by Dan Weikel

About the author: Dan Weikel is a Los Angeles Times staff writer.

Capt. Michael Teischner was thrilled with his promotion at Donovan State Prison except for one thing. His new duties included supervising the facility’s privately run drug treatment program.

Teischner—known as “Iceman” around the prison yard—didn’t much believe in rehabilitating criminals. During his 20-year career with the California Department of Corrections, he had seen plenty of reform-minded do-gooders come and go.

When he met over lunch with Elaine Abraham of the nonprofit Amity Foundation, which runs the rehab center, he lived up to his moniker.

“Quite frankly,” the Iceman said of prison treatment programs, “I don’t think they work.”

Years later, Teischner is a changed man—like many...