ACTION WORDS

How I Have Fulfilled the Seven Dynamic Criminogenic Needs Domains

 

by John Harvey
June 2008

 

Employment / Education Domain – Evidence of my strong work ethic can be found in my record throughout my incarceration as well as prior to it. My institutional work record not only reflects excellent work performed in my institutional assignments, but also in all the volunteer work projects, program facilitation, completing of an Audio Operator apprenticeship program, earning an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts and tutoring other inmates during my incarceration in a variety of classes and programs.

Marital / Family Relations – Strong family relationships have been maintained with each of my family members throughout my entire incarceration. This includes ties with those family members that live out of state through correspondence and visits. I have also put forth much effort to heal family relationships that were wounded by my crime and have worked with family members to build them back into healthy relationships.

Association and Social Interaction – Proof that I place great value on having only non-criminal friends and associates is evident in that my entire friend and associate base is now non-criminal. I have not had any contact with old criminal associates in over ten years. I have been involved in mentoring other inmates for the past six years and am presently a mentor in two programs. I impress upon the mentees I work with the value in having only non-criminal associates. I also have Reentry Mentors, accountability partners, and a large Christian support group that I have positive interaction with now and will continue to have even more with upon my release. I have well established boundaries that keep me away from negative/criminal associates and I stay within my boundaries.

Substance Abuse – Going through Intensive Treatment in a Therapeutic Community helped me learn why I was using alcohol and drugs. The root cause was that I was unhappy with my moods and feelings when sober, and I chose to change my moods and feelings through the use of alcohol and drugs. I learned in the program the harm addiction causes to your mental, physical, and spiritual health, and the harm it causes to those around you. The program, The Psychology of Incarceration, taught me myriad healthy ways to change my moods and feelings without the use of harmful substances. I learned to participate in positive and healthy activities and cognitive exercises that benefited me, as opposed to doing things that were self-defeating and unhealthy. I acquired many tools in this program and continue to use them daily. I truly love living a clean, sober, healthy life and would not want to go back to my old way of living for anything in the world.

Community Functioning – Throughout my incarceration I have learned to live a very simple and disciplined life. I exercise good personal hygiene and keep my living and work areas clean and organized. I will continue this practice when I am released in my residence and workplace when I return to the community. I exercise and play horseshoes, watch my diet and see the dentist and physician for regular check-ups. I exercise my mind by studying, reading, attending classes, programs, seminars, and other learning activities, and I play chess. I exercise my spirit through prayer, worship, praise, and service to my fellow man. I am thrifty and have learned excellent financial management skills that I look forward to applying when I am released and gainfully employed. I have learned to use the resources and social services that are available to me in prison and will continue to use those available to me in society.

Personal / Emotional Orientation – I have learned the value of being a responsible, dependable man of commitment. I finish what I start whenever it is in my power to do so. I think before I act and think of where my actions will lead me before I commit them. I hold myself accountable for my actions because I believe it is a lot better than being held accountable by someone else, e.g. law enforcement, the judicial system, etc. My decision making process is centered on making decisions that are in my own best interest and the interests of my community as a whole. I cope with stressful situations by realizing they are a necessary part of my growth and development as a mature man. I deal with them looking at them as a positive thing rather than a negative, always knowing that God will help me make it through them. I have learned to grieve in a healthy way and this has helped me a great deal since I have lost eight family members during my incarceration. I guard my mental health by checking my thinking, keeping my thoughts honorable and being open and honest with others when sharing my emotions with them. I am a peaceful person and conduct myself accordingly in my interaction with others.

Attitude – My desire is to find the good in all people, places, and things and positively affirm that good. I know the not-so-good areas and things that need improvement must be identified and addressed also. This can be a delicate task at times and my goal is to not just point out these things, but also share a remedy for the problem with the person and/or direct them to where they can receive the help they need. My desire is to leave every person, place, and thing a little better than I found them through my interaction with them. I choose to live a law-abiding life. I have come to believe the law does not break; we only break ourselves against it by not living in law-abiding ways. I do not wish to ever break myself again; therefore, I choose to live a law-abiding life, and I am confident this is the right choice and the best way to live.

 

How I Am Working Toward Meeting
the Five Transformational Needs Domains
by John Harvey
June 2008

Faith – I have demonstrated the ability to look beyond present circumstances and challenges and look for meaning and purpose in them. I have learned to look for a lesson and blessing in all things, realizing that all my life experiences are making me stronger and wiser and preparing me to better handle future circumstances and challenges. I have great hope for a healthy life as a law abiding citizen in the community.

Forgiveness – I have ended resentments and dealt with historic pain in a healthy way through forgiveness of myself and those who have wronged me. I can honestly say I do not look upon any person as my enemy. If a person chooses to consider himself or herself my enemy, that is totally his or her choice because I choose to forgive and get along with everyone where it is humanly possible for me.

Love – I value and respect my life and the lives of others. The way I live and care for myself and treat others is proof positive I have love in my heart. I treat people with respect and dignity because I believe it is the right way to treat others. It is the way I like to be treated; however, I also treat people respectfully even when the same respect is not shown to me. I do this because I have respect for myself and everything and everyone I represent, e.g. my values, my family, my country, and everything and everyone I am connected to.

Peace – I have true sorrow for the things I have done wrong and the people I have hurt. I own my past and have learned many painful lessons from it. I do not, however, dwell on my past, for to do so would be self-defeating. I live in the present and plan for the future. I try to make the absolute best of each day by living in ways that are healthy mentally, physically and spiritually. In doing so, I believe that I am not only living in the best way possible now, but I am also preparing and planning for a healthy, productive future.

Trust – I have survived many things due to the grace of God working in, through, with, and around me. I have come to trust completely on that grace and realize it is a power that works from within me, and I need not look to any outside sources to tap into it.