Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Jacob Smith and his fellow inmates have been incarcerated for twenty years and now begin traveling regularly to faraway exotic locations—no passport required, just a virtual reality headset. “I went to Thailand, man!” Smith recalled with a laugh, describing his initial experience of donning a VR device and being transported to the lush landscapes and bustling markets of Southeast Asia.
A Los Angeles nonprofit is bringing this innovative program to California prisons. The aim is to provide prisoners with a brief respite from incarceration and, most importantly, exposure to real-world scenarios to help them reintegrate into society.
During a weeklong event last month, incarcerated people at Valley State Prison near Fresno gathered in a common area. They sat on metal folding chairs, wearing opaque goggle-like headphones, shuffling expectantly. As the high-definition video begins, their necks twist subtly and smiles spread across their faces, beginning their virtual journey.
Some people have seen scenes from the other side of the world, including Bangkokwhile others experienced more practical scenarios, such as job interviews. The men sit at virtual desks with virtual interviewers who are both accommodating and astute, giving them the tools to find work after their release.
“For many of us, the workforce has changed and the application process is different,” Smith said. He will be eligible for parole in 2031 and now works as a volunteer, helping inmates experience VR experiences. “It’s a nerve-wracking experience to sit in front of someone and tell them why I’m right for the job.”
Afterward, volunteers help prisoners process emotions or trauma arising from their experiences. Sabra Williams, founder of the nonprofit Creative Acts, calls VR devices “hope machines.”
The project grew out of a prison arts program run by Williams, which included drama, music, poetry, dance and painting. Watching incarcerated people engage in artistic pursuits led her to wonder if there were other ways to “bring the outside world indoors.”
She hears people coming out of prison lament that technology has passed them by. They are confused about simple things like filling up gas, checking out at the supermarket or going to the supermarket ATM.
“What I hear from them is that it makes them feel like they don’t belong here, that they only belong in prison,” she said.
First, Williams’ team dug up information about Youtube Reenact daily activities. Soon, they were making their own videos focusing on travel, constructive scenarios, civic engagement, conflict resolution, art, and even meditation “to shock their minds and educate their minds.”
Nancy La Vigne, dean of the Rutgers-Newark School of Criminal Justice, said such technology can play an important role in rehabilitation, particularly in reintegrating into society. new jersey. She envisions people who haven’t been in the real world in a long time using VR to simulate navigating the DMV or figuring out how to ride a city bus.
Another benefit could be a calming effect on stressed out prisoners. Lavigne pointed out, American Psychological Association The study found that incarcerated people who watched nature clips reported reduced levels of aggression and fewer reports of disciplinary action.
But due to the high price and limited access, La Vigne worries about “real-life situations” such as the potential for unintended consequences for those who may be excluded from the VR experience.
“You can’t just hand them out or sell them at the concession stand,” Lavigne said.
Former prisoner Richard Richard first used a VR headset when the project started about six years ago and has become a Creative Acts volunteer since his release. He said he was impressed by the advancement of the technology. He enjoys watching his inmates use the devices for the first time and then make progress as they deal with trauma and emotional issues.
“You may be here physically, but mentally, spiritually you can actually transcend this environment,” he said.
The group uses 100 Eyeballs donated headphones Yuanboth in the general population and in solitary confinement. Young offenders are also eligible. Currently runs three times a year at four o’clock california Williams hopes to expand it across the state and even the country.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation did not immediately respond this week to an inquiry about plans to expand the program. But last August, when the department announced the introduction of VR at the California Men’s Colony Prison in San Luis Obispo County, it said the use of the technology had the potential to “heal trauma, regulate emotional responses, and prepare for safe and successful reintegration into society.”
Two-minute introductory tour Thailand Williams said it was often emotional for many inmates, some of whom had “never left their own neighborhoods, let alone been abroad.”
“A lot of times, people will take their headphones off and cry,” she said. “Because they’ll say, ‘I never knew the world was so beautiful.'”