Arts in Corrections Returns to California Prisons

by Deborah Tobola

Arts in Corrections has been reinstated in 17 California prisons, after the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation allocated $1 million to restore the program. This is good news for prisoners, prison administrators, and taxpayers. Arts in Corrections costs a fraction of what most prison programs cost and has a proven track record of reducing prison incidents and lowering the recidivism rate.

Arts in Corrections began as the Prison Arts Project, created by Eloise Smith of the William James Association, based in Santa Cruz. The pilot project began in Vacaville in 1977, with funding from the San Francisco Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the California Arts Council and the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration.

The success of the pilot project led to the creation of Arts in Corrections within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Artist-facilitators in every prison in California administered the program, as well as teaching in their own disciplines. They oversaw contract artists of various disciplines who taught classes in their institutions.

Arts in Corrections was one of the most successful programs in the history of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. In a 1983 cost benefit study, Professor Larry Brewster, currently on the faculty of the University of San Francisco, demonstrated that participants in the Arts in Corrections program showed a 75% reduction in disciplinary write-ups within six months of joining the program.

In 2003, due to budget cuts, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation terminated all contract artists in prisons. Artist-facilitators maintained the Arts in Corrections programs by teaching in their own disciplines, engaging inmate artists as teaching assistants, and recruiting volunteers. In 2010, after 26 years of success and global recognition, Arts in Corrections was eliminated from California prisons.

Now it is back, thanks in part to Dr. Brewster, who recently conducted a follow-up study of inmates who participated in Arts in Corrections. In his study, he writes, "Why is the creative process so essential to human development? One theory is that there is a strong linkage between arts education and development of the right brain, which in turn leads to higher order thinking skills and greater emotional self-regulation.

"Further, there is compelling evidence that a well-developed right brain correlates with focused attention, creativity, intellectual flexibility, patience, self-discipline and the ability to work with others—essential elements for life-long learning and success in a highly competitive job market."

Isn’t that what we want for every prisoner? Isn’t that what we want for everyone?

Ronnie's Yard

Poetic Justice Project returns to the Central Coast with IN THE KITCHEN WITH A KNIFE

An interactive murder mystery by Deborah Tobola and Dylan O’Harra, directed by Leslie Carson. The cast features many veteran Poetic Justice Project actors. Audience talkbacks follow each performance. Shows on Friday, June 13 at 7 p.m. at The Grange Hall in San Luis Obispo; Saturday, June 14 at 7 p.m. at Unity Chapel of Light in Santa Maria, and Sunday, June 15 at 3 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church in Santa Barbara.