MTC recently sat down with several men (most of whom have since been released) who were serving six-month sentences at the Idaho CAPP facility in Kuna, ID. The facility was audited in early 2018 by the the Idaho Department of Correction to measure the success of its rehabilitation programs—and Idaho CAPP was the best in the state! We sat down with these men to ask them how the programs are impacting their lives.

This interview is with Jesse Monton. Click on the video above to watch the interview or read below.

Question: Have the programs at Idaho CAPP helped you?

Response: Absolutely. It’s helped me to address a lot of things that I’ve needed to address from my past: failures, triggers. Even the simplest things like how to get my license back, getting a job, interviewing skills. It’s done a lot for me.

Question: Are you surprised that Idaho CAPP received such a high score in the state’s recent audit?

Response: No, not really actually because of the way they run the facility and how involved they are as far as the counselors and even the COs [correctional officers]. You know, just the way they run the units. It’s a pretty tight ship as far as being disciplined and having the right structure to be successful.

Question: What is the most important thing you’ve learned from Idaho CAPP?

Response: I would say the greatest thing I’ve learned since I’ve been here is how to take accountability for myself. And to be able to be responsible for my children when I get released; to be a good father, to be a good husband. To be able to provide security for them.

Question: Do you believe staff at Idaho CAPP sincerely want to see you succeed in life?

Response: Oh, absolutely, they definitely do. They, most counselors or even COs [correctional officers] wouldn’t come and work at a place like this if they weren’t investing their time to see change in the world, you know, to see change in people. I know personally, my counselors, have put everything they have, even when they’re sick, to make sure we’re not falling behind.

Question: Do you think you will ever re-offend and wind up back in prison?

Response: No, I’m done. I’m done. And I say that because I can go through a day and not think about drugs; know that I don’t want to talk about drugs or crimes. Because what I’ve learned, what I’ve done to my kids, what this program has taught me, how it’s affecting them. The only ones paying the price right now for my actions is them and me. And as a father, it’s my responsibility to make sure they’re ok, make sure they’re good, make sure they’re not going to be another statistic.