Shock Incarceration
Shock Incarceration was an innovative, six-month program for non-violent offenders serving their first term of state incarceration and is the leading program of its type in the world. Founded in September 1987, the New York Shock Program differs from other "boot camp" style programs, with its emphasis on self-discipline, life-skills and treatment. Shock was a total institutional program, meaning everyone who is incarcerated or works in the facilities receives specialized training in accelerated learning techniques. It is estimated that the program saved the taxpayers of New York State more than $1.3 billion since its inception, due to the program's public safety record, early release options and the participants' low rate of recidivism.
Dr. Cheryl Clark is co-founder of Social Synergetics and is the former Director of Shock Incarceration and the Willard Drug Treatment Campus (WDTC) for the New York State Department of Correctional Services (NYS DOCS), both programs which she designed and developed.
Shock Incarceration is internationally recognized as the leading program of its type in the world. As of reporting at July 2010, NYS DOCS research documents the Shock program contributing more than $1.377 billion in cost savings to the taxpayers of New York State.
In 2001, Dr. Clark earned a Ph.D. in the School of Health and Human Services at Columbia Commonwealth University after obtaining a Master's Degree in Educational Psychology from the College of St. Rose in Albany, NY. She has studied accelerated learning and transformation technologies for more than 30 years.