| The Second Chance Program in Albuquerque is | | | | Pendery continues, “A recent evaluation by the |
| rehabilitating individuals and reducing recidivism using a | | | | Urban Institute of Washington, DC looked at what is |
| successful manualized rehabilitation system from | | | | considered best practice in the criminal justice system, |
| Criminon International. | | | | evaluated the Criminon manuals we use and found |
| Based on the philosophy that addressing the cause of | | | | that the manuals hold up very well with what is |
| criminality can rehabilitate the most hardened criminal, | | | | considered best practice in the system.” |
| the Second Chance Program is gaining status in the | | | | The Urban Institute report states, “As documented |
| US criminal rehabilitation domain. Understanding that | | | | previously, programs based on the cognitive-behavioral |
| restoring a criminal’s self-respect through effective | | | | therapy (CBT) approach emphasize positive individual |
| drug rehabilitation and classes in communication | | | | behavior change through the development or |
| proficiency, remedial education, life skills, and an | | | | enhancement of moral reasoning skills and pro-social |
| innovative series that builds moral reasoning, the | | | | attitudes. The Criminon program is based on the |
| program presents an alternative to the judiciary for | | | | fundamental assumption that the root causes of |
| sentencing criminals. | | | | criminal behavior are lack of self-respect and |
| The Second Chance Program is a licensed user of | | | | self-esteem. A positive view of one’s self-worth is |
| manuals from Criminon International which utilizes the | | | | the foundation that allows individuals to choose to |
| research discoveries made by American author and | | | | engage in pro-social (i.e., non-criminal) behavior. The |
| humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of | | | | Criminon program contains many elements of |
| Scientology. “I am often asked if this program is a | | | | effective CBT rehabilitative programming. The |
| part of the Church of Scientology.”, explains Rick | | | | curriculum places a strong emphasis on positive |
| Pendery, the Chief Executive Officer of Second | | | | behavior change through changes in the way one |
| Chance Program, “We are not a part the Church | | | | thinks about his or her own behavior and relationships |
| of Scientology which is a world recognized religion. We | | | | and how those factors influence one’s own life and |
| are an independent non-religious rehab program | | | | the lives of those around him/her.” |
| providing alternative sentencing for offenders. We are | | | | Second Chance is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. |
| not even licensed by the Church of Scientology to | | | | “We have not received any money from the |
| deliver Scientology. We are licensed by Criminon | | | | Church of Scientology, but we would love to, as we |
| International to use their secular manuals. | | | | would willingly accept donations from any church.”, |
| “We cannot legally deliver Scientology.”, | | | | Rick explains. “There are a few Scientologists who |
| continued Pendery. “That is what is so nutty about | | | | are on our staff, typically less than 5%. I would |
| people trying to make this look like it is some sort of | | | | estimate 40% to 50% are Protestants as well as a |
| proselytizing by the Church of Scientology. Those who | | | | similar number of Catholics. This does not mean we |
| have other vested interests try to make the decision | | | | are a Christian organization. We have a clause in our |
| makers think Second Chance is something other than | | | | staff contract that prohibits any sort of proselytization |
| what we are. The only relationship we have together | | | | of any religion. We do teach that the offenders in the |
| is L. Ron Hubbard. I am familiar with some of the | | | | program should respect the religious beliefs of others. |
| Scientology techniques and I can assure you I would | | | | And on Sundays at the request of the students, |
| love to be able to use those to help our offenders, but | | | | religious services are delivered and to date that has |
| we are secular and cannot” | | | | been both Catholic and Protestant.” |
| Hubbard, who personally worked as a Special Officer | | | | Robert F. Henderson who is a Correction Captain in |
| for the Los Angeles Police Department in the late | | | | the New York State Department of Correctional |
| 1940’s, found there that every criminal career | | | | Services, says about Criminon International, “The |
| began with a loss of self-respect. When a man could | | | | rehabilitative technology employed by Criminon will |
| not longer trust himself, only then did he become a real | | | | some day soon be utilized by prison systems |
| threat to society. As early as 1952, Hubbard began a | | | | worldwide, as such methods represent the only true |
| criminal rehabilitation program with juvenile delinquents in | | | | workable means to handle the burdensome criminal |
| London, England. After two decades of research | | | | populations.” |
| developments, the Criminon program was born. They | | | | Three independent university studies showed over a |
| offer their curriculum internationally and have active | | | | 5-year period that criminal recidivism had dropped to |
| Criminon programs in the United States, United | | | | less than 10% for those who participated prior to |
| Kingdom, South Africa, France, Germany, Hungary, | | | | release in at least one third of the Second Chance |
| Italy, Israel, Indonesia, Canada, Colombia, Venezuela, | | | | Program. |
| Spain and Russia. | | | | |