INTRODUCING THE GOOD CITIZENSHIP MODEL

Our model attempts to raise the bar for corrections by measuring success rather than failure, and it intends to answer two crucial questions:

Is this person equipped with the needed values and character to be good citizens and flourish in life?

Is the prison culture one that fosters and reinforces the foundations of good citizenship?

To answer these questions, we identified prosocial values that tend to be associated with human flourishing and a natural reduction in criminal thinking and behavior. We believe that adoption of these six core values facilitate fundamental and sustainable changes in thinking and behaving for people in prison. We also believe that a successful prison culture will not only promote, model, and cultivate good citizenship among incarcerated people but also develop and sustain healthier and more resilient correctional workforces. The values we focus on are community, affirmation, productivity, responsibility, restoration, and integrity.

To capture these concepts, we are developing new psychometrically sound assessment instruments that can measure good citizenship and prison culture.

The Good Citizenship Inventory (GCI) measures the extent to which an individual embraces and manifests the Values of Good Citizenship™. The results of the GCI will provide a roadmap to assist the individual in their journey towards good citizenship and, ultimately, human flourishing.

The Prison Culture Assessment (PCA) measures the prison environment from the perspective of both staff and people in prison. The results of the PCA provide prison leaders with a snapshot of where their facility's culture is healthy, functional, and conducive to the development of good citizenship as well as where it  could be improved.