The Brahma Kumaris’ currently work within places of detention with both staff and detainees although the majority of work has been with the latter. The type of work and the period of time the work has been taking place varies from country to country.

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The following is an extract from a report by the Commissioner of Prisons for Mauritius, on change that occured in the countries prisons, following a visit to the Brahma Kumaris HQ, Mount Abu, India:

Positive Thinking

"Following my visit to Mount Abu in 1994, a program of Positive Thinking was introduced for Senior Officers. This course is aimed at sensitizing Senior-Management on the need to keep good and positive relationship between and among staff.

Positive Thinking has now become part of the training program of officers of all grades at the Prison Officers Training School.

For some time now, courses on Positive Thinking have been held for the benefit of drug users at the Lotus Centre, young offenders and juveniles of the Correctional Youth Centre, the Rehabilitation Youth Centre and the female detainees of Women Prison.

Results obtained at the Lotus Centre have proved very positive and most of the clients located there have undergone a real transformation during their stay at the Centre. Though it is not possible to follow the drug users on release, figures in respect of relapse are very low.

Self-management and Self-responsibility

A new model treatment programme is being established at Richelieu. The philosophy behind this new model is self-management and self-responsibility. Other alternatives are being envisaged to deal with misbehaviour of detainees. Officers will act as facilitators. Though they will continue to form part of a disciplinary force, yet the approach will be that of a rehabilitation officer.

Relationships between staff and clients have improved to a large extent at the Lotus Centre, and now officers posted at Richelieu who have undergone training already with a view to the new model are very much looking forward to the reorganisation of the Richelieu Model. They are fully motivated and based as it is on positive forces, the project cannot but be successful."

A K Deepak R Bhookhun, PDSM Commissioner of Prisons, Prisons Headquarters, Beau Bassin, Mauritius

Related Articles
'Caught in the Peace of Meditation,' Article in Danish daily newspaper.
'Meditation in Prison', Article as printed in a Polish magazine.

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