Dan Pacholke: How prisons can help inmates live meaningful lives

譯者: Marssi Draw 審譯者: Adrienne Lin

We're seen as the organization that is the bucket for failed social policy.

我們單位被看做是幫 失敗社會政策收拾爛攤子的地方。

I can't define who comes to us or how long they stay.

我無法定義來找我們的 會是什麼人，或他們會待多久。

We get the people for whom nothing else has worked,

我們收的是大家都無能為力的人，

people who have fallen through all

那些人全逃過了

of the other social safety nets.

其它的社會安全網絡。

They can't contain them, so we must.

這些網絡無法容納他們， 所以我們非收不可。

That's our job:

我們的工作是：

contain them, control them.

收容他們、管控他們。

Over the years, as a prison system,

經過幾年，做為監獄、

as a nation, and as a society,

國家和社會的代表，

we've become very good at that,

我們變得非常擅長那件事，

but that shouldn't make you happy.

但不能因而沾沾自喜。

Today we incarcerate more people per capita

今天我國監禁的人口比例

than any other country in the world.

位居世界之冠。

We have more black men in prison today

今天我們在監獄裡的黑人

than were under slavery in 1850.

比 1850 年的奴隸還多。

We house the parents of almost three million

我們收了將近三百萬名

of our community's children,

社群裡的孩童家長，

and we've become the new asylum,

成了新型的避難所，

the largest mental health provider in this nation.

國內最大的心理健康服務中心。

When we lock someone up,

如果我們監禁某人，

that is no small thing.

那可不是件小事。

And yet, we are called the Department of Corrections.

而且我們還被稱為矯正署。

Today I want to talk about

今天我想談談

changing the way we think about corrections.

改變我們對矯正的想法。

I believe, and my experience tells me,

我相信就像我的經驗一樣，

that when we change the way we think,

只要我們改變想法

we create new possibilities, or futures,

就能開創機會或未來，

and prisons need a different future.

而監獄需要不同的未來。

I've spent my entire career in corrections, over 30 years.

我的職業生涯都在做矯正， 超過三十年了，

I followed my dad into this field.

追隨父親到這個領域。

He was a Vietnam veteran. Corrections suited him.

他是越戰老兵，矯正教育很適合他。

He was strong, steady, disciplined.

他強壯、穩重、自律。

I was not so much any of those things,

我可完全不是那樣，

and I'm sure that worried him about me.

我相信他之前很擔心這點。

Eventually I decided, if I was going to end up in prison,

最後我決定如果打算在監獄做一輩子，

I'd better end up on the right side of the bars,

我最好奉公守法，

so I thought I'd check it out,

所以我想先去確定一下，

take a tour of the place my dad worked,

參觀我爸工作的地方：

the McNeil Island Penitentiary.

邁克尼爾島監獄。

Now this was the early '80s,

當時是八○年代早期，

and prisons weren't quite what you see

監獄和你在電視、電影上 看到的不太一樣。

on TV or in the movies.

In many ways, it was worse.

很多方面都比現在糟。

I walked into a cell house that was five tiers high.

我走進一棟牢房，大概五層樓高。

There were eight men to a cell.

八個人住一間，

there were 550 men in that living unit.

總共有 550 個人住在那裡。

And just in case you wondered,

怕你不知道，我先告訴你，

they shared one toilet in those small confines.

他們在那些小空間裡共用一間廁所。

An officer put a key in a lockbox,

一位警官把鑰匙放在上鎖的盒子裡，

and hundreds of men streamed out of their cells.

上百人湧出他們的牢房。

Hundreds of men streamed out of their cells.

上百人湧出他們的牢房。

I walked away as fast as I could.

我拔腿就跑。

Eventually I went back and I started as an officer there.

後來我回去那裡當警官。

My job was to run one of those cell blocks

我的工作是管理其中一區的牢房，

and to control those hundreds of men.

管控上百個男人。

When I went to work at our receptions center,

我在接待處工作的時候

I could actually hear the inmates roiling from the parking lot,

還能聽見停車場傳來 囚犯焦躁的聲音，

shaking cell doors, yelling,

他們搖房門、嘶吼、

tearing up their cells.

破壞自己的牢房。

Take hundreds of volatile people and lock them up,

抓幾百個不定時炸彈， 再把他們關起來，

and what you get is chaos.

結果就是一團混亂。

Contain and control — that was our job.

收容和管控，就是我們的工作。

One way we learned to do this more effectively

我們發現有種更有效率的方法，

was a new type of housing unit

是一種新型牢房，

called the Intensive Management Unit, IMU,

稱為「密集管理牢房」， IMU（Intensive Management Unit），

a modern version of a "hole."

現代版的「地牢」。

We put inmates in cells behind solid steel doors

我們把囚犯放在堅固的鋼鐵門後，

with cuff ports so we could restrain them

附有手銬可穿過的小窗，

這樣我們能管束他們，也能提供食物。

and feed them.

Guess what?

你猜成效如何？

It got quieter.

變安靜多了。

Disturbances died down in the general population.

大家騷動的情況消失了。

Places became safer

空間變得更安全，

because those inmates who were most violent or disruptive

因為那些最暴力、擾亂的受刑人

could now be isolated.

現在都被隔離了。

But isolation isn't good.

但隔離並非好事。

Deprive people of social contact and they deteriorate.

剝奪他們的社交，他們就會惡化。

It was hard getting them out of IMU,

要讓他們離開「密集管理牢房」很難，

for them and for us.

對他們和我們來說都是。

Even in prison, it's no small thing

即使是在監獄裡，

把人關起來都不是小事。

to lock someone up.

My next assignment was to one of the state's deep-end prisons

我的下一個任務是在 州內的重犯監獄，

where some of our more violent or disruptive inmates are housed.

較暴力或較會擾亂的受刑人 都關在這裡。

By then, the industry had advanced a lot,

那個時候這一行進步多了，

and we had different tools and techniques

我們有不同的工具和技術

to manage disruptive behavior.

用來管理這些擾亂行為。

We had beanbag guns and pepper spray

我們有豆袋槍、防狼噴霧劑、

and plexiglass shields,

塑膠玻璃防護罩、

flash bangs, emergency response teams.

閃爆彈和緊急應變小組。

We met violence with force

我們以暴制暴，

and chaos with chaos.

以亂治亂。

We were pretty good at putting out fires.

我們還蠻擅長滅火的。

While I was there, I met two experienced correctional workers

我到那的時候碰到兩位 經驗豐富的監獄員工，

who were also researchers,

他們也是研究員，

an anthropologist and a sociologist.

一位是人類學者，另一位是社會學者。

One day, one of them commented to me and said,

某天其中一位對我說：

"You know, you're pretty good at putting out fires.

「你知道，你還蠻擅長滅火的，

Have you ever thought about how to prevent them?"

可是你想過要怎麼預防嗎？」

I was patient with them,

我耐心向他們解釋

explaining our brute force approach

我們這樣的粗暴手段

to making prisons safer.

能讓監獄安全一點。

They were patient with me.

他們對我也很有耐心。

Out of those conversations grew some new ideas

那些對話讓我們有了些新點子，

and we started some small experiments.

之後我們就開始做小實驗。

First, we started training our officers in teams

首先，我們開始分組訓練警員，

rather than sending them one or two at a time to the state training academy.

而不是每次只送一兩個去州立訓練所。

Instead of four weeks of training, we gave them 10.

我們不再只做四週訓練，改為十週。

Then we experimented with an apprenticeship model

接著我們用師徒制做實驗，

where we paired new staff with veteran staff.

讓新手員工和老員工搭檔。

They both got better at the work.

他們的工作情況都進步了。

Second, we added verbal de-escalation skills

第二，我們把言語降溫技巧

into the training continuum

加到訓練系統課程中，

and made it part of the use of force continuum.

成為操作連續強制力的一部分，

It was the non-force use of force.

那是武力手段中的非武力手段。

And then we did something even more radical.

接著我們採取更根本的方式，

We trained the inmates on those same skills.

訓練受刑人同樣的技巧。

We changed the skill set,

我們將這套技巧改為

reducing violence, not just responding to it.

減少暴力，而非只是處理暴力。

Third, when we expanded our facility, we tried a new type of design.

第三，當我們增建設施的時候， 嘗試用新型設計。

Now the biggest and most controversial component

當時設計上最大和最有爭議的設備

of this design, of course, was the toilet.

當然是廁所。

There were no toilets.

那裡沒有廁所。

Now that might not sound significant to you here today,

現在你聽來可能覺得沒什麼，

but at the time, it was huge.

但在當時可是件大事。

No one had ever heard of a cell without a toilet.

沒人聽過牢房沒廁所，

We all thought it was dangerous and crazy.

我們都認為那很危險也很瘋狂。

Even eight men to a cell had a toilet.

即使是八個人共用一間廁所。

That small detail changed the way we worked.

那個小細節改變了我們工作的方式。

Inmates and staff started interacting

受刑人和員工互動變得更頻繁、開放，

more often and openly and developing a rapport.

而且相處融洽。

It was easier to detect conflict and intervene

如此一來察覺衝突和干擾更容易了，

before it escalated.

不必等到情況惡化才行。

The unit was cleaner, quieter, safer and more humane.

牢房變得更整潔、安靜、 安全，也更人性化了。

This was more effective at keeping the peace

這麼做能更有效率地維持和平，

than any intimidation technique I'd seen to that point.

更勝於要達到那種程度的任何威嚇手段。

Interacting changes the way you behave,

互動能改變你的行為，

both for the officer and the inmate.

不論是官員或受刑人都是。

We changed the environment and we changed the behavior.

我們改變環境的同時也改變行為。

Now, just in case I hadn't learned this lesson,

他們怕我還沒學到這一課，

they assigned me to headquarters next,

接下來我被派去總部，

and that's where I ran straight up against system change.

我就是在那直接反對系統改變。

Now, many things work against system change:

很多事運作起來都和系統改變相左：

politics and politicians, bills and laws,

政治和政客、經費和法令、

courts and lawsuits, internal politics.

法庭和訴訟，還有內部政治。

System change is difficult and slow,

系統改變又難又慢，

and oftentimes it doesn't take you

也往往無法讓你達成目標。

where you want to go.

It's no small thing to change a prison system.

改變監獄可不是小事。

So what I did do is I reflected on my earlier experiences

我當時回想自己的早期研究，

and I remembered that when we interacted with offenders, the heat went down.

我記得和違規者互動時， 高漲的情緒降溫了。

When we changed the environment, the behavior changed.

我們改變環境的同時也改變了行為。

And these were not huge system changes.

這些不是大幅的系統改革。

These were small changes, and these changes

這些只是小小的改變，

created new possibilities.

而這些改變開創了新的機會。

So next, I got reassigned as superintendent of a small prison.

後來我又被派去一間小監獄當警長，

And at the same time, I was working on my degree

同時我也在修常綠州立學院的學位。

at the Evergreen State College.

I interacted with a lot of people who were not like me,

我和很多跟我不同的人來往，

people who had different ideas

他們有不同的想法，

and came from different backgrounds.

也都來自不同的背景。

One of them was a rainforest ecologist.

其中一位是雨林生態學者。

She looked at my small prison and what she saw

她看了我的小監獄，

在她眼裡那是小型實驗室。

was a laboratory.

We talked and discovered how prisons and inmates

我們討論、深究監獄和受刑人

could actually help advance science

如何能真的幫助先進科學，

by helping them complete projects

透過幫助他們完成

they couldn't complete on their own,

無法獨立完成的計畫，

like repopulating endangered species:

就像復育瀕危物種：

frogs, butterflies, endangered prairie plants.

青蛙、蝴蝶、瀕危大草原植物。

At the same time, we found ways to make

同時我們也發現

our operation more efficient

讓運作更有效率的方法，

through the addition of solar power,

像是透過增加太陽能、

rainwater catchment, organic gardening, recycling.

雨水收集、有機花園、回收。

This initiative has led to many projects

這個計畫讓我們展開

許多造成全體大幅影響的方案，

that have had huge system-wide impact,

not just in our system, but in other state systems as well,

不只我們的系統，其它州也是，

small experiments making a big difference

小實驗帶來大改變，

to science, to the community.

對科學和社群都是。

The way we think about our work changes our work.

我們思考工作的方式 會改變我們的工作。

The project just made my job more interesting and exciting.

計畫讓我的工作變得 更有趣，也更刺激了。

I was excited. Staff were excited.

我很興奮，員工也很興奮，

Officers were excited. Inmates were excited.

警員很興奮，受刑人也很興奮。

They were inspired.

他們都受到鼓舞，

Everybody wanted to be part of this.

每個人都想摻一腳。

They were making a contribution, a difference,

他們都做出貢獻、改變，

one they thought was meaningful and important.

且都認為這些付出有意義也很重要。

Let me be clear on what's going on here, though.

讓我再強調一次發生了什麼事。

Inmates are highly adaptive.

受刑人都高度適應，

They have to be.

他們必須適應。

Oftentimes, they know more about our own systems

通常他們比較了解我們的系統

than the people who run them.

而非操作系統的人。

And they're here for a reason.

他們來到這裡都有原因。

I don't see my job as to punish them or forgive them,

我不把自己的工作看成 是要處罰或原諒他們，

but I do think they can have

但我的確認為他們能有

decent and meaningful lives even in prison.

不錯且有意義的生活， 即使是在監獄。

So that was the question:

這就是問題所在：

Could inmates live decent and meaningful lives,

受刑人可以過不錯且有意義的生活嗎？

and if so, what difference would that make?

如果是的話，那會帶來什麼改變？

So I took that question back to the deep end,

我把這個問題帶回重犯監獄，

where some of our most violent offenders are housed.

有些非常暴力的受刑人被監禁在那邊。

Remember, IMUs are for punishment.

記住，密集管理牢房的功能是處罰。

You don't get perks there, like programming.

你不會得到額外的好處， 例如受刑人計畫。

That was how we thought.

那是我們原本的想法。

But then we started to realize that if any inmates

但後來我們開始了解

needed programming, it was these particular inmates.

如果有受刑人需要計畫， 就會是這些特別的受刑人。

In fact, they needed intensive programming.

其實他們需要密集的計畫。

So we changed our thinking 180 degrees,

所以我們的想法有一百八十度的轉變，

and we started looking for new possibilities.

我們開始尋找新的機會。

What we found was a new kind of chair.

我們發現的是一種新型的椅子。

Instead of using the chair for punishment,

與其用椅子來做處罰，

we put it in classrooms.

我們把椅子放進教室裡。

Okay, we didn't forget our responsibility to control,

我可沒忘了要管控的責任，

but now inmates could interact safely, face-to-face

但現在受刑人可以安全地互動，

with other inmates and staff,

和其他受刑人和員工面對面互動，

and because control was no longer an issue,

因為管控不再是個問題，

everybody could focus on other things,

每個人都可以專注在其它事情上，

like learning. Behavior changed.

像是學習。

行為改變了。

We changed our thinking, and we changed what was possible, and this gives me hope.

我們改變想法，改變原本可能的樣子，

而這帶給我希望。

Now, I can't tell you that any of this stuff will work.

我不能告訴你這些事是怎麼運作的，

What I can tell you, though, it is working.

但我可以告訴你，結果很成功。

Our prisons are getting safer for both staff and inmates,

我們的受刑人對員工 和其他受刑人來說都更安全了。

and when our prisons are safe,

只要我們的監獄很安全，

we can put our energies into a lot more than just controlling.

我們就能把精力放在 其它很多比管控更重要的事。

Reducing recidivism may be our ultimate goal,

減少再犯率是我們的終極目標，

but it's not our only goal.

但那不是我們唯一目標。

To be honest with you, preventing crime

老實告訴你，預防犯罪

takes so much more from so many more people

要耗費很多人力和機構的大量資源。

and institutions.

If we rely on just prisons to reduce crime,

如果我們只依賴監獄減少犯罪，

I'm afraid we'll never get there.

恐怕永遠都無法達成。

But prisons can do some things

但是監獄可以做一些

we never thought they could do.

我們從沒想到他們能做的事。

Prisons can be the source of innovation

監獄可以成為改革和永續的源頭，

and sustainability,

repopulating endangered species and environmental restoration.

復育瀕危物種和環境重建。

Inmates can be scientists and beekeepers,

受刑人可以是科學家、養蜂人，

dog rescuers.

也可以救援小狗。

Prisons can be the source of meaningful work

監獄可以是有意義工作的來源、

and opportunity for staff

以及員工與當地受刑人的機會。

and the inmates who live there.

We can contain and control

我們可以收容、管控，

and provide humane environments.

且提供人性的環境，

These are not opposing qualities.

這些價值並不相左。

We can't wait 10 to 20 years to find out

我們不能等十年、二十年去找出答案，

if this is worth doing.

看到底值不值得做。

Our strategy is not massive system change.

我們的策略並非大體制的改變，

Our strategy is hundreds of small changes

我們的策略是上百個小改變，

that take place in days or months, not years.

需要花幾天、幾個月去做， 但不需要好幾年。

We need more small pilots where we learn as we go,

我們學習的一路上 需要許多小領航員，

pilots that change the range of possibility.

那些能改變我們潛能的領航員。

We need new and better ways to measure impacts

我們需要又新又好的方法

on engagement, on interaction,

來衡量約定、互動

on safe environments.

與安全環境的影響。

We need more opportunities to participate in

我們需要更多機會

參與和貢獻我們的社群，

and contribute to our communities,

your communities.

以及你們的社群。

Prisons need to be secure, yes, safe, yes.

監獄必須安全無虞，

We can do that.

我們做得到。

Prisons need to provide humane environments

監獄必須提供人性化的環境，

where people can participate, contribute,

讓大家能參與其中、有所貢獻，

and learn meaningful lives.

並學習有意義的生活。

We're learning how to do that.

我們正在學要怎麼做到。

That's why I'm hopeful.

這是我充滿希望的原因。

We don't have to stay stuck in old ideas about prison.

我們不需要困在監獄的舊思維裡。

We can define that. We can create that.

我們可以定義、創造它。

And when we do that thoughtfully and with humanity,

當我們深思熟慮、帶著同情心去做，

prisons can be more than the bucket

監獄也可以不只是

失敗社會政策的回收桶。

for failed social policy.

Maybe finally, we will earn our title:

也許最終我們能實至名歸，

a department of corrections.

成為真正的矯正機關。

Thank you.

謝謝！

(Applause)

（掌聲）