Calif Budget

Calif Budget – It’s finally done! Well sort of anyway. As a prisoner in a California state prison the yearly state budget “crisis” is of some importance, this year the prisons took a direct hit, $1.3 billion and the supposed release of 20,000 – 27,000 low level non-violent offenders – early. Too bad it’s just another illusion. Here’s how it will play out. 20,000 men and women prisoners will be released early. That will save about $1 billion. However; very shortly after getting rid of those prisoners (about 70% of which will be returned doe to parole violations) the various county jails will begin sending the convicted Felons, they have been holding, to the state prison receptions centers. The reception centers, in turn, will send inmates to other state prisons that now have room (due to the aprox 20,000 just released prisoners) – Thus in reality no money will be saved, except for the short time it takes the county jails to dump their felons on the state. It’s all an illusion. The only way to cut costs is to cut the amount of time a person spends in state prison. The easiest way is to cut sentence time from 85% to 50%. Other ways involve going in and changing the actual sentencing guidelines. The state of California is so far from any reasonable sentencing. I know a man who is doing 575 years – ya, that’s his actual sentence. That’s crazy! Come on, the state needs to be much more realistic in how its men and women are sentenced. This state needs leadership not petty politics. But that’s what we got. Politicians who get elected by selling the fear. Not all politicians do this but most stir up the electorate with tails of gangs running wild and a child molester behind every bush. They just sell the fear. That then translates into real laws that end up giving a person 575 years in prison. Train the prisoners in technical areas that will enable them to find meaningful employment upon release. What areas I’m talking about are – Green jobs – wind, solar, geo – thermal. Also Power lines and transmition grid education. Allow inmates to have computers so they are familiar with how to operate them. I know a few men in here who have been down over 30 years and have never operated a computer. How are they going to integrate into society? There also needs to be a real reform with the parole system. As I wrote before about 70% of all the early releases will be back in state prison within 3 years. Most will be back not because they committed a crime; no, most will be back for some violations of parole. Here are just a few examples of some common parole conditions. The violation of which will land a parolee back in state prison. The vast majority of parole officers have a “0” (zero) tolerance policy. Some examples are: 1) Any contact with law enforcement (this could be as simple as calling them and having them come over if your house gets burglarized) 2) Having any knife over 2” in length – you can have the knife in the kitchen if it is over 2” but not on the coffee table or garage etc. .. 3) Leaving the country you are paroled to. 4) Missing an appointment with a psychologist. 5) Not getting a job. 6) Not having a place to live. (this means a legal residence – such as a house or apt) 7) Moving from your legal residence and not telling the parole officer, And the list goes on… So how is a convicted felon with $200.00 gate money and no rehabilitative training supposed to get a job – in this economy – and get a place to live - $200 won’t cover 1st & last month’s rent. So as I said it’s just a political budgetary illusion. The early release of un-prepared men and women from the various state prisons will do nothing to save money. The whole thing shows a complete lack of leadership from the elected officials who when running for office say that they are going to “clean things up” and “stop the grid-lock”. I call on the elected “Leaders” of the state of California to do right by all the citizens of this wonderful state and stop the one time gimmicks – like the early release of 20,000 to 27,000 inmates who are sure to be back because the prison system is not doing anything to train or prepare these people for the world beyond the walls. Over the last several months I’ve written my blogs and I talk all the time about education and training. It must seem like I’m a broken record. Well maybe this is what it will take for the taxpayers in the state of California to wake up and realize – you are not getting any return on you considerable yearly investment. With a 70% return rate my god why aren’t the tax payers marching on Sacramento. Things can be done much better; all it takes it’s the will to change. With Respect, VERITAS