Angelo Silva, a resident of the Otero County Prison Facility in Chaparral, New Mexico, recently described his experience while living at the unit.

Angelo Silva:

“I learned a lot about cognitive-behavioral therapy tools that I can use for when I get out, to keep me from re-offending.

They taught me tools on how to manage stress, on how to manage thoughts. They taught me that thoughts produce feelings which produce behavior, and if I can manage my thoughts, I can manage my behavior through the cycle. And I just got to keep those tools in mind when I got out there. They gave me not just one, two, or three tools, they gave me a variety of tools, of behavioral tools to choose from.

Re-entry [rehabilitation program] was good. It taught me. It gave me access to computers, so I could practice typing and stuff like that, because it’s been 15 years without me being around a computer. So, I had to pretty much learn all over again.

There’s more freedom here to move around and stuff, and the COs [correctional officers} treat you much better here. The food is much better. [It’s] more relaxing, less stressful. I got along great with the staff, and everybody here, too.”