Makram Samaan, PHD
Retired Professor of Psychology, CSU, Sacramento, CA
Behavorist Consultant for The Department of Juvenile and YouthProbation, Stockton, California

An excerpt from an article “The Assassin who hasbecome a Responsible Working Citizen- The end of Recidivism” written by Dr.Samaan from an encounter between a Behaviorist and a young man in need of hope and life skills.

Jonny, was a 19-year old Afro-American male. At the time I worked with him, he was a part of a Day Treatment Center program that was sponsored by the County Youth Probation Department, in Stockton. He was incarcerated in O. H. Close Youth Correctional Facility in the Stockton/Modesto area of California. Though he was young, Jonny had a long record of criminal convictions and recidivism for several similar crimes. 

Jonny lived with his developmentally disabled elderly mother.They mainly subsisted on a small stipend of welfare. Although Jonny grew up undisciplined, he had one empathic responsibility. He agonized about his mother’s needs and that he solely was responsible for her survival. The best skill he developed was to steal, and break-in to steal whatever he could to support his mother with his spoils, especially food. His implied conviction is that those who have access or resources owe his mother basic survival need satisfaction.

Jonny was arrested for the first time at age 13 for stealing food (this reminded me of Jean Valjean in Les Miserable). After his release from the first arrest, incarceration/discharge became a revolving door for him.He became a recidivist as his crimes elevated in severity: from petty theft, to theft, to break-ins and small drug sales. He also had a violent temper and exhibited violent behaviors. All his criminal skills were learned and refined in Juvenile and Youth Halls, the last of which was O.H. Close, the youth prison,Stockton, California.

In 1975, Jonny came to my attention as a part of a training to improve communication between young offenders/probationers and their probation officers (POs). The intention was to assist with the facilitation of the probationary counseling developed to guide the youth away from criminal behavior toward becoming working wage productive citizens. Part of my consulting and training was to demonstrate and model behavioral communication/counseling skills in the actual setting.

Jonny was one of a group of eight youth offenders of comparable age and criminal record.

The group was arranged to meet in a room equipped with a one-way mirror window, to allow the POs to observe me in action. Moreover, the session was videotape recorded for a follow up review, pinpointing techniques and explanation of procedures. The group activities began by asking everyone to introduce himself, his background, his criminal record and what he is dreaming to do with his life in the next 5 to 10 years.

I began with my self as a model of introducing myself. I stated my name, “Makram Samaan; I am a professor at CSU, Sacramento and a licensed clinical psychologist. I am married. I have three children; a housewife who is mildly developmentally disabled, an electrical/computer engineer and an attorney. I am an immigrant since 1962, from the great nation and mother of western civilization, Egypt, where I completed my education up to a Master Degree in Psychology, that I have earned in an intellectual racist battle with a religious right wing fanatic faculty who happened to be a member of the board of the Moslem Brotherhood. I was a leader of the Christian (Copts) minority Human Rights. I am here as a consultant to the probation department.”

Then I indicated that the floor was open for anyone to introduce himself without any particular order. Silence was thick. You could not have cut through the silence with the sharpest of knives. I scanned the room looking for indicators of a willingness to communicate and to invite any free talking without condition.

As I looked at the participants faces, I looked for any eye movement, face blousing, eyelid blinking, or mouth smile, mirth, grin, somber or glum activity. None whatsoever was detected as the youth were pretending busy drinking their coca colas or yawning to show boredom. One of them presented me with an amusing smile. I concentrated on him inquiring what his smile means or for what.

Jonny responded by the evading expression of “Nothing man,it means nothing.” I responded, “When our lips or face show movement that indicates certain inner thoughts or feelings that need to be expressed.” No word but his smile or grin expanded. I was encouraged to keep inquiring with phrases like, “tell me what you are thinking, feeling or want to do with your life or career?” 

It didn’t take too long for Jonny to say, “Yes, you want me to tell you what I want to do, I will tell you but don’t get shocked.” I explained that I would never get shocked as any thing you say will be respectfully listened to no matter how shocking it may be. In an explosive loud voice he said,“I waaaaant toooo beeee aaaa murrrrrrrrrrrderer.

During a dialogue about his plan and likely consequences of killing, Jonny’s story became redundant. He planned to murder police and hitchhike to the next state. At the point where the conversation had covered 30 states, he conceded that he will be arrested by the FBI, and incarcerated in Washington, D.C.

At that point, I asked him to explain the details of his arrest- interrogations, possible abuse by police and jail guards, the terrible life in jail, and the preparations for trial and possibly the death penalty. Here I asked him about his life and the only reinforcer in his life, his mother and I asked, “By the way while you are away- arrested, tried and incarcerated in Michigan, 1,000 miles away from home in California, what is happening with your mother?” He answered, “She may come and visit me.” I responded with several questions, including, “How is she going to come to visit you? How will the other police officers and jail guards treat the mother of a police assassin?” 

At that moment, his face color changed, he has become pale,his body was shaking, his lips were shivering and tears began to giggle in his eyes,between his eyelids. Then his tears began running on his cheeks. Johnny began to talk about her begging for food to survive, her torturous and impossible 1,000 mile trip, her possible maltreatment and suffering. Throughout his sadness the tearful demeanor began to intensify, I continued saying, “yes, cry- son- as much as you can. These are the salvation good tears. They are your Baptismal to the new life. It’s sad and painful, isn’t it? You almost brought yourself to a dead end and brought more misery to the only person who care about you in this life...and you love her too much. . .you have put your life in danger to protect and feed her. . .your mother.” All that while his tears wet his shirt.Then he surprised everyone when he looked at me and said, “Doc. . .Do you really believe that I do want to be a killer?” I said, “No, Son, not for a moment.But then, what do you want to do with your life, or to be?”

He went on to say, “I want just to be anything, to be able to work, earn a living and take care of my Mom.” (a statement that exemplifies the Empathic evolutionary moment). I then said, “Son, what a noble dream is this? You just spoke your TRUE dream? Didn’t you?

After we discussed his interest in being an electrician, we developed a plan of action.Outside the group meeting room, I received assurance from his probation officer that Jonny would participate in training for his vocational choice. As we prepared to depart, I put my hands around him and he reciprocated a hug.

In the feedback room, the probation officers in training made the shocking announcement that they were planning to break into the group and arrest me with accusation of verbally baiting and abating a juvenile to commit murder. The Chief Probation

Officer expressed his outrage with my conduct and his puzzlement of how the session ended in a positive transformation.

I explained that the clinical communication statement has two tiers; one tier is the

“content of criminal behavior”. The second tier is his“desire to communicate”, but he has no verbal resources or speech repertoire in his expression except the criminal activities and that is partly responsible for his recidivism. His expression resources are shallow and narrow and filledonly with criminal cognitions as the norm.

Jonny knew what his dream was, but he never learned the citizenship behavior to fulfill his noble dream. That is what we accomplished. That was his transformation.

The Probation Department followed through on the plan. Jonny participated in a basic reading program. He became an apprentice, was provided hands on trainee with a small contractor in the community. Jonny always arrived on time for training at job sites. He demonstrated good behavior, pleasant interpersonal skills, and loyalty to his employer. As he developed the electric repair skills, he earned enough for him and his mother’s survival.