Del. DOC starting cognitive behavioral therapy for inmates

DELAWARE – Starting this spring, Delaware’s Department of Corrections is providing cognitive behavioral therapy to inmates in it’s state prisons.

“I think that any type of help for corrections is going to be fully welcomed,” says Rep. Steve Smyk.

Delaware’s DOC  is taking steps to provide more resources for inmates to address mental health.

Rep. Smyk adds, “There are plenty of opportunities for inmates to have behavior modification, rehabilitation programs that currently exist. That doesn’t always fit everyone, there’s not just one size fits all for every individual for their issues.”

The Delaware DOC has partnered with Gateway Foundation Inc. to provide cognitive behavioral therapy for inmates in state Level four and five prisons.

COAD President Geoff Klopp says, “The mental health stuff is a huge step in the right direction because you know it allows everybody to be in better positions and hopefully we can position these inmates so that they can get out of prison and not come back that’s the ultimate goal.”

DOC Spokeswoman Jayme Gravell tells 47 ABC that these added resources are in response to Governor John Carney’s independent review following the the James T. Vaughn riot in 2017.

And while everyone seems to be on board, Smyk tells 47 ABC he’s concerned about staffing issues and the affect it could have on any of the DOC’s plans.

“We still don’t have enough corrections officers for the current programs that already exist inside all of their facilities so staffing has to be in a healthy position to support any type of new curriculum that you are going to add.”

In an effort to better understand why the DOC is starting cognitive behavioral therapy in its prisons, the DOC tells 47 ABC that CBT is widely recognized as one of the most effective correctional treatment interventions.

And that’s not only for managing inmate behavior during incarceration, but also for shaping good behavior once they are released back into society.