Evert, recovery consultant: “To me, it’s a door that’s ajar.”

17-11-2020

Evert Kampert started as a recovery consultant in the Nieuwegein prison, the Arnhem prison, and the Zeist detention center almost three years ago. Before that, he worked several different jobs in the judiciary, and he was a marine in Iraq. By now, he’s well known among the correctional facilities services in the context of recovery, and he’s applied dozens of convicts for restorative mediation. “When people come to me, they’re already focused on recovery.”

“Inside the prison we promote recovery in all types of ways. There are posters on the walls, it’s featured on the announcement screens, and it is discussed during intakes. These are all moments in which attention is already given to recovery. Sometimes, I also get input from case managers. In their individual conversations, they’ve talked about the case, about the victims, and about regret. Then they talk about me. And there are convicts who come to me straight away, because they heard about me, or requested to speak to me through the request cards that they can write the name on of the person they wish to speak to. I’m on that card as well, as a recovery consultant. If they want to speak to me for any reason whatsoever, they can.”

Insomnia

“When I get a request card, I visit the convict as soon as possible. It’s important that you honor your agreements, ‘put your money where your mouth it’. And of course, I can offer them something. At that point, the question is what exactly that something is, but there is always something. Sometimes it’s to take the pressure off, so they don’t blow up in someone else’s face. Usually I mention it myself. For example: ‘I can see that you’re under a lot of pressure, how so? Are you sleeping well? Do you have insomnia?’ And if they are not sleeping well, I ask them why. ‘Oh, so you’re still thinking a lot about your case. Is it because you made victims, or because you worry about your family?’”

Getting insight

“You know what it is: nobody is in there without having made victims. You could say: ‘I’ve done a drug deal or I had a weed plantation’, but then I ask them: ‘Do you have kids?’ ‘Yes, but they have everything they need. They don’t miss out on anything.’ And I respond: ‘No, perhaps not, but you don’t read them a bedtime story at night… You know?’ It also happens that someone just wants to get out of their cell for an hour. But in that hour I do stimulate them into coming up with certain ideas, certain insights. What happened for me to end up here, and how can I prevent that it will happen again? How can I contribute to recovery for myself, for my network, for society, or for the victim?”

First name

“Showing interest in the person behind the convict is also very important. I address all detainees by their first name. That’s already a difference, because everyone always calls each other by their last name. I also say: I work with people. People show behaviors and those behaviors can be wrong, but not the person. Doesn’t matter what they’re in prison for. And yeah, that’s easy for me to say right now, but sometimes I also really have to switch off my judgment. But as long as you work with people and don’t see them only as convicts, it’s like: ‘They did the crime, so now they’re doing the time.’ If you see it like that, it’s possible to resolve things, to recover. Entering into conversation with someone on that basis is very important.

Joking around

“I yap with everyone. That also helps, that’s an investment. That way they know you are approachable, they know you’re there for them and that you can help them. I also walk around the common areas and hallways a lot. Often times in my own street clothes, and people ask me: ‘Hey, are you a case manager or department head? Recovery consultant? Huh? What’s that?’ A quick talk like that, to me, is like a door that’s ajar. I also have someone that I’m working with in every department. That way I also get in touch with other convicts and I explain to them what it is I do. Some of them say: ‘Oh, I don’t have any victims.’ And then I tell them: ‘Ooh, then I’d definitely like to talk to you, because that makes you unique!’ Through joking around like that, I can connect with them. It’s about having an entrance. Once I see they keep looking at me a bit longer, I engage with them.”

Show a good side

“You can also pretend you didn’t see it. That you pick up on their signals, but don’t engage with them. But I see it like a door that’s ajar. I approach them, explain what I do and what the possibilities are. That they can show a good side of themselves if they put their victims in a position where they can accept an apology from them. Or to not accept it. Let me put it this way: I think people shouldn’t have to walk around with traumas or PTSD if it’s unnecessary. If that can be avoided with the help of a conversation with the offender, I will do everything I can to make that happen.”

Some of them say: ‘Oh, I don’t have any victims.’ And then I tell them: ‘Ooh, then I’d definitely like to talk to you, because that makes you unique!’

I’ve also had a case in which the offender did not want to respond to the request of the victim to get in contact. In those cases I do everything I can to get them to change their mind, because I think it’s a moral duty. I’ll tell them: ‘Imagine that this happened to your mother?’ Then most times, you’ll see the penny drop for them.”

'Puinruimen'

A few times a year, Evert organizes the ‘Puinruimen’ (clearing rubble) course: ten meetings of 2,5 hours each. The point is to start an awareness process in which recovery is central, the offenders think about their actions, and makes a clean sweep in their life. Several experts by experience come to tell their stories, both victims and offenders. A mediator from Perspectief also organizes one of the meetings. “Because of covid we had to limit the course to one specific department this year. I spread the information among the case workers and told them: ‘See who could benefit from this course. What you could do is give them the folder in an ‘exclusive’ way and tell them: I think this might be right for you. It’s not mandatory, but just think about it.’ Within three days, the course was full. Because they made it exclusive.”