Program Overview

FACT: 95 percent of all convicted criminals are released from prison. But, while they are in prison, inmates are
a “captive” audience for intense, alternative-thinking programming, all-but-impossible to administer
outside the structure of prison walls. An extensive report, written at the request of former Virginia
Congressman Bobby Scott offers evidence that a continuous, long-term video series like Think Better,
Live Free from Freedom From Within would be essential to the reintegration of both juvenile and adult
offenders. The reduction of recidivism then saving billions of tax dollars per year and ensuring public
safely.

The pilot program, a year-long series comprising five weekly half-hour videos (260 sessions in total) will
build on existing living skills programming. Dr. Faith Witkins Schwartz, chief psychologist to Freedom
From Within, projects a 20 percent recidivism reduction for the Think Better, Live Free video series.

The core program will focus on living skills programming—cognitive-skills training—will teach offenders
the thinking or “cognitive skills” they need to correct thinking errors and learn:

 Victim empathy      Personal responsibility      Social competence      Job preparation and training
 Conflict resolution      Life-management      Self-esteem      Life awareness      GED preparation
 Reading and writing      Managing emotions      Language skills      Accepting rules      Smiling
 Appropriate facial gestures      Body movement      Politeness      Consequences of actions
 Making good decisions      Good manners      Greeting someone      Answering the phone
 Controlling temper      Conversation skills      Good hygiene      Improved diet      Dental care

The cognitive approach focuses on faulty thinking that often propels offenders into re-involvement in
criminal activities. Cognitive treatment equips the offender with alternative thinking skills they need to
avoid criminal choices and remain out of prison.

NOTE: Cognitive approaches developed by world-renowned motivational expert Tony Robbins and the
Tony Robbins Foundation will generously donate much of the Robbins’ thinking/behavior-adjustment
materials—tested by Freedom From Within for one year and approved for use in the Think Better, Live
Free video series.

Of equal importance, offenders learn “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 and handle one’s own feelings, being able to empathize and
handle personal relationships, and be able to harness emotions for positive motivation in doing
cognitive tasks, including problem solving.”

The videos also feature live-management skills. Offenders learn education basics like math, spelling,
writing, geography and reading to prepare for the GED. Business etiquette, manners, dressing for the
job, body language, writing a resume, communication skills, interviewing skills, voice and diction and
phone skills also are covered. Videos include other “real-life” training for personal relationships and
parenting.

The Rand Corporation released a study comparing protracted prevention/reintegration programs with
the move politically popular mandated lengthy sentences. The conclusive results show prevention and
reintegration programs far exceed long-term imprisonment in cost effectiveness and crime prevention.