Former Arizona parole officer launches crowdfunding campaign to bring crime-specific ‘thinking for change’ education to Colorado via mail, online and in-person classes

The angry inmate stepped into my space on the open yard and let me and a whole bunch of inmates nearby know in the foulest of terms that he had no intention of attending my class that evening. He shook the “chrono” (slip of paper directing him to attend “Thinking for Change” class with C.O. III Fewel) in my face as he attempted to get me to back down and excuse him.

Instead, I asked him why.

“Because I took this (choice adjectives for unpleasant) course three times already and it’s (noun for excrement)!”

Self-intervention works

Unlike controversial family/friend interventions wherein someone with a problem is confronted by a group of well-meaning loved ones, cognitive “self-intervention” may be undertaken individually or in groups. I believe it is successful because it focuses laser-like on everybody’s favorite subject: themselves. Via my new Colorado company, Stay Free Forever, a variety of crime-specific thinking for change courses are now available in the state for individuals either directed by the courts or seeking to improve their own lives.

Focused, non-judgmental language

The behavioral-science-based courses use focused, non-judgmental language in exercises designed to build confidence while revealing the connection between faulty thinking and behavior that is illegal, dangerous and/or self-defeating. In a study concluded in 2015, of 2,859 Arizona Deptartment of Corrections parolees taking ACCI courses, 70 percent completed their assigned course(s), with only 10 percent returning to incarceration.

Cost-effective, least-intrusive

Stay Free Forever offers the most cost-effective, least-intrusive way in Colorado to help justice-involved individuals overcome self-defeating thoughts and behaviors. At no charge to the state, counties or courts, the 17 adult courses and five juvenile programs are paid for either by the individual or his or her family. Each 10-15-hour course costs $85 for adults and $75 for juveniles, with payment plans accepted. After launching the 30-day CommunityFunded.com campaign Dec. 13, Stay Free Forever has raised $1,165 (23 percent) toward its $5,000 goal. I seek broad, statewide support toward this goal, and am offering special incentives such as scholarships and custom limericks to keep it interesting.

Limitless alternatives to crime

Before such cost-effective solutions were available, courts had mostly counseling or larger-city classes to offer as diversion programs. While beneficial, these can present cost and distance challenges for rural people. I plan to expand to live classes across the state, with the long-term goal of taking the personal responsibility movement nationwide. While the federal and state governments work at the top to decrease prison populations by reclassifying certain nonviolent offenses, convicted individuals can do their part from the bottom up by choosing to expand their thinking to include the limitless alternatives that exist to committing more crimes.

My own mentor, Trevor Lloyd, president of the 41-year-old offender education company founded by his father, had these kind words to say in a press release announcing the campaign: “ACCI and Colorado are fortunate to have a former parole officer with Clifford’s experience, passion and commitment. His experience teaching cognitive restructuring classes in prison, and his ability to relate to ex-offenders non-judgmentally, is a formula for reduced recidivism and safer communities in Colorado and beyond.”

To learn more about Stay Free Forever’s courses, please see ( www.stayfreeforever.com ), and to support this initiative, visit https://campaigns.communityfunded.com/projects/stayfreeforever/safer-colorado-via-enlightened-offenders/

Prison is expensive. Personal responsibility is free, and never too late to be instilled.

* Sources: Christian Henrichson and Ruth Delaney, The Price of Prisons: What Incarceration Costs Taxpayers. Vera Institute of Justice, 2012; Colorado Office of Research and Statistics, Division of Criminal Justice, Department of Public Safety, 2016