Disabilities in Prison

Some estimates of the prevalence of disabilities in prison indicate that most inmates have disabilities of one kind or another, many with multiple, co-occurring disabilities. For example, a four-state study of juveniles incarcerated for capital offenses found that nearly 100% had multiple disabilities, described as including “neurological impairment, psychiatric illness, and cognitive deficits”, often the result of prolonged physical and sexual abuse (Russell & Stewart, 2001, p. 61).

There is not much in life as horrible as being a prisoner. Just imagine being outside the prison wall but a prisoner of daily failure and struggling to learn required skills. A successful life and fulfilling ones true destiny would be only a dream. It is a sentence that has literally taken good lives with potential and turned them into broken lives behind bars.

Statistics show the number of prisoners with disabilities is substantially higher than it is in the general population (Groom, 1999; Russell & Stewart, 2001). Estimates of the number of youth with disabilities in prison run as high as 70-100% (Leone, Zaremba, Chapin, & Iseli, 1995; Russell & Stewart, 2001), according to an article published Disability Studies Quarterly Summer 2005, Volume 25, No. 3, “There Is No Treatment Here:” Disability and Health Needs In A State Prison System by Phil Smith, Ed.D. Eastern Michigan University, Special Education.

Due to the seriousness of this national problem, neurodevelopmentalists seek a way to provide rehabilitation to the large prison populations of whom have serious learning disabilities. It is our desire and commitment to bring about a healing of their mind and functional abilities, to ensure a better future, and reduce the recidivism rates in this population.

To rehabilitate prisoners with learning disabilities in their last twenty four months of incarceration, is a dream we have set our sights on. As we know, the potential of salvaging lives from poor choices, and reducing the habitual return to prison will be of great value, not only to the individual, but to taxpayers, our communities, states, and our nation as a whole.

See Steps Of Hope for more information...

Reclaim A Life Today

Rom 3:23 – for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

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