Choose to be Curious Episode #11: Curiosity, Trauma & Incarceration - with Elizabeth Jones
Sep 21, 2016
Elizabeth Jones, the executive director of Offender Aid and Restoration of Arlington County, shares her insights on the profound interplay between curiosity, trauma, and incarceration. She discusses how trauma affects individuals both before and during incarceration, emphasizing the importance of curiosity in the re-entry process. The conversation delves into innovative programs that promote personal growth and reduce recidivism. Jones also highlights community involvement in addressing alternative sentencing and the need for curiosity in fostering relationships.
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Curiosity Reoriented By Survival
- Incarcerated people's curiosity shifts toward survival and navigating facility rules rather than exploration.
- Elizabeth Jones notes curiosity inside prison centers on staying alive and managing unspoken norms.
Childhood Trauma Alters Brains And Behavior
- Trauma reshapes behavior, development, and even brain structure for many incarcerated people.
- Elizabeth Jones highlights high ACE scores among incarcerated individuals and the lasting neurological impact.
Prep For Release With Forward-Facing Trauma Work
- Prepare people pre-release by discussing which prison norms will help or hinder life outside.
- Use forward-facing trauma work and cognitive behavioral tools to build new thinking patterns.