My Kids Encounters With The Police: Peggy

Daughter Peggy’s encounters with the police were professional. She had just graduated from Valparaiso University. Her very first job was with an organization  called The Bradely Half Way House. It  was a project where prisoners spent a bit of time just prior to their official release from prison. Some were long time prisoners, others very short term. The goal was for the prisoners to live in the House, get some time on the street during the day, return at night and make plans for their release. Unacceptable behavior resulted in a delay of the official release and a return to prison.

Several factors exacerbated the challenges Peggy faced in dealing with the prisoners, some of whom were quite long term. Peggy was very young, only 20 years old. She was a slim, attractive blonde. She was white. She was idealistic.

With great support from her superiors, she did her job well. By combining empathic listening with strong confrontation skills and much consultation with her boss, she with both police and prisoners worked together to get the prisoners released, to enter society and not to return to incarceration.