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A Letter From The ITC Program at JCCC

By April 2, 20218 Comments

As we continue the conversation about rehabilitation and reducing recidivism, it’s important everyone know the truth about what’s being done inside the DOC facilities to address these issues. We were contacted by some of the men who are leading the ITC program at JCCC and asked if they could write a letter explaining the current state of the program, as they continue to lose support from prison staff and administration. The following is the letter that the men at JCCC wrote regarding this program. Thank you so much to these men for taking the time and effort to write this letter. 

Offenders fight to keep their life changing program above water.


The Intensive Therapeutic Community (ITC) at the Jefferson City Correctional Center is a voluntary six phase multi faceted cognitive program for offenders seeking change. Concentrating on discipline with a highly structured environment and strict regime its mission is to treat chemical dependency and related criminal thinking and behavioral patterns.
The I.T.C. was created at the Missouri State Penitentiary. The blueprint for the program emerged from a meeting between the substance Abuse Advisory Council and then director Dr. Dora Schiriro. In light of insufficient treatment programs, geared toward lasting change, the offenders on the council asked her, what she would do for prisoners with long sentences and admitted drug problems. She replied, ” What are you going to do for yourselves?”
A proposal for a therapeutic community was drafted and accepted. In 1995, the first class of the I.T.C was underway. The program material evolved over the years to cover many aspects of the recovery, self-discovery and self-improvement process for offenders. Issues addressed include substance abuse and twelve step work, anger management, criminality, self-esteem, relapse prevention, and I.C.V.C. work to expose the ways in which the selfish and often violent behaviors of offenders past affected those around them.
Within the I.T.C., peer confrontation drives the change process and upholds the standards of the community. When unacceptable conduct occurs, such as criminal behavior, rule infractions, negative attitudes or lack of consideration for others, other community members will bring that to the individuals attention through one on one confrontation. This can result in group confrontation for more serious offenses where loss of privileges, and learning experiences, such as writing papers, and extra duty within the unit, may be assigned. Refusing to change or comply with behavioral expectations will eventually result in expulsion from the community.
Part of creating an environment conducive to change is isolation from old friends, places, and things which can trigger cravings or promote ones criminal identity. For this reason, the first six months or Intensive phase of the program, clients are not allowed to interact or speak with offenders who are not directly involved in their recovery process. Privileges afforded to G.P offenders such as, T.V., Radio, Canteen, Phone calls, and Recreational activities are voluntarily restricted and gradually restored as they demonstrate commitment to the goals of the program.
Classes and groups are conducted by offender facilitators. These are graduates of the program who have demonstrated good leadership as well as an exceptional grasp of the recovery materials. Facilitators live in the unit and maintain the daily structure of the program. In addition to teaching classes, they handle one on one crisis interventions, and counsel offenders as they endure the life change process.
It is this recipe that has allowed the I.T.C. over the course of it’s history, to be extremely effective. As inmate Facilitators can identify with the thinking errors of the criminal mind and are experienced in identifying criminal behavior. Having both lived and overcome them themselves, lending to the credibility needed for many offenders to trust the process. Though they valiantly strive to make a difference in the lives of offenders, inmate facilitators are limited, as they are often self educated, and lack professional academics.
The political climate, support, and resources available to the program have shifted with time. At one point, I.T.C. encompassed two entire housing units, as well as, two floors of the hospital building at M.S.P. Each unit had one or more substance abuse counselors and dozens of volunteers in corrections who provided individual counseling with clients, treatment planning and various administrative tasks. The I.T.C. was certified as a long term treatment facility, and as such was recognized by the parole board and the court system.
Today the program at JCCC, shows little resemblance of those glory days. While it is true that we have been hit hard by Covid-19. The lack of transfers has stagnated pools of volunteers and the couple of V.I.C.s who have held on through the storm are not allowed to enter the prison due to restrictions. Many other factors are hurting us more.
Having once taken up nearly all of Housing Unit Five, the program has been down sized by J.C.C.C. staff and is conducted in only two of the original four wings, with a scattering of graduates amongst general population offenders. One of the two treatment wings left is being forced to share space with the seminary program from Hannibal LaGrange. Instead of a full time director and contingent of counselors, the program is overseen by one caseworker who doesn’t hold any credibility in the phycology fields.
Alarmingly, there has been a noticeable decline in support for the program from the administration staff. Not just here, but state wide. Many prisons having already closed their I.T.C units. A reality we may well face ourselves as chunks of five house have been carved away for other programs: Puppies for parole, Reentry, Hannibal LaGrange, even new arrivals to prison under the R+O program have all been given I.T.C beds, and privileges (or in some cases, entire communities.) yet,’ these programs do not have the same behavioral standards, structure, nor accountability, and as such, are often disruptive to the change process. As a result, fights and drugs are now common place in a housing unit where just hearing a curse word was a rarity.

Only one wing has been left untouched, through the constant efforts of men who have come to love the life the I.T.C experience has provided for them, and share a dedicated desire to reach other troubled men, that they might share their experiences, and know their new found freedom from addiction.
Yet, for a open wing safer for offenders and staff alike, then even a level 5 maximum security lock down unit, there is less support from custody staff who often look at the program guys as entitled because they need additional time in the wings to accommodate their structured activities. Or the additional privileges afforded to the I.T.C. graduates (Elders), who utilize open wing to sponser and mentor new clients, while role modeling program values.
With hard work should come improvements in circumstances. It becomes an incentive, motivation to push through adversity, and a goal to achieve. The thought becomes, If I want more privileges, I must earn them with hard work. A thought that is practice for this one, “If I want to be successful, take care of my family, and have the life I want, I have to work hard and be responsible.”
If those same privileges are afforded to everyone, without the same expectations of conduct, there is little incentive to maintain the effort level required in the I.T.C program.
There always seems to be a push to find the next big thing in Corrections. Parallel Universe, Restorative Justice, and Reentry are examples of programs de jure. But for those of us who have been through the I.T.C. , we already have something that works- something time tested and proven, with hundreds of Elders released back into society and maintaining successful lives. Possibly one is your neighbor? We want our program to thrive and grow. To draw people in and continue changing lives, that others may experience the freedom from addiction that the twelve steps provide and from criminal lifestyle choices. Instead, we are losing ground, withering away and drying up from lack of support by a system who believes the political advantage to invest in the I.T.C has been lost. The very same system who is preaching rehabilitation to tax paying citizens..
We need help breathing life back into this program and increasing the vital backing that it needs in order to function. We need to foster a spirit of cooperation between custody staff, the administration, the community and tax paying citizens.. After all, who do you want coming to live in your neighborhood. Someone who has taken responsibility for his behavior and taking corrective actions to change the thinking errors that keeps many offenders committing crimes, or those offenders who are only learning to be better at the crimes they commit? The choice is yours and it starts now. Help us raise awareness about the work we do here, reach out to your local representatives, media agencies, state legislators, and prison officials. Tell them to invest your Vote and tax paying dollars into the I.T.C. program.

Written by concerned offenders for reform.” 

8 Comments

  • Unknown says:

    My stepson went through the program and is an Elder in the I.T.C. program. The maturity, self esteem and self awareness he has attained is remarkable. He is earnest in helping other men free themselves from addictions and criminal behaviors. He feels successful in life and feels confident he will be a productive member of society when released.
    Please, don’t get rid of this amazing program!

  • Z says:

    My brother has been an elder in the ITC program for years. He has always talked about all the positive things this program offers. With drug abuse being a major cause of incarceration how can anyone not see how important the ITC program is. The success rate for people who complete the ITC program is over 80%. No other program can claim such a high success rate. Please learn what you can about the ITC program and help us keep this program going. Thank you for your help.

  • Z says:

    My brother has been an elder in this program for years. He has always talked about all the positive things this program offers. With drug abuse being a major cause of incarceration how can anyone not see how important the ITC program is. The success rate of this program is over 80% for people who complete the program. No other program can claim such a high success rate. Please learn what you can about the ITC program and help us keep the ITC program going. Thank you for you help.

  • Carol says:

    I would like to let you know that my loved one has told me often how much this program has helped him. He has gone through the program and is now leading a class for new people in the program. I hope that you will continue to have this program for others so they can have help too. Please do what you can to keep this program and if I can help in some way other than writing this note, please let me know.

  • Lin says:

    My husband and I have had the privilege of not only being spiritual advisors for several men in JCCC, but also to welcome a returning citizen into our home to complete his parole. This has afforded us a unique opportunity to see the corrections system from both ends. Looking from the end goal of successful re-entry into society, we have been struck with the reality that without clear and consistent help, the majority of those released are not going to make it in society. Our experience watching the workings of the I.T.C. program has confirmed in our minds how vital it is to have this kind of a program within the walls of the prison. True change does not happen overnight, but requires not only instruction, but practice, discipline, and the support of those who have had similar life experiences. The high expectations, accountability, and confrontation within the community causes men to take an honest look at themselves and their weaknesses and failings. But the process doesn't end there. Elders walk alongside each one and give encouragement as well as correction as these men commit to the often painful process of change. We have often commented to each other how rare it is for people outside of prison to have such an honest look into their own character and need for development.
    Why would a life-changing program such as the I.T.C. program be squeezed out and unsupported by the DOC and the prison administration? And while there is much merit in the relatively new seminary opportunity, we believe it should not impinge on the carefully chosen workings of a proven program. Let's hope that our Missouri Department of Corrections values the efforts of these men to make lasting change for good that will certainly have an impact on our future society!

  • Daren says:

    I hope that the JCCC administration will support the ITC program. It is the one thing that has given me hope for my loved one. I am so proud that he has stuck with it and is one of those that has made it through to be in the program, which I understand is not easy. His youth at the time of incarceration was concerning and the time he spent there could result in an environment that might devastate his long term prospects for the future. The ITC program has helped develop him into a caring and conscientious person that understands why he is there and the impacts his actions had on others. That was not a prospect I considered when he was sentenced. I am grateful for the program and it appears that it is truly one of the programs that makes better people of those involved and reduces recidivism. If you want programs that are working, how can you consider reducing the ITC program that is so effective.

  • Thank you so much. We know that this program is so important to the men at JCCC and to their progress and we hope that administration sees that. Your comment is appreciated.

  • Anonymous says:

    JCCC , Thank you , Programs like ITC are changing lives . Addiction and Abuse have alot of men lost . Then come to prisons and get a negative experience . To see your administration take the time to truely care and treat the men like Human Beings . TO put programs in place to help them .. GIVES THE MEN HOPE !! SO MANY MEN ONLY KNOW WHAT THEY SEEN OR LEARNED IN THERE ENVIRONMENT , I BELIEVE PEOPLE CAN CHANGE !!! I WISH THEY HAD MORE PROGRAMS IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND PRISONS !!! GREAT JOB JCCC

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