Return-Path: <nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id i1RLJcI12295; Fri, 27 Feb 2004 16:19:39 -0500 (EST) Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2004 16:19:39 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <s03f6d98.081@langate.gsu.edu> Errors-To: listowner@nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Daphne Greenberg" <ALCDGG@langate.gsu.edu> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-WOMENLIT:2867] Teaching convicted rapists, batterers, sex offenders X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII X-Mailer: Novell GroupWise Internet Agent 6.0.5 Beta Status: O Content-Length: 1803 Lines: 36 Hello all, Teaching convicted rapists, batterers, sex offenders, etc, is an everyday reality our ABE/GED staff must deal with here at the Londer Learning Center in Portland, Oregon. Our literacy program, which is funded by our county Department of Community Justice, is specifically for adults on parole, probation or involved in drug/alcohol treatment programs. In other words, these offenders are out of jail and in the community. Most of our students have mental health issues, along with a criminal history. Admittedly, it's not easy for us to talk to colleagues about our clientele. Many of our students have committed terrible crimes. What we tend to do is to work closely with mental health and corrections counselors and parole/probation officers. In our county, offenders must receive a lot of counseling and treatment, including cognitive change classes, as part of reintegration into the community. Our Learning Center is a pivotal part of that treatment. So, education fits in with our clients' rehab. We all tend to have some faith in our "system," I think, that we'll catch and can inform POs of suspicious behavior, but also that our clients are receiving "treatment." This makes it easier. I don't think one can do this work without believing that people can change, and that systems must exist to help them to do so. I would suggest that anyone teaching in a correctional facility contact their clients counselors or POs for help in dealing with fears: find out what resources are available and who to call if there are worries, ie, set up a safety plan. I'd be happy to talk further about our experiences. Carole Scholl Acting Program Supervisor Londer Learning Center Multnomah County Dept. of Community Justice 421 SW 5th Ave., Portland, Oregon 97204 (503) 988-3136, x27299
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Thu Dec 23 2004 - 09:48:14 EST