“How fortunate for governments that the people they administer don’t think.” – Adolf Hitler

From “The Human Condition: A User’s Manual,” by Arnold Kunst

12 December

One of the classes I taught in the prison was called “Re-entry;” it was designed for guys who were scheduled for parole inside six months, and one of the strategies I employed was a series of open-ended discussions to prepare them not just for life on the streets but for NEVER returning to prison once they get out [a staggering 72% of California’s paroling inmates will return within 18 months]. Here’s one of them:

It’s 5:45 on a Tuesday night. You’re tired and maybe a little crabby after a hard day’s work. When you drive home to your apartment, number 116, you find that someone has parked a car you don’t recognize in the space assigned to 116. After parking your car in the street, what will you do?

I’d remind them of their firm decision never to return to prison; I’d also point out to them that being “tired and maybe a little crabby” could lead to their being in a lockup before 7:30 that night.

I would then ask for their contributions: what WOULD they do? I’d take notes on their ideas on the white board with a blue felt-tip, and at the end of the discussion use a red felt-tip to star the ideas they’d agree would be the best ideas.

It was, I thought, a wonderful way to try their ideas on for size – without the risk of actually DOing something stupid.