Prison report: Why are we here?By Just A Guy
Editors note: Just A Guy is an inmate in a California state prison. He writes on life behind bars and tries to explain to Californians what their taxes -- huge amounts of their taxes -- are paying for. He will attempt to answer all questions and comments, but it's hard to communicate from a state prison, so it may take a while. His last post is here.
Hello everybody. I’m happy that many more people responded to my previous blog than I expected. I am glad that you were able to speak out a little on a more widely read forum. This seems to be working and maybe people will wake up to what's really happening.
On to business.
So, Arnold is considering releasing many more inmates than the 8,000 initially proposed by his administration. I am not sure what the latest numbers are, I am hearing everything from 20,0000 to 38,000 potential releases. There's even talk of selling San Quentin. Let's all hope for the best, but let's examine this a little deeper.
First, let me say this: I think it's strange that Arnold is going to show the public two budget proposals, one if the propositions don't pass and one for if they do. I strongly suspect the one for non-passage is going to be a scare tactic with which he threatens the mass release of prisoners into the public. Your neighborhoods will be overrun by all these horrible prisoners, so you'd better pass these propositions or the ex-cons will be next door to you come July!
Wow! I hope that's not what it he says, but I think he will.
What about all these "hardened" criminals that shouldn't be let out, or certainly not let out early? Let's talk about them. What about all the lifers that get parole dates, but then the governor in his "Governor's Review" denies the person his/her parole out of hand? What is the purpose of a parole board if the governor has the final say? Seems to be just more people (the parole board) supping at the trough of your tax money.
I am reticent to go into cases, but one particular comes to mind. A fellow I was in another prison with was doing 15 to life for second degree murder. He killed someone while drunk driving 21 years ago. In his 21 years in prison, he has never received an incident report for bad behavior. He’s been clean and sober for at least 16 years, has multiple trade skills, has a family support network and job to parole to. This person has been found suitable for parole at least two times by the parole board -- and has been rejected twice by the governor!
I don't condone what he did; it was awful that he got in a car, drove drunk and killed someone. He can't give that life back and there is no excuse. But I believe he has served his time; when is the punishment enough? What purpose does it serve to leave him in prison? What purpose does it serve to give him, and many others like him, hope by granting suitability for parole --just to turn him down again and again?
What about the people doing 25 to life under the three-strikes law? There, literally, are thousands of people in prison doing 25 to life for possession of drugs. That's insane! I know of a person in prison for possession of drugs, and on his arrest report in the section titled "Victim" the "State of California" is listed! No kidding, I have seen it with my own eyes.
Who is victimizing whom here? At what point does the "criminal" become a victim of the state? Is the psychological punishment of finding one suitable and then not granting them parole just more punishment?
It is clearly evident from the responses in my previous blog that many of us are in prison need not be any longer or not at all. I will not go into the dynamics of my own case; suffice it to say that me being in here is patently ridiculous, especially the amount of time I am serving. Now, don't get me wrong, I was a bonafide idiot when in my teens and early twenties, but that was the result of addiction. I have a support network, I have many things going for me and I am very fortunate, but I certainly don't deserve to be in prison by any stretch of the imagination. I am truly grateful that I didn't get 25 to life for my victimless crime, although the state wanted to give it to me.
Where does this leave us? At what point does the punishment fit the crime?
I know there are many who believe in lock-them-up-and-throw-away-the-key, but I would just ask that those that believe such a thing consider there are other alternatives and seriously question what a lot of us are in prison for.
There is certainly a need for prisons, but is there a need for prison as an industry? The giant has been created by fear and now many of you don't want it and don't believe in it, but don't know what to do about it and are afraid to speak out.
It is obvious, California, that you reap what you sew.
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Comments (7)
As embarrassing as it is to say for me, my prison felonies where for petty theft (a misdemeanor) with misdemeanors a prior theft misdemeanor. That means 2 misdemeanors made it a felony.
Posted by Jerry | May 14, 2009 03:38 PM
How come we haven't legalized marihuana yet? Wouldn't that give us much needed money AND take people out of jail?
Posted by Charles | May 14, 2009 04:10 PM
According to a CDCr report, as of Dec. 31, 2008: there were 8155 people serving a 2nd or 3rd strike sentence for drug-related crimes. Of these, 1325 were 3rd strikes.
http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Reports_Resea...RIKE1d0812.pdf
In total, almost 30% of all prison population sentences are for drug crimes (over 35,000).
For a lot more reports (and to access prison data kept by the CDCr), check out:
http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Reports_Resea...n_Reports.html
Posted by jackima | May 14, 2009 05:58 PM
Just a Guy,
With regards to drug related crimes, how receptive do you think the guys that you have run across really are to dealing with their addictions? Would they actually take help if it was given? Do they really want to be drug free? I spoke to my son a little about this and he said that many of the guys he has seen if released would be right back in for the same things. They are addicts. Younger ones especially don't believe they are addicts and may not be receptive. Many CO's say the same things. You can't force rehab.
1. What do you think would work the best for addicts?
2. What kind of treatment specifically?
3. Do you think they should legalize pot?
4. Would it cut down the prison population?
5. Are there that many that are in for possession and trafficking pot and not some other crimes to go with it?
6. Are there alot of guys that you believe should NOT be in prison for their crimes but should have gotten some kind of alternative to prison?
Sorry, alot of questions.
Posted by Morris1 | May 15, 2009 11:19 AM
With regards to drug related crimes, how receptive do you think the guys that you have run across really are to dealing with their addictions?
Answer: unfortunately a lot of men in here live a "pipe dream" in that they believe somehow things will be different when they get out, but they haven't done anything to change the problem, themselves. I would say the tools for encouraging receptiveness aren't there, sometimes locking someone up creates the opposite effect, and rather than wanting to change the problem the problem is seen as that which locked you up.
Would they actually take help if it was given?
Answer: some would, some wouldn't.
Do they really want to be drug free?
Answer: some do, some don't. Some just don't know, but I can only answer for myself, and yes I want to be, and am, drug free.
1. What do you think would work the best for addicts?
Answer: make the tools more available for those that want to escape addiction/alcoholism. More than just AA/NA, but psychological tools. Self-esteem building tools. Drugs and alcohol are a symptom, not the problem. If addicts are given the opportunity to choose for themselves they will likely be more successful.
2. What kind of treatment specifically?
Answer: I am not a mental health or drug counseling professional, but I believe in order for people to succeed they need to be shown, and begin to KNOW, that they are not failures even if they aren't necessarily successes in the eyes of society at present time.
It is our job as human beings to lift people up, but it isn't our job to keep them there!
3. Do you think they should legalize pot?
Answer: I think ALL drugs should be, at the very least, de-criminalized. Be better if they were legalized and taxed.
4. Would it cut down the prison population?
Answer: I don't know too many guys in prison for pot, but if all drugs were de-criminalized it would reduce the population substantially.
5. Are there that many that are in for possession and trafficking pot and not some other crimes to go with it?
Answer: There are a lot of guys in prison for possession and possession for sales, but I don't know specifically what type of drug. If I were to guess the order would be meth, cocaine, heroin, then pot.
6. Are there alot of guys that you believe should NOT be in prison for their crimes but should have gotten some kind of alternative to prison?
Answer: yeah, the 35% of us in prison for possession, or possession for sale.
Posted by Just a guy | May 15, 2009 05:55 PM
Why should drug addiction be a criminal offense anyway? Some of the nastiest, most dangerous people I have met have been addicted to alcohol, but they don't go to prison unless really mess up and run over someone while driving in their drunken stupor.
Alot of addicts don't want to deal with rehab, particularly that offered by the prison system or the courts. One of the traps in it is that if you participate, and then relapse, you are seen as even more of a failure, (i.e. you were given a chance and you just wasted) so now you deserve even harsher punishment.
Addiction is a public health problem, the only time that law enforcement should stick their noses in what people put into their bodies is when they engage in a dangerous or reckless act under the influence of it.
Posted by pixiedust | May 15, 2009 06:14 PM
Could there please be a place where all the links to Just a Guy's blogs are placed? It would be nice to send people to the whole series. Thank you.
Posted by Bridgit | May 15, 2009 09:07 PM