Katonah's Katherine Vockins Brings Incarcerated People Back with her Rehabilitation Through Arts Program

25 years ago, Katherine Vockins and her husband Hans Hallundbaek had successful business careers. But when Hans had what she called, “a midlife correction,” everything changed. He began seminary studies, and the curriculum brought him inside Sing Sing. The future Director of the Interfaith Prison Partnership became a prison reform activist, and his interest soon had her following. However, Vockins didn’t do so to found the Rehabilitation Through Arts Program, which has her participants shattering the nation’s 50% recidivism rate. Instead, Vockins' entrance into this amazing life of service hit much closer to home.

““I wanted to go in and find out what was so interesting,” said Vockins.

Thousands of participants to date, her returning citizens have mostly lived up to the billing. ““Our recidivism rate is less than 7%,” asserted Vockins.

From her lifelong participation in community theater, she began RTA in 1996. Theater productions have now grown to include writing, dance and visual arts programs. But while it’s great if members can hit the high notes at Sing Sing’s current production of 1776, the first order is tempering aspirations.

The preparation makes sure incarcerated people understand that RTA is about hard work and self development and not future stardom. Thus, the downplay yields time management and teamwork skills, enhanced focus and concentration and overcoming anger and authority issues. The many careers started in fields such as social service, trades and construction speak to the improvement.

There’s more to it, though, then the obvious correlation between delivering lines, carrying out responsibilities and engaging with coworkers. “People can change, and the arts are one of the significant tools in order to help them,” said Vockins.

You don’t need to be in a prison to know how difficult change is. But the struggle is even more profound inside, and Vockins learned a telling aspect early on.

Outreach workers cannot exhibit any hint of a relationship. For example, passing a reminder note or touching an incarcerated person’s shoulder implies a connection that is too close for the DOC’s comfort. “The system wants to dehumanize, because that’s the best way to control them,” said Vockins who lives in Katonah, NY.

So when the system gives rise to “a wolf,” it shouldn’t surprise. “They prey on the less strong,” Vockins said.

She points to one such alpha who led a pack life, but once Clarence Maclin joined RTA, his life changed. So much so, he was among several RTA members featured in a documentary called, “Dramatic Escape.”

Of course, the full cast of facility characters don’t necessarily make for an excess of kumbaya. That said, her roster stands out. “RTA members in any facility carry themselves differently, because to stay in the program, you have to maintain certain guidelines,” Vockins said.

At Bedford Hills, Sing Sing, Greenhaven, Fishkill and WoodBourne Correction Facilities, members pledge nonviolence, modeling positive behavior and avoiding the prison’s disciplinary system.

The aspiration doesn’t just look good on paper. A study done by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice showed that people in RTA have less disciplinary problems and better coping skills.

Gaining the trust of Corrections Officers hasn't been easy, though. “I’ve had some say, ‘What are you doing, making them actors so they can con us better,” she conveyed.

But COs now see the difference, and a centerfold caption in an Esquire Magazine piece said it all. “RTA makes my job easier,” the Head Auditorium CO boasted.

Even so, getting hardened Incarcerated people to join theater has to be a tough sell, and the yard talk often agrees. “That’s sissy stuff,” she conveyed the sentiment.

What brings them in can be very basic, though. A production may just look cool or they see a friend participating and give RTA a try. On the other hand, joining up can hit a very personal chord.

Vockins recalled one case where an audience member related to a character whose father would not visit. So he understood why his own father had reluctance, and was inspired to RTA’s stage.

Of course, she’d like to see a system that centers on rehabilitation. This would be preferable to the punishment model that has yielded the world’s largest prison population. Still, she can’t completely fall in line with the lofty ambition. “I have learned multiple crimes from multiple people, and I can’t say that I have not been put off,” Vockins revealed.

She never condones but chooses to separate herself from the stories and recommends teachers do the same. “I disconnect because I want to win the war, and sometimes you have to give up some of the battles,” reasoned Vockins.

However, the mindset and overall outreach doesn’t always sit well. “Do you visit the victim’s families as often as you visit here,” a CO once asked.

Her counter was that if RTA is successful there will be less victims. Nonetheless, the reasoned response doesn’t leave her above it all. “There are no easy answers ever,” she assured.

Even so, experience has taught her that incarcerated people believe that prison survival requires wearing a mask. So not looking away can be seen as a sign of weakness, but RTA helps bring down those walls. “People are beginning to change when they are comfortable enough to look you in the eye,” said Vockins.

The stage set, we all have to look ourselves in the eye now and follow RTAs lead.