For most of human history, prisons have been a place to punish — not rehabilitate — those who broke the law, and Puerto Rico was no exception. Gov. Ricardo Rossello changed that. In 2017, he tasked me with transforming Puerto Rico’s sprawling, bureaucratic Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and with it, our philosophy toward incarceration. This meant focusing as much on the dignity and rehabilitation of people in the prison system as we did on security.
While fundamental, security and public safety concerns do not negate our responsibility to offer inmates a meaningful, constructive life. This principle drives Puerto Rico’s approach to incarceration, and we are pleased to see it driving Congress’ as well. We support the FIRST STEP Act’s efforts to boost education and rehabilitation programming in federal prisons as a meaningful reform to our country’s prison system, and we urge congress to consider what Puerto Rico has already done as an example of what works.
Under Gov. Rossello’s leadership, we have implemented two reforms to help inmates prepare for release. The first promotes family integration while guaranteeing a safe and secure environment. For example, we now allow inmates to wear jeans and polo shirts during family visits so their children are not distressed by traditional uniforms. In order for prisoners to be recognized by security officials, the polo shirts are colored according to prisoners’ classification within the system. This means we can maintain security while also establishing a more casual environment that fosters family bonding. We have also created parks where prisoners can spend quality time with their children and relatives. Improving the quality of family visits promotes family integration and helps prepare inmates for the world outside bars.
Our second reform is the introduction of auto mechanics training workshops to give inmates marketable skills toward employment upon release. In the interim, they will perform a valuable function: servicing our fleet of government vehicles. This program allows people in prison to learn and hone real-world skills, while giving back to the community in a meaningful way.
These examples of Puerto Rico’s leadership on inmate rehabilitation are only two of several reforms we have enacted, and are a reflection of our overall philosophy on incarceration. Our Constitution guarantees prisoners all the rights enjoyed by every citizen, including the right to vote. Puerto Rico is one of just a handful of jurisdictions in the U.S. that does so. We believe the ability to participate in free and fair elections contributes to inmates’ sense of self-worth and belonging to society. The enshrinement of this vision in our most important legal framework serves as a reminder of our commitment to the value of human life, no matter the circumstances.
More than 9 out of 10 people in prison will be released at some point. We need to start preparing them to lead healthy, constructive lives once they are back in society. We are honored by the progress we have made and firmly believe we are on the right side of history. As the FIRST STEP Act proposes similar reforms, we believe our Congress is, too.
It is our duty as the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to ensure residents live fulfilling lives and that they feel worthy and accomplished by the time they are released. Prison should never be a way to isolate people from society. We urge Congress to view our successes as examples of what is possible and how the FIRST STEP Act could take shape at the federal level.
Erik Y. Rolon is the secretary of Puerto Rico’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
