Corrections_Today_Summer_2025_Vol.87_No.2

REHABILITATION

Thoughts and looking ahead In the USA I believe there is a potential for major support by tapping into the desire for Major League Soccer (MLS) and NBA/WNBA professional teams to develop good community relations. That could result in using their coaching capacity and commitment to cover much of the cost in-kind for what would other wise require major correctional agency funding. The Twinning Foundation USA is now a legally registered non-profit organization in New York and has charged DOCs between $25,000 to $30,000 annually to set up, equip and run the projects. With our collaboration CEO Freund has also formed a Twinning USA Advi sory Committee that includes Reggie Wilkinson, me and representatives from a New York law firm and an accounting firm. In its short 6-year existence Oxford and Loughborough Universities have published some very positive evaluations of the Twinning Project. There is also a star power attraction factor that gets a quick burst of interest by persons in prison about the opportunity of mixing with MLS or NBA/WNBA professional sports coaches. And yes, Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham, a close friend of Twinning Foundation Chairman David Dein, is likely to get his team involved in a Florida prison after the hype and distractions of Lionel Messi coming to Miami settles down. David Dein is a relentless promoter of Twinning Projects and the idea of ‘changing the lives’ of persons in prison. His wife is a native of Miami and they visit family every winter so we will look to his support if needed. I joined him and CEO Hilton Freund on their first visit to the Dade CI in south Florida. Reggie and I attended project launches in LA, Florida, and New

Photo courtesy Hilton Freund MBE, Global CEO Twinning Project

York. All three turned out to be surprisingly inspira tional, joyful and promising startup events, with good local TV coverage in LA and New York. This effort is a result of recognizing the possibili ties and huge potential impact of a proven small group mentoring program for changing the lives of persons in prison. Each class usually has 16 persons and with two or three coaches enough participants for a soccer game. In its short 6-year existence Oxford and Loughborough Universities have published some very positive evaluations of the Twinning Project. For New York City DOC the John Jay College of Crimi nal Justice has agreed to undertake Twinning Project evaluations. Florida DOC has enlisted the Florida State University Department of Criminal Justice and the LA County Sheriff’s Department has engaged UCLA for independent evaluations. Oxford and Loughborough will coordinate and share findings with all US evalua tion teams. CT

Bob Goble is a justice and institutional facilities planner, a founder and Executive Vice President Emeritus with CGL Companies based in Miami, Florida.

Corrections Today | Summer 2025

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