There are several policies that already exist that are relevant to a prison garden program. Although these policies don’t specifically address prison garden programs, we can build on the existing policy to be more relevant to garden programs.
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The Federal Bureau Of Prison, an agency of the U.S. Department of Justice, has issued several policies regarding prison-based production and services, as well as correlated policies about inmate employment, pricing procedure, design control, development, quality and revenue recognition. The Federal Prison Industries are regulated by federal laws and policies. Although there are no specific policies directly addressing prison gardening programs, we can build on the policies on prison production that already exist, and propose related policies to government and legislation.
The initial funding for prison gardens could come from governments or organizations that are willing to sponsor gardens. If the prisoners produce good agricultural products to supply their prison kitchen or outside organizations in need of fresh produce, and if the gardens help inmates develop skills, integrate into communities, and prevent recidivism, we can propose a policy that encourages more prisons to implement such prison gardening programs.
- In 2011, the Insight Garden Program (IGP), which provides vocational gardening and life skills to prisoners at San Quentin prison in California, conducted a recidivism study of 117 men who had paroled between 2003-2009, and found out that less than 10% returned to incarceration within a 3-year timeframe, compared to California’s 70% recidivism rate. Many other prison gardening and farming programs have found that these type of programs could significantly help prevent recidivism of ex-prisoners. The recidivism rate of Pennsylvania during 2000 to 2008 was 63% within the first three years of release, which leads to budgetary challenges and overcrowding of prisons. Although there are no special policies on recidivism prevention implemented today, the multiply reentry programs and skills development programs being adopted have demonstrated their effectiveness, and policies could be introduced to enhance the application of such programs. Potential policies could involve the regulation of such programs, government incentives or tax credits towards organizations that implement rehabilitative and skills development programs, and the community support of such programs.
- One of the most serious problems that prisoners face is the difficulty of finding a job post-release both due to their criminal history and the lack of necessary skills. Although federal and state governments provide ex-convicts equal rights regarding employment in the free market (except for some prohibitive occupations and industries) actual job placement for prisoners is fairly poor. Studies show that unemployed ex-offenders are three times more likely to recidivate than employed offenders. In 2012 the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued an Enforcement Guidance on the Consideration of Arrest and Conviction Records in Employment Decision that help lower the barriers that prevent ex-offenders from getting jobs; the U.S. Department of Labor sponsored several programs to help ex-offenders post release; the Department of Labor also has the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), a federal tax credit offered to employers who hire ex-offenders; Philadelphia Mayor’s Office has a Reintegration Services for Ex-offenders (RISE) program that utilizes direct service and partnerships with other agencies to successfully reintegrate the formerly incarcerated back into their communities. A prison gardening program would provide prisoners with agricultural and other skills, which could later be advantages that help ex-offenders find employment. The policies and government programs are already in place to support prisoners’ reentry into society. What this garden program would do is help prepare those prisoners to develop the skills they need post-release.
Design and Policy 