Prison Reform: A Solution for True Rehabilitation and Timely Release from Prison

My name is Dave Fisher. I enjoyed a remarkable life as a devoted father to two happy children, a homeowner, and a dedicated engineer at a technology company for 26 years. However, in 2013, I encountered an undiagnosed bipolar disorder that had a profound effect on my life. Despite recognizing changes within myself, I unfortunately did not seek timely assistance, leading to significant outcomes. As a result, I faced three counts of witness intimidation and served a ten-year sentence at the Idaho Department of Corrections

While incarcerated, I was astonished by the inefficiency of the prison system. I tried my best to understand the system and to be vigilant in finding solutions to truly rehabilitate inmates.

During my time in prison, I worked at the chapel and learned about a lesser-known peer-to-peer program from one of my co-workers. This program combined cognitive behavioral therapy with a 12-Step program which had a profound impact on him. It helped him confront his past (12-Step) and gain control over his thoughts and behaviors (cognitive behavioral therapy), ultimately eliminating his criminal thinking. Three other individuals who were also part of the program and frequented the chapel shared similar success stories of rehabilitation. The program’s psychology-based approach, incorporating cognitive behavioral therapy and the 12-Step program, was pivotal in their transformation.

As every aspect of this proposal is grounded in psychology, I proactively sought and successfully obtained endorsements from three psychologists, ensuring its strong psychological foundation. Furthermore, to ensure its logistical and practical viability within a prison setting, I have obtained an additional endorsement from Bar None, a respected organization located in Idaho committed to raising awareness about prisons, advocating for reform, and offering valuable resources to released inmates.

This proposal suggests a phased approach, starting with a small-scale pilot program for minimum custody inmates utilizing a single tier. Insights gained from this tier will guide the broader implementation across the entire prison.

In addition to offering psychology-based components for genuine rehabilitation, this proposal recognizes the importance of timely release for fully rehabilitated inmates. To address this concern, this proposal provides a method for a prompt and cost-effective psychological testing process to evaluate an inmates’ eligibility for early release.

 

Provide True Rehabilitation Using Cognitive Behavior Therapy and the 12-Step Program

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is defined as a goal-oriented psychotherapy treatment that takes a hands-on, practical approach to solve negative thinking. CBT helps change the way a person feels, thinks, processes issues and would remove criminal thinking in the vast majority of inmates. It is designed to remedy many disorders such as anger, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, PTSD and many others. CBT is so simple it can be done in a self-guided manner according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The use of CBT in correctional settings is recommended by reputable institutions such as the National Institute of Corrections, National Institute of Justice, and Stanford University.

The 12-Step program, widely utilized by organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Al-Anon, and Celebrate Recovery, among others, is implemented in prison settings to address negative aspects of an inmate’s past and foster accountability for their actions. In this program, inmates are required to complete four specific steps, including conducting a moral inventory of themselves, acknowledging the exact nature of their wrongdoings, creating a list of individuals they have harmed, and making amends to those individuals if possible (steps 4, 5, 8, and 9). Inmates would have the option to complete all 12 steps if they choose.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and the 12-Step program are evidence-based programs (EBPs) that have undergone thorough testing in controlled settings. These programs have consistently demonstrated their effectiveness and have been successfully implemented in practical rehabilitation models. For the purpose of this proposal, the combined approach of CBT and the 12-Step program will be referred to as CBT-12.

Through the implementation of the CBT-12 process, not only can the length of an inmate’s incarceration be significantly shortened, but also their successful completion of the program can lead to remarkable positive transformations in their character, fostering law-abiding behavior. This stands in stark contrast to the negative changes that the current system often yields.

In this proposal, a key emphasis is placed on inmates performing the majority of their psychological rehabilitation through interactions with each other. This approach aims to empower inmates to take an active role in their own rehabilitation without relying solely on psychologists, social workers, or case managers on a full-time basis.

 

Case Manager Qualifications for CBT-12 Implementation 

Even though the majority of the rehabilitation process will be performed inmate-to-inmate, the involvement of case managers is essential.

Currently, case managers conduct classes for inmates that are supposed to follow a form of CBT. However, based on personal experience, these classes often lack the necessary diversity and personal attention required to address the underlying issues contributing to an inmate’s criminal thinking. Instead of exclusively conducting these classes, case managers would use this time to  frequent and oversee inmate-to-inmate CBT-12 sessions, participating at least once a month. This would ensure the program’s progress and provide guidance to the participants.

The case manager assigned to oversee this responsibility should possess the following qualifications:

• In-depth knowledge and understanding of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and the 12-Step program.
• Experience in facilitating group therapy or counseling sessions.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively engage with inmates.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and create a safe and non-judgmental environment for participants.
• Flexibility and adaptability to work within the prison setting and collaborate with other staff members.
• Empathy and compassion to support and motivate inmates throughout their rehabilitation.

 

Create CBT-12 Pairing Based on Communication Styles and Criminal Sensitivities of Inmates  

The primary goal of this matching process is to pair inmates with compatible partners who foster mutual trust, minimize conflict, and create a psychologically safe environment for intensive CBT-12 work.

Upon proposal implementation, inmates would undergo an assessment by a case manager who would develop an individually tailored CBT-12 course outline based on their criminal and personal history. Additionally, inmates would be given two short tests to increase communication compatibility between potential pairs:

• DISC assessment (Communication-style Test): Inmates will take the official “Everthing DiSC” assessment provided by wiley.com on their Android tablets (provided free to all IDOC inmates) to determine their specific behavioral and communication profile. This data allows case managers to build highly compatible pairs based on proven behavioral psychology, maximizing cooperation and reducing conflict during intensive CBT-12 sessions.
• Criminal Sensitivities Test: This test would inquire about sensitive crimes, such as physical or sexual abuse, to identify if a person may have been a victim or perpetrator of such crimes. For instance, inmates who do not wish to associate with those who have committed sexual crimes would be paired appropriately. This ensures that inmates are paired with participants who are in acceptance of their history.

The implementation of the DISC assessment and criminal sensitivities tests would significantly enhance and improve communication between CBT-12 pairs.

One-On-One CBT-12 Details and Confidentiality

Typical CBT-12 sessions could be scheduled Monday through Friday with each session lasting one to two hours per day. The program is designed to be completed in approximately 3-9 months. During these sessions, inmate pairs would have the flexibility to determine the rotation of mentoring and receiving CBT-12 programming for the day among themselves.

Inmates participating in the CBT-12 program have the right to request a new partner if they feel uncomfortable with their current pairing at any time. It is crucial to prioritize the comfort and well-being of each individual within the program. Maintaining confidentiality within the CBT-12 sessions is of utmost importance. Any participant who divulges confidential information about the partner to others will be immediately terminated from the program and subject to an official institutional disciplinary report. This violation will be formally documented in the inmate’s master file and forwarded directly to the parole board, signaling a severe behavioral breach that could negatively impact parole eligibility. 

 

 Provide Support for Inmates Experiencing Difficulties in Maintaining a CBT-12 Partnership

In order to accommodate socially challenged inmates that struggle with maintaining a partner for one-on-one sessions, an introductory CBT-12 program would be implemented. It is essential to include these individuals and provide them with the necessary support to eventually transition to standard one-on-one sessions.

Participants in the introductory program will be assigned to a dedicated programming block of one to two hours per day, structured around a strict “Tablet-First, Group-Second” graduation pathway. In the initial phase, socially challenged inmates utilize this daily time slot independently in their housing units or cells to complete computer-based learning modules directly on their Android tablets, mastering foundational emotional literacy and low-stakes behavioral simulations in a private, risk-free learning environment. Upon verified digital completion of the prerequisite modules and the execution of a formal confidentiality agreement, inmates then graduate to physical group sessions held during this same programming hour. These group sessions are autonomously run by a certified CBT-12 inmate graduate utilizing a structured digital guide on their device, ensuring total curriculum fidelity and daily programming uniformity without requiring additional staff facilitator hours 

Official Implementation and Curriculum Framework Resources: 

• National Institute of Corrections (t4c.nicic.gov): Provides the official Thinking for a Change (T4C) behavioral framework and the architecture for the low-stakes digital interaction modules. 
• Wiley Everything DiSC Catalyst Platform (catalyst.everythingdisc.com): Provides the interactive digital workspace for personal communication feedback and real-time behavioral compatability profiles.

To advance from the introductory track to a standard one-on-one or standard CBT course, an inmate’s progression is strictly governed by objection performance metrics. Advancement requires the verified completion of all digital Android tablet modules, a perfect compliance record with the group’s signed confidentiality agreement, and a form competency sign-off from the certified CBT-12 inmate facilitator in conjunction with final approval by the designated case manager. By utilizing clear, data-driven milestones-such as active participation metrics and demonstrated mastery of core social skills-the program ensures that only individual who have internalized the behavioral frameworks are permitted to graduate to standard CBT-12 programming. 

There would be instances of inmates who do not have a suitable match for a standard CBT-12 partner. They would have the option to attend introductory CBT-12 sessions until a suitable match can be provided.

 

Objective Psychological Testing for Timely Release

The primary goal of this program is to ensure that inmates are released in a timely manner after successfully completing rehabilitation. To evaluate the initial rollout, a pilot program will be established using a designated minimum-custody tier. The direct involvement of a licensed psychologist is strictly limited to this pilot phase to establish baseline credibility; once proven, routine psychological tracking transitions fully to secure Android tablets, eliminating the need for future psychologists.

During the pilot program, a psychologist would provide clinical oversight through two short, fifteen-minute telehealth sessions with an inmate: one initial session prior to beginning the CBT-12 curriculum, and a second session upon completion. These sessions are fully integrated with Pearson’s secure, web-based testing platform (PearsonAssessments.com). 

Utilizing Pearson Clinical Assessment for Objective Evaluations 

To ensure evaluations hold up to strict legal and clinical scrutiny, this framework leverages Pearson Clinical Assessment, the global gold standard in psychometrics. Integrating Pearson provides indisputable credibility through decades of research, giving judges and parole boards objective proof of rehabilitation. Tests are securely administered on Android tablets with encrypted, auto-scored data routed directly to secure dashboards. Furthermore, automated tracking and secure telehealth workflows eliminates the need for a full-time psychological staff, ensuring scalable efficiency across the entire facility. 

 

Pilot Phase: Clinical Workflow and Budget Breakdown

To establish baseline credibility and ensure rigorous evaluation, the initial rollout on the designated minimum-custody tier incorporates structured clinical oversight combined with digital psychometric testing. 

• Pre-Program Screening (Initial Assessment): Every participant undergoes a baseline psychological assessment on their Android tablet. The psychologist reviews the scored behavioral data via Pearson’s secure cloud network prior to a brief video intake screening, verifying that the individual is clinically cleared for program enrollment. Participants requiring higher levels of care are safely flagged for separate institutional resources. 
• Post-Program Evaluation (Final Sign-Off): Upon completing the automated CBT-12 curriculum, the participant completes a follow-up assessment. The psychologist conducts a final video evaluation to review comparative data, verify behavioral growth, and provide the official clinical sign-off required for reentry processing. 
• Initial Implementation Costs: The financial investment for the 100-inmate pilot program breaks down into psychologist time and digital platform fees. Psychologist staffing accounts for 200 total evaluation hours, reflecting an average of two hours per inmate across data review, intake screening, and final sign-off. At an average psychologist rate of $200/hour, this totals $40,000. Meanwhile, software expenses utilizing Pearson’s digital delivery platform accrue strictly per test report generated ($30 to $45 per administration), bringing total software costs for two evaluations per inmate to approximately $3,500 to $7,000, for a combined initial pilot investment of $43,500 to $47,000. 

 

Provide a Path of Recovery for Inmates that Fail Psychological Testing

If an inmate fails psychological testing, the system triggers an administrative hold and notifies the case manager. The case manager uses Pearson’s standardized dashboard to execute administrative next steps, such as routing the inmate to preparatory modules within the CBT-12 curriculum or adjusting their institutional tracking. This keeps corrective actions automated and aligned with institutional policy without requiring clinical staff intervention. 

 

Benefits of CBT-12 and Psychological Testing

 

• Assuming a 50% success rate, the Idaho Department of Corrections would save $175,000,000 annually.
• By effectively rehabilitating inmates, this program would contribute to creating a safer society, as individuals released would have undergone a comprehensive rehabilitation process.
• By successfully rehabilitating inmates, this program would contribute to a decrease in the prison population, alleviating the strain on correctional facilities.
• The incorporation of psychological testing would provide a more comprehensive and detailed evaluation of an inmate’s progress, aiding the parole board in making informed decisions regarding their readiness for release.
• Implementation of this program does not require new legislation, making it able to be swiftly integrated into the current criminal justice system.
• This program accommodates individuals of all ages, races, genders, and belief systems.
• Every inmate, regardless of their crime, would be eligible for this program.
• The combination of cognitive behavior therapy and 12-step programs is effective in addressing drug and alcohol addiction, which is prevalent among many inmates.
• This program endeavors to instill in inmates the belief that the system is designed to promote their personal growth and success, rather than merely punishing them.
• Case managers would enjoy greater job satisfaction by witnessing true positive transformation of inmates under their guidance.
• The successful completion of psychological testing could potentially offer a pathway for inmates to have life sentences reconsidered.
• Eliminates the need for parole through verified psychological competency, pending legislative approval, ensuring a complete and final discharge from the system.

 

 

Determine the Appropriate Legal Procedure for Releasing Inmates After Passing Psychological Testing

The legal path for an inmate’s early release after successfully completing the CBT-12 curriculum and passing psychological testing depends entirely on the structure of their original sentence: fixed time (determinate) or indeterminate time. 

Inmates Serving a Fixed-Time Sentence (Judicial Jurisdiction) 

When a judge imposes a fixed-term sentence, that time falls under the direct jurisdiction of the courts, and the parole board legally cannot release an inmate during this window. Because standard sentence-reduction windows like Rule 35 close shortly after a conviction, a specialized judicial mechanism is required for long-term inmates who achieve true rehabilitation: 

• Joint Petition for Sentence Modification: Utilizing verified Pearson psychological data proving complete behavioral transformation, defense counsel and the state prosecuting attorney can jointly petition the sentencing court for a modification based on extraordinary changed circumstances and documented rehabilitation. 
• Judicial Review and Resentencing: If the prosecutor stipulates to the data, the sentencing judge can formally review the objective metrics, conduct a hearing if necessary, and order a reduction of the remaining fixed term to time served, safely granting judicial release. 

Inmates Serving an Indeterminate-Time Sentence (Parole Board & Clemency Jurisdiction) 

Once an inmate has completed their fixed term and entered their indeterminate sentence, jurisdiction shifts to the Idaho Commission of Pardons and Parole. 

• Expedited Parole Hearings: Standard parole eligibility typically requires waiting for designated review periods, but successful completion of the CBT-12 program and passing computer-analyzed psychological testing via Pearson’s dashboard would serve as the primary foundational record for an expedited parole hearing. 

• Sentence Commutation: For inmates seeking release prior to reaching their standard parole eligibility window, the case manager and inmate can submit an expedited Petition for Commutation. The Parole Commission evaluates the objective psychological data, conducts a hearing, and—if approved—grants a commutation to shorten the sentence (with gubernatorial approval required only for specific major felony classifications where mandated by state law)

 

Incorporate Mentoring by Inmates that have Passed Psychological Testing

After successfully passing psychological testing, the process of filing for release may take a considerable amount of time. During this waiting period, inmates would have the opportunity to further develop their leadership and speaking skills by serving as mentors to their fellow inmates on the tier. This mentoring role not only benefits the mentees but also has a positive impact on the mentors themselves, improving their self-esteem and confidence through the act of helping others.

Mentors would have the responsibility of conducting practical social and life skill classes for their peers. These classes would cover a range of subjects, including parenting, relationships, socializing and friendship, finances, entrepreneurship, and addiction recovery, among others. The mentors would have the flexibility to choose the topics in which they feel the most experienced.

Mentoring classes would be scheduled for at least 15 minutes and take place on two days during the week. However, it is important to note that all mentoring classes would need to be approved by the case manager on the tier.

 

Incorporate Animals into our Prison System

Introducing dogs into the majority of tiers within the prison system has the potential to significantly improve the mental health and well-being of inmates. Interacting with animals is known to have therapeutic benefits, offering comfort, companionship, and a source of emotional support. Additionally, the demanding nature of the CBT-12 program may place a mental strain on inmates, making it essential to provide them with opportunities to decompress and recover.

To ensure the success of such a program, it would be important to collaborate with local animal shelters. By partnering with these shelters, animals that would otherwise be euthanized can be given a second chance at life while simultaneously benefiting the inmates.

To manage the implementation of the program, a liaison between the animal shelter and the prison would be necessary. This individual would take on responsibilities such as coordinating spaying and neutering procedures for the animals, addressing any medical issues, ensuring vaccinations are up to date, and providing necessary supplies such as toys, carriers, bowls, beds, and food.

It’s important to consider the needs of all inmates, including those who may have allergies or personal preferences that make them unable or uncomfortable to interact with animals. Therefore, some tiers within the prison could be designated as “animal-free” to accommodate these individuals.

While implementing such a program brings numerous benefits, one has to acknowledge that it poses logistical challenges. Therefore, careful planning and gradual implementation would be necessary. Immediate implementation may not be feasible due to the need for proper infrastructure, resources, and staff involvement. However, despite the logistical complexities, the long-term benefits make it a worthwhile endeavor.

 

 

If this Proposal is Implemented and Successful, the Following Initiatives Could be Considered

• Establish alternative facilities and programs to remove mentally ill individuals from prisons, providing them with better living conditions and appropriate treatment while ensuring public safety.
• Append the test results of inmates who pass psychological testing to their permanent records, allowing potential landlords and employers to consider their rehabilitative achievements during background checks. This would facilitate their housing and employment prospects.
• Gradually transition the current judicial system into a restorative model, emphasizing rehabilitation, reconciliation, and repairing harm caused by crimes. This would foster a more compassionate and effective approach to justice.

 

Thank You for your Time and Consideration in this Matter

 

 

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