ARTS IN CORRECTIONS

 The Riverside Arts Council offered programs in the California  Rehabilitation Center (CRC), California Institute for Men (CIM) and  California Institute for Women (CIW) in Region 14: San  Bernardino/Riverside. Our programs included theatre arts and creative writing. Within the framework of the theatre program was an underlying therapeutic value that involved reactions, expressions, vocal inflection and physical posture. Participants in both theatre and creative writing were taught self-expression and organization of thoughts, as well as methods of presentation. They broke down text, looking between the lines for clues as to thought processes and reactions while studying emotional and physical responses. Our goals were based around reducing the rate of recidivism. Participants learned to become more tolerant of others, as many do not mix outside of their race. They learned how to respond to constructive criticism, as well as how to provide it. This program was a partnership between RAC and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.