News

Released: May 25, 2012 - Friday, 02:16 PM

Alternatives to Violence Project Workshop at the County Jail

Contact: Commander Aaron NixPhone: (805) 781-1423Date and time of incident: 05/31/12, 0800-1600 hours, and 06/02/12, 0800-1200 hoursPlace of Occurrence: San Luis Obispo County Jail Honor FarmVictim Information: N/ASuspect Information: N/AThe San Luis Obispo County Jail, working in collaboration with Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) will be holding its third workshop for the inmates at the Honor Farm. AVP is a multicultural, non-profit organization that offers workshops that empower individuals to lead peaceful lives through affirmation, respect for all, community building, cooperation, and trust. The program helps inmates learn new skills and attitudes that lead to more fulfilling and crime-free lives. These workshops help inmates reduce the level of unresolved conflicts in their lives and lives of those around them.

Although AVP is a statewide program offered in prisons and the community, San Luis Obispo County Jail is only the second County Jail in the state to offer this program to the inmates. Teams of community volunteers trained in AVP offer workshops to inmates over the course of three days. A significant part of an AVP workshop is the development of a community within the jail that will prevent individual violence by supporting one another as they face daily challenges. Inmates learn creative ways of resolving conflict and explore methods of communication.

Research on AVP workshops has shown a 60% reduction in write-ups among prisoners who have taken a basic workshop and a 50% reduction in recidivism three years after release.

San Luis Obispo County Jail is in the process of implementing a more complete response to the problem of repeat offenders and making violence prevention and other programs a priority.

Please contact Commander Aaron Nix with any questions regarding this program.