ST. LOUIS (KMOX) -Prison reform is underway to help reform prisoners in the state of Missouri.
It's important to note that the United States has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world. Eventually, almost everyone of those people in jail or prison will be out of jail or prison. But how many will re-offend and what can we do to make sure they don't?
Dr. Kelli Canada, an Associate Professor at the University of Missouri and a licensed clinical social worker, has been working with the Missouri Department of Corrections to make some major changes at four state prisons, with the focus on helping those people do better on the outside so they don't return to prison.
"Most people who are incarcerated will be out at some point and they're our neighbors, our loved ones, our friends, our family members," said Canada. "So the more we can do to help people be successful while they are incarcerated to help them build some of the skills that they need to be successful in the community, the better we all are."
Some of the changes Canada has helped work to bring includes changing the physical spaces, working on staff training, building residents personal skills and community connections.
"We are transforming the housing conditions, where people are going to be living," said Canada. "We're also changing the way staff work with the residents and try to have a more problem solving focus so they have more tools to use to be able to help people while they are in custody."
Canada says the changes can help prisoners learn autonomy, which will lead to better succeed outside of prison.
"The lack of autonomy and not being able to have make your own choices, to feeling pride in the things they do day-to-day," said Canada. "Prisons are just loud typically and having people around you all the time. I can we can all appreciate the need sometime for privacy."