Introducing
Think Better, Live Free
An innovative crime, violence and recidivism reduction program
developed for juvenile and adult offenders, male and female.
FACT:
FACT:
FACT:
MISSION OF
The mission of the nonprofit Freedom From Within is to support President Donald J. Trump’s agenda to break the criminal cycle, prevent future crime, and help reform our prisons with a rigorous, long-term video program like—Think Better, Live Free—to Break the Criminal Cycle and Prevent Future Crime. Together we can Make America Safe Again.
BACKGROUND
The annual cost of crime in the United States hit a staggering $3.2 trillion.
Our federal and state prisons and jails now incarcerate 2.4 million offenders, with another 4.8 million on probation and parole: total 7.2 million offenders in the criminal justice system.
According to the National Institute of Justice, within 5 years of release, 76.6 percent of criminals return to lawless behavior and are rearrested. For more than 20 years—preparing for this moment to help a dedicated leader like President Trump lead the charge against crime—Freedom From Within has been developing an intense, long-term, overarching video program—Think Better, Live Free—to break the criminal cycle and reduce recidivism. If only a 1 percent drop in crime and recidivism is realized, the savings to taxpayers would be $32 billion per year, almost $1 trillion in only 3 years.
A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE
PILOT PROGRAM
Overwhelming evidence shows that a long-term, perennial program like the Think Better, Live Free video series created by Freedom From Within is essential to a reduction of recidivism. And will save literally billions of tax dollars per year while rebuilding offenders lives and ensuring public safety. The pilot program, a year-long series comprising 5-weekly films (260 sessions in total), teaches offenders the thinking or “cognitive skills” as well as the “emotional literacy skills” they need to correct the thinking errors that propel them toward re-involvement in crime.
COGNITIVE SKILLS TRAINING
Cognitive skills training teaches offenders:
●victim empathy ●personal responsibility ●social competence ●life management ●self-esteem ●conflict resolution ●life awareness ●GED preparation ●job preparation and training. Cognitive approaches by motivational expert Tony Robbins and others are critical to the success of the program.
NOTE: The Tony Robbins Foundation generously agreed to donate Robbins’ thinking/behavior-adjustment materials for use in the Think Better, Live Free video series.
EMOTIONAL LITERACY TRAINING
In addition to cognitive skills, offenders are educated about “emotional literacy.” Emotional literacy is defined by Peter Salovey of Yale and John Mayer of the University of New Hampshire as the ability “to monitor and manage one’s own feelings, being able to empathize with their victims, harness emotions, control anger and handle personal relationships…”
EMPHASIS ON EDUCATION
The Think Better, Live Free videos also feature a strong educational component so offenders learn: reading, writing, spelling, simple math and geography in preparation for the GED. Also included are: business etiquette, manners, dressing for the job, body language, sitting properly, writing a resume, voice and diction, eye contact, speaking on the phone, other communications, and job interview techniques.
Why Video?
Overwhelming Support
Evidence shows that the public overwhelmingly favors rehabilitation and reintegration. And that many who favor punishment short- and long-term state public safety as a goal of prison, also want criminals reintegrated since most (90 percent) will be released. Findings also document the sincere interest of prison wardens and correctional officers in implementing comprehensive and effective reintegration programs that help to reduce unrest and violence behind prison walls.
Supporters of Think Better, Live Free Videos Series
“Your program [Think Better, Live Free] promises to be a large-scale model of a collection of smaller, effective programs, many in place since the 1970s. This program is a major undertaking to heal and socialize offenders who without this program may not have a chance at the American dream.”
Reach Us
We would love to answer your questions and hear your feedback.