By Benjamin Walsh
Years go by, and I don’t understand my place here or what this is—what prison is. Is it punishment? Correction? Restoration? Hell? Just a warehouse? All those things at various times?
The department is a living contradiction of aims. It needs strong leadership to bring it into becoming something that actually resembles the values it claims define its mission. It’s a complicated, incredibly complex mission, requiring, more than anything else, a deep empathy and compassion for the brokenness and traumatic struggles of the men and women being corrected. Such empathy, compassion, and hope for the redeemable humanity in each inmate must be the foundation of what a commissioner brings to their position and must form the basis of the culture that a commissioner and the rest of the department should aim to create. This seems to me to be the core issue behind all other issues. Until the culture and attitude are shifted, from top to bottom, there will be a continued exacerbation of issues on the ground and mishandling of situations.
I fear that most people don’t care enough about corrections, the justice system, prisons, and the people inside them. I get anxious that the establishment will see a compassion-based approach as woefully naive. But I stand by it. I think an administration can be tough on crime, bad behavior, violence, etc., and still be compassionate. And still not view us as animals or lesser beings. They can still achieve a strong level of security and control but do so in a humanitarian, rehabilitative way. It all depends on what the point of all this is—imprisonment, correction, criminal justice, restorative justice.
I would say that in today’s language, the mission of the DOC should be to administer generational, trauma-informed, restorative justice. That phrase sums it up pretty well. Not to punish, correct, or merely “reduce recidivism,” which is a cold, statistical description that neatly avoids humanization. But to face up to the challenge of delivering therapeutic care in a closed environment to people who want and need it, and also a lot of people who don’t want it and don’t think they need it. And that’s the hardest part, I think—creating an environment that fosters change, even for those who resist it.
At times, I feel invalidated in even hoping for a better DOC because inmates comprise such a small percentage of the population. It’s easy to concede “throwing away” such a small group of people. But helping to heal and break out of the cycles of generational trauma, violence, crime, whatever, is probably the biggest problem we face as a society right now, and the budget is already in place—it’s just not being used well.
The thing is, ultimately, you can’t change the culture of a department with policy, legislation, or judicial orders, though those things can help to push forward rights, privileges, and opportunities for inmates. But you can change a culture through strong, definitive leadership, and so the opportunity to appoint a leader of great quality to the commissioner position is in itself an opportunity to move the department forward for the better. I hope that the right person is out there and that they get the job.
Family and Friends of Individuals with Mental Illness ~ Advocating for those who are Justice Involved 
Well said, Ben!! I hope the people who are in positions to made a decision regarding the new commissioner read this and take the words to heart.
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Very well said. I pray the righ t people will read it and act on it
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Ben, this gets right to the heart of the matter and the problem of first identifying and following through on the mission statement with a leader who commits to and actively supports the mission. I also hope that those involved read this and understand the importance of your message and its invaluable insight. Sending much love and hugs, Tara
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This young man speaks quite articulately about the subject. I couldn’t agree more and many of my fellow advocates, which includes organizations, podcasters and international criminal justice reformers agree as well. Proper leadership steers the boat in the right direction. Compassion, empathy and treating human beings with opportunities to heal and make restitution are tools to assist in mitigating frustration, anger and violence. Offering purpose through programs and education to those who took the wrong path is an approach that will benefit the heart and souls of those who may need it most. Those who reenter society will then have a second chance to create a life that will benefit others and serve themselves well. That would be correction.
I have heard many say that the system is broken. I have heard many in the system say that the system is broken. While waiting for a car repair in my mechanic’s waiting room the other day, a conversation rose up among the three people there: myself, a gentleman who helps run Fresh Start Worcester, which assists newly freed former inmates and a clinician. We three were in perfect sync as to how punitive-led, rather than restorative, the penal system is. The clinician acknowledged the need to care for inmates with trauma-based therapies. We three citizens are just the tip of the iceberg as many in the public understand that prisons need improvement in becoming the most moral and humane of institutions in a difficult environment. Good leadership will acknowledge the need for culture change and implement it and all will benefit, both the staff and the inmates.
Donna Winant, Founder and Director of FFIMI
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Thank you Mr. Walsh for writing such a poignant reflection. You’ve tapped into all the inequities within the justice system. Donna, I fully support your heartfelt response. We must all do better to support the most vulnerable people. The time is Now! Leaders must lead !
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Benjamin’s name says it all. A child of GOD expressing the desire many of our loved ones have, when caged within or without prison walls. A desire and need to feel the Presence of GOD, through Authorities that know NOT the Love, Understanding, Discipline and Forgiveness of the Most High Overseer of All mankind. The evil angel thrown out of Heaven onto this earth unfortunately goes after GOD’S Children, including infiltrating themselves into Prisons as Overseers of GOD’S incarcerated. The GODLINESS Benjamin and so many of Our Creator’s Confined Children so desperately desire, WILL BECOME A REALITY again. Soon and very soon, as BIBLE PROPHESIES OF THESE FINAL MOMENTS ARE UNRAVELING. WE MUST CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR GOD’S INCARCERATED LAMBS AMONGST THE WOLVES. 💖🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾💖
(Revelations 12:7 to 12).
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