! Was I supposed to let
him get away with that?
Role play a 11 Cog Restructuring Session with
Damon 1. Listen 2. Capture 3. Challenge
4. Respect
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KEY POINT 5
Cognitive restructuring is most useful when
problems are the result of antisocial thinking.
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KEY POINT 5
This thinking can be effectively confronted if we
try to first see how the ex-offender justifies
the behavior to him/herself, then challenge it on
the basis of things already important to the
client.
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AUTOBIOGRAPHY IN FIVE SHORT CHAPTERS By Portia
Nelson
CHAPTER ONE I walk down the street. There is a
deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. I am lost
... I am helpless. It isnt my fault. It takes
forever to find a way out.
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AUTOBIOGRAPHY IN FIVE SHORT CHAPTERS By Portia
Nelson
CHAPTER TWO I walk down the same street. There is
a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend I dont
see it. I fall in again. I cant believe Im in
the same place. But it isnt my fault.
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AUTOBIOGRAPHY IN FIVE SHORT CHAPTERS By Portia
Nelson
CHAPTER THREE I walk down the same street. There
is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it there. I
still fall in ... its a habit. My eyes are
open. I know where I am. Its my fault. I get out
immediately.
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AUTOBIOGRAPHY IN FIVE SHORT CHAPTERS By Portia
Nelson
CHAPTER FOUR I walk down the same street. There
is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.
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AUTOBIOGRAPHY IN FIVE SHORT CHAPTERS By Portia
Nelson
CHAPTER FIVE I walk down another street.
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Thanks for your time and attention! If youd
like more information about my programs or
workshops, see me!
Dr. Steve Parese www.WorkinItOut.com SBParese_at_aol.
com