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While inclusion in the program is irrespective of an inmate’s official conduct record, membership is based on sponsorship by a veteran. The participants are allowed to choose their own parts, or as they put it, the role chooses them.11 What is meant by this is that after Tofteland announces the next play to be produced, each member reads the script—usually multiple times—and gravitates to a character who seems to speak to him. When it comes time to cast the show, the members submit their requests for desired parts; if more than one person wants a particular role, then each competing cast member must articulate why he feels so strongly about playing the part. They continue to discuss the issue until the participants themselves come to their own resolution as to who plays the coveted character. Sometimes this is achieved by consent among only the competing actors, but sometimes, in the case of an impasse, the other program participants will contribute their opinions.
The purpose of the casting choices, as of the program’s process as a whole, is to effect some degree of personal therapy and facilitate emendation and improvement of the men’s lives. Tofteland sums up this agenda nicely with his rather pragmatic explanation: “If I could get all of the victims together in one place I’d work with them. But I can’t. So I work with the offenders.”12 SBB’s mission statement further elucidates this task: