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Maintaining the Ties

Reintegration and the Canadian Families and Corrections Network

BY G. Chartier, Communications Officer, Communications and Citizen Engagement Sector

Official logo of CFCN publications – “Building stronger and safer communities by assisting families affected by criminal behaviour…”

Each offender has a unique family history—some may have grown up in a string of foster homes while others may come from more stable environments. For some, family ties were broken long ago; these offenders have been rejected by both their parents and siblings because of their criminal lifestyles. Still others have proven that family bonds are unshakeable and any form of adversity only serves to make them stronger. Many offenders have created families of their own.

The prospect of incarceration for a key member can shake the family unit to its foundations. The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) recognizes this and knows that healthy family units play an important part in an offender’s rehabilitation and reintegration. Family programs such as the one at Millhaven Institution in Ontario have been established to respect and strengthen the ties that bind.

Family-based Orientation Course at Millhaven Institution

At the Millhaven Assessment Unit (MAU), a compulsory family-based orientation course is given by Lloyd Withers of the Canadian Families and Corrections Network (CFCN). In it, he asks offenders to examine the impact their criminal behaviour has had on those closest to them and to make amends for the hurt they may have caused. Perhaps in return they will gain some strong family-based support for their eventual reintegration into society.

During his 10 years as a chaplain with CSC, Withers developed and delivered the Maintaining Positive Couple Relationships at Millhaven, Frontenac and Kingston penitentiaries. He is currently the National Coordinator of the CFCN, a Canadian charity.

The family-based orientation course began as a two-year pilot project and is now funded on a year-by-year contract by the Ontario Regional Chaplaincy of CSC. In 2006, approximately 650 recently sentenced offenders attended the family-based orientation at the MAU.

The course involves a two-and-a-half hour lecture and discussion on making links with community organizations, faith-based groups, and community chaplaincies. The discussion focuses on the offenders’ families and the impact their crimes have had on their families, and attempts to give the offenders the means to maintain relationships in the community. The discussion also includes ways to maintain the bonds between an incarcerated father and his children, and how to normalize being a family without making criminal behavior or incarceration normal.

At the end of the orientation, Withers gives inmates a form that discusses how to write a restorative letter home saying “I’m sorry,” and how to take responsibility for what they have done. Inmates are given pen and paper and encouraged to write letters to their families.

“They call me the pen guy,”  Withers jokes. He also asks inmates if they want an orientation package sent to their families, noting that families are generally appreciative of the material sent.

Families as a Force for Good

“Reintegration begins when the judge sentences an offender,”  Withers says.

According to the CFCN, the families of offenders should be recognized as assets to offenders, to the correctional system and to society because of the role they can play in successful conditional release, without compromising public safety or the security of an institution.

That view was one of the conclusions of a policy document about the needs of families affected by incarceration and reintegration. The report, based on extensive consultation in communities across the country, is entitled A Strategic Approach and Policy Document to Address the Needs of Families of Offenders: Safety, Respect and Dignity for All. (available on the CFCN Web site)

A Partner with CSC

“CFCN is a major voluntary sector partner,” says Reverend Christina Guest of Chaplaincy in CSC, “in the development of policy and practice, and also in the designing and piloting of resources and tools.” CFCN was established around 1993 with the additional support of CSC’s  Chaplaincy Branch.

“This was perfect timing because we were trying to heighten the profile of families within CSC,” she says.

“Every Person Comes from a Family”

Rev. Guest says that while it is true that some family members may choose to not remain in contact with an inmate, thousands of families strive to maintain ties when a family member is incarcerated.

“Every person comes from a family,” she says. “We can be talking about parents trying to support one of their adult children inside, various forms of partnered relationships, and children, often very young ones, the average age being between 7 and 8.”

Rev. Guest recalls sitting in on one of Lloyd Withers’ sessions at the MAU when an offender said that he had told his family to give up on him.

“He didn’t want to put them through all kinds of hardship and he clearly did not see a lot of hope in his future. That’s what we are trying to avoid by thinking more intentionally about CSC’s role and response vis-à-vis families,” she says.

“Because I monitor the CSC portal on families and I get inquiries all the time from family members who are attempting to maintain ties, I know how difficult that can be because of the location of our institutions and visiting hours and those sorts of things. At the same time, I have heard of families who reported back how incredibly helpful it has been to have this support as they planned for the re-entry of their family member.

“We see this as one of the many ways in which support can be offered. It is not going to work for everyone, first, because some families are not supportive, and second, because some families contribute to and participate in the values that have led people to prison. But certainly some parents and some very devoted spouses make a big difference.”

Results from Maintaining the Ties

“The most telling result,” says Rev. Guest, “was reported by the assistant warden in charge of Correctional Programs at Millhaven Institution when Lloyd started the family-based orientation pilot. He said that there had been a measurable decline in tension and incidents at the assessment unit. The guys knew that through CFCN, their families could get access to the information needed. They had resources to assist their families and maintain the ties.”

“Clearly it affects how they’re able to cope with the beginning of their incarcerations,” says Rev. Guest. “There are huge amounts of stress and the family-based orientation program helps reduce that.” ♦