The following article was written by an inmate at Branchville Correctional Facility and appeared in the Prison News

IMPRISONED MEN PARTNER
WITH LOCAL
CRISIS CONNECTION

The Crisis Connection is a non-for-profit, victim assistance program which aids in the recovery process of sexual and domestic abuse survivors.  This organization serves five counties in southern Indiana:  Crawford, Dubois, Orange, Perry, and Spencer.  Their headquarters is located in Jasper, with offices in Tell City and Rockport.  Founded in 1984, the staff is comprised of seven full-time workers and approximately fifty volunteers.  It provides transitional housing and transportation for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Approximately one thousand victims of abuse utilized Crisis Connection for assistance during 2006.  In this same year, their 24-hour Hotline (1-800-245-4580) had thousands of calls.  In addition, their website (www.crisisconnectioninc.org) has over one million hits annually.  However, it is the Crisis Connection’s work behind prison fences that is currently attracting attention.

Recently the Crisis Connection, in partnership with the PLUS (Purposeful Living Units Serve) Program at Branchville Correctional Facility, held a seminar in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness month.  This educational seminar was facilitated by the community educator for Crisis Connection, Joan Knies.  Ms. Knies spoke to an audience of over 100 men who comprise the PLUS unit and shared domestic abuse information that has been collected during years of research.

In preparation for the two-hour seminar which was held on Thursday evening, October 25th, PLUS participants created thirty-two pieces of art ranging from colored pencil drawings on white linen handkerchiefs to painted canvases.  The artwork’s theme centered on aspects of domestic abuse and was donated to the Crisis Connection to use as they deem appropriate.

This unique relationship between the Crisis Connection and Branchville Correctional Facility began earlier this year when the PLUS unit created art in recognition of Sexual Violence Awareness month.  Previously, all artwork possessed by the Crisis Connection was created by survivors of sexual or domestic abuse and was therefore primarily created by women.  This relationship is rare in that it has allowed men to express their viewpoint on this volatile subject through their artwork.  This male perspective has been lacking in the fight against sexual and domestic violence, where usually only women speak out against this atrocity.  It is imperative that more men speak out against this abuse because by far the majority of abuse perpetrators are male.  It is, therefore, not just a female issue, or a male issue, but a humanitarian issue.

During the seminar, Ms. Knies stated that when people in society discover what the men in the PLUS program do for the Crisis Connection, they are truly impressed by their collaboration.  Who would have thought that imprisoned men would take a stand against domestic violence when it is more often than not males who commit acts of domestic violence?  For example, seven women are murdered daily in the United States by abusive husbands and it is a known fact that once an abusive cycle begins, it only worsens.  However, unlike sexual violence, domestic violence (physical, verbal, or emotional) is a learned behavior.  Therefore, if it can be learned, it can also be unlearned.  In understanding this, Ms. Knies knows that educating males from every venue on this subject is paramount in society’s battle against these acts of cruelty.  This is one the Crisis Connection’s principal goals—to educate society about this very important issue.

Another shocking piece of information revealed during the seminar is the fact that the number one health issue for women today is not cancer, nor any other disease, but the violence committed against them by men.  How can men continue to allow this to happen?  One way men do this is by something called “silent permission”.  That is, a man knows abuse is occurring in his neighbor’s or friend’s home, yet he chooses to remain silent.  In doing so, he acts out silent permission and thereby links himself to the crime of domestic violence.  Men must therefore ask themselves “How can we allow ourselves to consciously or subconsciously support this violence against the females of our society?”  Certainly it would be better for both our families and society if we spoke out against these horrifying acts.

What is the goal of the Crisis Connection by partnering with the PLUS unit at Branchville Correctional Facility?  Ms. Knies expects to not only affect the lives of the 108 men who reside there, but hopes these men will pass this essential information on to their sons, friends, and families and that this will encourage the positive involvement of other men regarding this important cause.   

Upon conclusion of the seminar, the PLUS program added to the donation of thirty-two pieces of art by also presenting the Crisis Connection with a check for $300.  It is the desire of both the PLUS unit at Branchville Correctional Facility and the Crisis Connection that this reciprocal relationship continues to grow throughout the upcoming years.

• View Branchville Art      
• Special Edition! Branchville & CCI Partnership