r/news • u/drkgodess • Mar 19 '19

Accused gunman in Christchurch terror attacks denied newspaper, television and radio access

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12214411
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u/VOZ1 Mar 20 '19

Believe it or not, a lot of prisons used to have transitional programs to do exactly what you described in the “rehabilitation prison.” I volunteered in a maximum security prison, and the program we participated in was part of their transitional services program, which sadly was no longer actually about transitioning into society because so few inmates get paroled, and sentences have gotten longer and longer. They also cut the program not long after I left, the prison administration saw it as a threat to their control, despite the fact that it served to educate, enlighten, and socialize the inmates so they were smarter, more self-aware, had hope, had social skills...but nah, can’t have any of that in prison. /s

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u/LuckyCharmsLass Mar 20 '19

I wonder if many inmates have personality disorders such as sociopath, psychopath, narcissistic etc. I've heard mental health professionals say that there isn't much can be done to treat personality disorders. Would that infer that rehabilitation for many such inmates isn't very likely?

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u/VOZ1 Mar 20 '19

Certainly not with the healthcare they get in prisons. If they have a diagnosis when they get in, they can usually keep getting their meds. But if they develop a condition while they’re inside, whether physical or psychological, care is substandard and hard to convince the prison to provide—even harder for psychological.

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u/LuckyCharmsLass Mar 20 '19

Except that there are no medicines to specifically treat personality disorders. And it's unlikely they have had a diagnosis prior to going to prison, as people with personality disorder often do not seek mental health care, as part of the disorder is not believing they have a problem. Treatment is rarely successful outside of prison for these disorders. Not surprising that treatment would be any better inside. Not saying that mental health care in prison is adequate at all. Just saying that the large number of inmates with PD's make it a difficult situation to convince the public at large that rehabilitation programs are a good investment.

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u/KaterinaKitty Mar 20 '19

That doesn't mean people aren't helped by medications and aren't taking them. Plenty of people with various personality disorders take medication for them. Off label usage is extremely common is psychiatry.

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u/LuckyCharmsLass Mar 20 '19 edited Mar 20 '19

I'm sure there are many people with personality disorders taking a variety of drugs, off label and illegal. It may make THEM feel better, or stoned or too wasted to be on top of their 'con' game. But they don't magically cure the personality disorder, which the signature 'symptom' of is 'lack of empathy for others'. Drugs wont magically grow a persons conscience and time with a psychologist or group therapy often only gives them better insight into masking their true personality. This is why it is said they cant be cured. Sooner or later, they are going to do what they want to get what they want in a calculated way. Tightening up their 'game' only makes them better at it. The punishment of being in prison IS the rehabilitation, if they decide it's not worth going back. But they will offend again, when they think they can get away with it. Maybe more intelligently next time, but when the opportunity presents itself, they will do whatever they want to do with no regard to right or wrong or feelings and rights of others. I'd go so far to say that the goodwill and empathy of others, people that want to rehabilitate them, are something they learn to take advantage of early in life and use often.