CA Prisoners Need Education

Well, the CA Dept. Of Corrections is up to the old fear tactics; or should I say the Governor is. The rumor is that the State of California, in order to save money, is going to do away with vocational training and all pre-GED education at all the state’s prisons. I don’t know how much this will allegedly save the State, but I’m reasonably sure that the savings will be offset by increased parole violations and more crime in general. For those who have never been to, or in a prison in California; all that is available are make work jobs (sweeping, cleaning) and vocational and educational training. Some prisons do provide jobs in sewing and other manufacturing, BUT, every study I’ve ever read on offender recidivism shows a direct link to education. The more education/vocational training an inmate receives, the less likely he or she is to reoffend or violate parole. So why would the California Government take the one thing proven to reduce crime? I think it’s all about politics and re-election. The California politicians are willing to subject the free people of the state to increased crime rates simply for their own political reasons. I’ve written in several past blogs about how important education is in the rehabilitation process. However, if education is taken from state prisons it will be a de facto termination of any attempt at rehabilitation in California State prisons. All that leaves for a reason to have prisons is punishment. So I ask, punishment, to what end? What’s the good outcome of spending $10 billion plus, just to get a pound of flesh? I know of no modern society that calls itself a free republic that only locks its citizens up to “punish“ them. Can I then ask-what will that person be able to do when he/she is paroled? After spending 7,8 or more years subjected to mind numbing punishment. What will that person be like? Would you want that person living next door to you and your family? The answer is “NO”. Then why is the state going to allow this to happen??? A friend of mine, in here, got his GED while in prison and was (is) so proud of himself. They had a cap and gown graduation and everything. It’s a big deal to the 10,000 plus prisoners who go every day to stark sterile rooms and teach themselves what they need to know. I don’t want to get into the quality level of the teachers but as with the medical staff and staff in general-only a desperate or marginal person would want to work in a prison. Enough said on that (for now). Even with the low quality of staff and the by rote (like a child) learning, 1,000’s of men and women get their GED’s in state prisons. I can tell you their self esteem goes up. They feel so much better. I’ve noticed they act better. What I mean is the chip on the shoulder goes away. It seems to be replaced with a respect for others that comes from a sense of accomplishment. I have family outside that I dearly love and I’ve seen some of the jokers that parole and I say a prayer that nothing bad happens to my family. I just can imagine letting prisoners out with no attempt at rehabilitation. It’s just going to make it worse in here-all the idle inmates- and make it worse out there, like increased crime rates. If you read this and agree please contact the Governor’s office and the other members of the state legislature and tell them to keep the GED and vocational classes in state prison. In closing, there must be a discussion on what is the purpose of our state prison system. With 95% of all men and women who get sent to prison eventually getting out, there needs to be more thought put into the treatment of the men and women in our state prisons. Please comment…I’d like to get your feedback. With Respect, Veritas