Too Many Swanson Escapes

Historically, Swanson Correctional Center had its name changed to Swanson Center for Youth. During this time of change when emphasis was on large farm operations changed slowly as the use of farm work to rehabilitate youth gave way to counseling and diagnostic assessment.

Today, Swanson-Monroe operates as a fully therapeutic facility using OJJ’s LAMOD treatment model. Ideally, this is a great plan for rehabilitating youth.

Many employees contend that Swanson is a great place to work with job security and an opportunity to provide social change for youth, offer mentorship and the management is great. However, there are other employees who content that a typical day at work is dreadful and that management is awful. There are little to no opportunities for advancement unless you are in a certain clique. The inmates are rude and disrespectful; there is no security for employees. Youth will fight staff if opportunity allows. These are the youth who escape into the community.

A source says that youth who escape are those who resist any kind of authority or they are bullies. When there are groups of them escaping together, there is usually a strong leader and the others are followers or cannot stand the thought of being locked up. Most escapees are running from guidelines and restrictions and really do not care about the consequences. Usually, they are not afraid of getting caught and if and when returned show no remorse and there is a strong sense that they will try it again.

A majority of the escapees have contacts on the outside who promise them help to get away to a life of freedom. They believe that they can get out of the state and find a new life. Therefore, they are running to a dream which is far from being a reality.

Swanson escapees are young people, and they need a strong effective program of rehabilitation which reflects discipline, yet productive survival and social skills. These youth need mentors who will share a lifestyle of success based on employment and paychecks as rewards. All of them need exposure to a church setting where they will gain an appreciation for some form of Spirituality.