Doug NollI'm called in when human dynamics are getting in the way of strategic leadership execution.

Prison of Peace, Doug Noll

21 Aug 2016 · 2 min

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This content was created by Doug Noll. This content was uploaded by Doug Noll. This is a YouTube video titled "Prison of Peace, Doug Noll" (uploaded 2016-08-21) featuring Doug Noll speaking about the Prison of Peace project. In a first-person presentation he describes the program he co-started in 2009 (with Laurel Kaufer), which trains inmates in conflict-resolution, peace circles, and mediation—claiming over 500 trained inmates who have connected with 10,000 others—and outlines the problem (high U.S. incarceration and recidivism rates) and a proposal to scale the program to 500 prisons in 5 years. The excerpt is a single-speaker talk explaining the program, its methodology, outcomes, and a scaling request.

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I'm Doug Noll, lawyer turned peacemaker. In 2009, my colleague Laurel Kaufer and I started the Prison of Peace project. Science tells us that the capacity to connect with others and the capacity for focused thinking and problem-solving mitigate against impulsive violence in human society. Unfortunately, people in prison don't have those skills. Prison of Peace remedies that deficiency through an intense series of workshops and hands-on experience. Since 2009, we have trained over 500 inmates, and they have connected with over 10,000 inmates in peace circles and mediations. The need is great. In the United States alone, there are over 7 million people in prison, in jail, or under supervision, and 95% of them will be released. 65% will come back into our communities as re-offenders. What we've observed in Prison of Peace is that when inmates learn to de-escalate potentially violent situations, they gain, gain great self-confidence in their ability to affect social change. When they learn how to help others solve problems, they become leaders. And when they learn how to serve as peacemakers, they become less impulsive, less self-centered, and far less violent. Peace is not a noun. The skills of peace must be taught, learned, and mastered. Prison of Peace has a rigorous methodology for doing that. So our proposal is very simple: 500 prisons, 5 years turning inmates into peacemakers. With your help, we can do this.