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June 1, 2007

Ms. Joy Westrum
President Second Chance Program
3167 San Mateo NE #304
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110

Re: recent graduates

Dear Joy:

I have a few comments about the Second Chance Program that I want to share with you and your staff. As we begin to receive your recent graduates, the consensus seems to be that these are different people. Different in a good way; articulate, respectful and self confident. They are talking about goals and their future and they are wanting to help others out of the substance abuse cloud.

It would seem that the secular nature of the program has put to rest any negative reservations about the program. My personal observation is that the program doesn’t leave much time for anything else but working on themselves.

As you know, most individuals who find themselves incarcerated report that daily fights are necessary to maintain their position in the jail. As a result, everyone is always on edge, including guards, staff and inmates. In sharp contrast, all the Second Chance students I spoke with report that while they arrived at the facility in a heightened state of anxiety and defensiveness, they almost immediately defused that state of mind when welcomed into the therapeutic community. The locks, gates and barded wire aren’t keeping them in the facility; the supportive, respectful environment (and the good food) is keeping their attention and prompting their participation.

I am extremely impressed with the sauna treatment component of the program. The careful screening and constant monitoring insures that the maximum benefit can be achieved by all participants. Testimonials from several of the students who have benefited from the sauna detoxification tell me that it eliminated the craving which monopolized their every waking moment. I always thought that this could occur only after intensive treatment and sobriety for at least two years! The meth addict of 15 years who reported no longer having the metallic taste in his mouth, or the craving, after 30 days of sauna treatment, cannot be ignored.

As a final note, I was amazed by the progress the students made in the education, self-respect and life skills modules. The pride of accomplishment reminded me of the pride I realized in elementary school when I first learned how to read. It’s too bad that these individuals had to wait for this point in their lives to realize the power of the written word and the satisfaction of being able to effectively communicate feelings and thoughts with others. Most of the students I spoke with said they mainly read comic books but now “I can read anything I want” seems to be the lesson of the day. I never knew that discovering a dictionary could have such a dramatic impact on learning.

Please continue the good work and let me know if I can be of any assistance.


Very truly,

Joseph M. Ulibarri
Chief Deputy District Attorney

Eligibility

The SCC receives its residents from judicial referrals. The facility is a secure, long-term substance abuse rehabilitation program for persons who are either incarcerated or facing incarceration. Eligibility criteria are as follows:

If a person meets the above criteria, an application should be submitted to the SCC. An interview may follow.

Programming

The SCC program is a long-term, social rehabilitation model delivered in a secure, therapeutic enviroment designed to focus the offender on rehabilitation. The program utilizes a cognitive-behavioral therapy approach, emphasizing positive change through the development of pro-social attitudes such as: