Offender restoration focuses on male-role reeducation, victim impact, and personal accountability. Each year, 250 to 300 violent offenders are required to participate in an intensive jail curriculum which develops an understanding of the consequences of violence for victims and changes men's beliefs about the male-role behavior that causes violence. Inmates participate in group learning up to 12 hours a day, six days a week in education, victim empathy, and restoration, as well as life skills.

RSVP's Offender Restoration Program consists of some or all of these components:

Offender Education Services

Manalive

Manalive is a male-role violence reeducation curriculum designed to help participants explore the roots of their violence as well as to provide them with the tools necessary to stop it. The manalive curriculum includes three stages.

During Stage I, participants admit that they are violent and resolve to work to stop their violence. During Stage II, participants begin to understand the importance of self-awareness and start to notice their bodies' reactions to emotions. They also learn to translate their emotions into words. Finally, in Stage III, inmates create a plan where they are able to set goals and learn tools to achieve them.

For more information, visit http://www.manaliveinternational.org

Survivor Impact

Survivor Impact presentations are intended to provide participants with the opportunity to hear the experiences of people who are survivors of violent acts that are similar to those they have committed. During these presentations speakers share their own pain as part of their own healing process. Survivor Impact presentations promote participant empathy by providing inmates with insights into how violence affects the victim and his or her family, friends, neighbors, and the entire community. These presentations are a good opportunity for inmates to learn ways to repair the harm they have caused to their victims. Once survivor presentations are finished, inmates separate into various groups and process the information received during the presentation.

After the processing of Survivor Impact issues has concluded, inmates immerse themselves in yoga and relaxation. This practice helps them relax and decrease any feelings of anxiety they may have developed during the presentation.

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