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Anger
management workshop set
at GJAC on Wednesday, May 15
By Warren Davis
Chief Magistrate
Gwinnett County
Special to GwinnettForum.com
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Judge
Davis
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(Editor's note: We asked a local judge to comment
on the reasons for an anger management workshop being offered free
to attorneys and other professionals who deal with violence. Dr.
Oscar J. Meehling, a respected and innovative professional whose
background includes 40 years as an educator and psychologist, will
discuss the Institutional Anger Management programs being used today
and talk about which of these programs show promise for reducing
recidivism. The workshop, "Controlling Your Anger And Learning
To Manage It," is being offered at the Gwinnett Justice and
Administration Center on Wednesday, May 15 from 1-5 p.m. . This
is a no cost opportunity to learn more about combating violence.
Here are Judge Davis' comments:)
MAY 7, 2002 -- The flushed face, the defiant look and the rigidly
crossed arms of the young woman standing before me for sentencing
I still remember. While many defendants are less than enthusiastic
about sentencing, this defendant's hostility was obvious.
My assignment was criminal cases in Superior Court. This defendant's
crime occurred during the Christmas holidays. When another Christmas
shopper took this defendant's chosen parking place, the defendant
backed up and repeatedly rammed the other vehicle. The tires of
the defendant's car were still smoldering when the arresting officer
arrived.
This defendant was similar to other criminal defendants who, when
angered, simply "lose it." Their crimes range from physical
attacks, to road rage confrontations. to destruction of property.
Their crimes also include anger-rooted behavior, such as drug abuse,
truancy or prostitution.
But these defendants are not in court merely because they were
angry. Prosecutors don't charge persons with the offense of "being
angry," which is not a crime. Being angry is a feeling, coupled
with physiological responses.
However, violence is a behavior, an action. Criminality arises
when out-of-control anger precipitates unlawful acts of violence
against others or the property of others.
There is a difference between persons who merely become angry and
those whose anger translates into unlawful violent actions, or self-destructive
behaviors. The latter group cannot manage their anger. Therefore,
to lessen recidivism, criminal courts increasingly sentence defendants
to complete anger management programs as part of rehabilitation.
An effective anger management program does what courts are not
trained, or equipped, to do. Program experts classify anger-prone
defendants according to treatment needs. One type of treatment will
not fit all.
Various anger-prone defendants have substance abuse problems, others
are bi-polar, some have mental health diagnoses, some merely possess
poor coping skills.
Sadly, child abuse victims can later become violent criminals.
Some abused children sustain repeated head injuries during the course
of their physical abuse. Studies correlate a history of head injuries
to future, violent, criminal behaviors.
Anger management programs teach defendants to cope better with
stress. Defendants learn to understand the roots of their anger
and the role their own belief systems play in precipitating violent
acts stemming from ordinary stresses.
Effective prison anger management programs are relatively new.
Incarceration serves valid societal needs. But, a downside to incarceration
is that defendants are generally angrier and more violent-prone
upon their release than when they entered prison.
To stem future criminality, Canada implemented a prison anger management
program called, "CALM.," This program treats violent felony
offenders. CALM produces a phenomenal 86 percent reduction of recidivism
amongst previously violent, felony offenders. After completing CALM,
only 3.8% of released inmates commit a new violent felony.
Canada used to parallel Georgia. In Geiger, roughly 22 percent
of felony offenders completing their sentences will commit another
new violent felony. Even with courts imposing longer sentences,
most prisoners are ultimately released. Georgia prisons should also
seek an 86 percent reduction in future felony crimes committed by
released inmates by implementing effective anger management programs.
Click
here to read other community
commentaries...
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Number
2.08, May 7, 2002
