DELORES J. BAYLOR WOMEN'S CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION
BWCI VILLAGE FAST FACTS
BWCI Village, at the Delores J. Baylor Women's Correctional Institution in New Castle, is Delaware's first prison-based therapeutic community for female inmates with a history of substance abuse. BWCI Village, which started in 1994, is one of the few prison-based treatment programs in the nation designed specifically for female offenders.
Approximately 40 female inmates live in the self-contained therapeutic community. All BWCI Village activities take place within the housing area. Village inmates are separated from the rest of the general prison population, which can hinder rehabilitation.
The treatment perspective of the BWCI Village program is that drug abuse is a disorder of the whole person; addiction is the symptom, not the essence of the disorder. The primary goal is to change negative patterns of behavior, thinking and feeling that predispose one toward drug abuse.
Many of the BWCI Village "family members" were originally incarcerated for drug trafficking.
Of those women who have completed BWCI Village, Crest Outreach Center and Aftercare, none has returned to prison since being released.
BWCI Village provides a disciplined, regimented, 12- to 18-month routine for family members. They do not have access to television or telephones during the day. Free time for Village family members can be taken away as a consequence of inappropriate behavior.
The responsibilities given to each BWCI Village family member are essential to treatment. For example, some family members are part of the service crew, which performs a variety of functions including cleaning the housing area and serving meals.
The children of BWCI Village offenders who are progressing in treatment are occasionally allowed to stay overnight at the facility in an effort to encourage stronger and more appropriate nuclear family relationships.
BWCI family members must meet with staff members regularly each week. Family members have access to staff counselors seven days a week should they need to discuss issues family members are facing.
