AIRWAY HEIGHTS, Wash. -- A new program at Airway Heights prison is teaching high-risk and violent prisoners how to interact with other people to help cut down on violence.
Nearly 150 prisoners, most with violent criminal convictions, are now graduating from "Thinking for a change."
The inmates have been going to classes twice a week, learning coping skills and conflict resolution to help them succeed both inside prison and out.
In less than a year, the test pod has seen fight and violence decrease by 75%. Last year, there were 40 incidence of violence and this year there have been only 10.
This program was not voluntary for the prisoners. Corrections officers also received a lot of training which will help spread the core principles of the program throughout the rest of the prison population.
