Independence, VA
July 23, 2023

River North Correctional Center (RNCC) Veterans’ Program Coordinator and discussion group facilitator Douglas V. Johnson II (#1937011) and fellow VSG Members have developed and implemented the inmate-led Self-Awareness H.O.P.E. Discussion Group Program, for the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC). The group is currently only comprised of incarcerated military Veteran’s Support Group members at RNCC and meets twice a month for one hour, [IAW VADOC OP-841.1.VII.B-D].

H.O.P.E. stands strong for “Helping Ourselves Progress & Evolve.” Due to the lack of access to -and lengthy waiting lists for- programs/educational opportunities and the severe lack of mental health services in prison, we are taking an aggressive initiative to rehabilitate and correct ourselves. We are focused on boldly confronting ourselves with thought-provoking reflective questions in order to strengthen our sense of Self-Awareness.

The 20-hour H.O.P.E. Programs’ five core objectives are to improve decision-making, find a greater sense of purpose, not waste the ‘Time’ we are serving, recognize our limitless potential, and to ultimately decrease the probability of recidivating/re-offending.

It is comprised of a total of 55 questions broken down into the following five categories:
1.) Self-Awareness;
2.) Importance of Healthy Relationships;
3.) Character, Wisdom, & Mindset;
4.) Decision-Making, Plans, & Direction; and
5.) Recognizing Potential & Establishing Positive Momentum.

Furthermore, each question also has at least one specific learning objective (i.e. mental health & substance abuse nexus, turning potential weaknesses into strengths, subconscious/auto-suggestion/patterns, assessing intentions, etc.).

A few of our upcoming discussion group questions will be:
1.) Am I aware of how my unprocessed trauma -or, moral injury- is impacting/has impacted my decision-making?
2.) Most pain ever experienced/felt (not physical pain)?
3.) How do I attain and maintain greater purpose and a healthy-level of hope while serving my Time (i.e. Life-Sentence)?
4.) What advice would I give my 21 year old self (or 21 year old Son)?
5.) What do I long for (not physical)?

Not everyone will share their life experiences/perspectives during every session, but we have found that even just listening to other’s transparency, can still lead to our own Transformation….. Self-Awareness, Personal Accountability, Maximized Potential, and Onward Positive Movement towards Greater Purpose is what H.O.P.E. is all about! HELPING OURSELVES PROGRESS & EVOLVE!!!

Pending RNCC approval, we plan to implement a non-Veteran Parole-Preparation and Re-Entry Support Group that will use H.O.P.E.’s curriculum as its foundation. H.O.P.E. will be published in workbook format and available on Amazon by Spring 2024. A list of our discussion questions can be found and downloaded on the Brilliance Behind Bars website. I encourage you to reflect on these questions and to start your own support/discussion group wherever you are.
Humbly,
-DVJ

Douglas V. Johnson II is a graduate of the Virginia Tech Center for Humanities 2022 UNCHAINED Program and whose poetry was published in the VT UNLOCKED Journal: Art and Experiences From Inside Virginia Prisons.