Empower Nonviolence in Colorado Prisons

The United States has the largest known prison population in the world. It makes up 5% of the world’s population but holds 20% of the world’s incarcerated persons. And because our corrections system is built on retribution rather than rehabilitation, incarceration often breeds more violence. 

Alternatives to Violence Project - Colorado (AVP - Colorado) aims to reduce violence among prison residents both during incarceration and after release. Our program promotes safety within prison walls and supports successful reintegration into society, reducing the likelihood of the violence being perpetuated in the families and communities of the formerly incarcerated.

AVP is unique in its experiential approach. The AVP program is comprised of a series of three workshops, each delivered in intensive 18-22 hour sessions over three days. These are fast-paced experiential sessions, weaving interactive exercises, facilitated discussions, role plays, humor, and games. The activities examine various forms of violence and help participants practice alternative nonviolent methods of communication, manage their emotions and respect themselves and others.

The result? A demonstrable reduction in violence, inmate write-ups, and recidivism:

• AVP reduces violent attitudes in inmates to the same level as a comparison community group. It reduces inmates’ tendency to get angry from well above the norm for the community outside to well below. It reduces inmate “bad behavior” write-ups by 60% and recidivism by 46%.
• A 2005 study followed inmates for three years after they participated in the AVP program and showed that recidivism rates for participants were about half what they were for non-participants (31.1% vs. 58.3%). 
• Another study at a Maryland prison found that inmates who participated in AVP had significantly lower levels of expressed/experienced anger at six months post-intervention, compared to nonparticipant inmates, and inmates who participated in AVP reported significantly lower rates of confrontations six months post-intervention, compared to nonparticipants. 
• A 2010 Minnesota AVP Anger Study found that participants not only reduced levels of outside expressed anger but were also able to calm themselves down after completing an AVP workshop. 

AVP-Colorado currently has a presence in Denver Women’s Correctional Facility, Denver Reception & Diagnostic Center (a men’s facility), Buena Vista Correctional Complex and Project Elevate (a women’s community-based reentry facility). 

Excepting our one part-time employee, our Volunteer Coordinator, AVP-Colorado is a 100% volunteer-led organization, with low overhead costs. Your generous support enables us to continue offering these programs in Denver and Buena Vista, and to expand our presence to other facilities in the state.