Unlocking Potential: The BRAVE Curriculum

Incarceration can be a daunting experience. This is especially true for young men facing their first sentence. In response to the unique challenges these men face, the Federal Bureau of Prisons introduced the BRAVE Program (Bureau Rehabilitation and Values Enhancement). Relevant for state-level Departments of Corrections, this program is dedicated to support young, incarcerated men in navigating prison life, minimizing misconduct and preparing for successful reentry into society. BRAVE has been proven to help men adjust to life in prison, while reducing misconduct and recidivism.

Research has shown first-time offenders who form peer relationships with repeat offenders are more likely to reoffend. Conversely, incarcerated individuals who are involved in positive peer groups have better post-release outcomes. For example, Anna Piil Damm and Christian Gorinas released a 2020 study that found inmates who were exposed to peers with higher levels of criminal experience and severity were significantly more likely to reoffend. Specifically, the likelihood of recidivism increased by 15-20% for inmates who were housed with more experienced criminals compared to those who were not. A primary goal of BRAVE is to connect young men with positive peer relationships, and help them avoid negative relationships. In doing so, BRAVE helps reduce the risk of reoffending.  

The Change Companies, in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, created the BRAVE curriculum to be used by young men experiencing incarceration. Using Interactive Journals, this curriculum teaches strategies that can help participants adjust to long-term incarceration, build positive peer relationships and stay away from negative ones. It helps participants maintain clear conduct and avoid negative consequences associated with incident reports. Additionally, it helps participants maintain strong, healthy relationships with important people in their lives and prepare for a positive lifestyle upon their release. The BRAVE program offers opportunities for practice, application and hands-on learning while boosting participants’ confidence and skills.

Journals in the BRAVE Curriculum:

In The BRAVE Community, participants: 

• Explore strategies and opportunities for making the most of their time in incarceration
• Explore what it means to have a positive attitude and complete an Attitude Check
• Discover how people make changes and set a goal for a positive change they’d like to make
  
  

In the Understanding My Thinking Journal, participants:

• Explore Activating Events, Beliefs and Consequences (ABCs)
• Identify thinking errors that will be helpful to avoid
• Discover how to recognize and manage emotions
• Gain strategies to respond to Activating Events to strengthen their rational thinking
  
  

The Living a Prosocial Lifestyle Journal helps participants:

• Challenge criminal thinking errors that can lead to unhealthy lifestyle choices
• Learn hurdles that can get in the way of a prosocial lifestyle and how to overcome them
• Look at the positive and negative impacts of their behaviors
  
  

In the Strengthening Relationships Journal, participants:

• Learn about unhealthy and healthy communication styles
• Discover how healthy relationships and positive change go hand in hand
• Create a plan for improving their most important relationships

In Success Strategies, participants:

• Look at warning signs that can get them off track from their positive changes
• Learn new strategies to help them maintain changes and continue to achieve their goals
• Take time to reflect on their growth and celebrate their success in BRAVE

The BRAVE curriculum can offer a roadmap to reintegration. It not only addresses immediate challenges but also lays the foundation for a brighter, more productive future for participants.