Prison report: The loss of hope
By Just A Guy
Editors note: Just A Guy is a prisoner in a California state prison. His reports run twice a week, typically on Mondays and Fridays, although the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation sometimes makes it hard to communicate in a timely manner. You can read some of his past posts here and here.
A few days ago, Walter Cronkite died at the age of 92. At one time he was considered the most trusted man in American, which is saying a lot in today’s world – particularly for a newsman.
There was a time in this country when we believed our leaders, our media, and our inalienable right to be the foundation of hope. There was a time when hope was defined by a sense of community and helping others. There was a time when helping others was the bond that tied us together, inseparable as Americans, even if our social, economic and religious beliefs were diametrically opposed.
Yes, we have progressed significantly in areas like religious freedom, gay rights and race equality. But we have regressed in the application of community toward crime and addiction, because they have become a business.
I would have loved to talk with Mr. Cronkite and heard his views on the institutionalization of California and this country he so fervently believed in. I don’t know much about Walter Cronkite, but I suspect the man who eschewed the war in Vietnam and who tirelessly promoted space research would condemn our leadership and our citizens for their inability to recognize the loss of what has made the country great: Hope.
It’s a strange irony that we have progressed so far technologically and with advancements in human rights, but have regressed with respect to crime and punishment. In defending freedom we have enslaved our minds to the ideas propagated by those who have deceived you by proclaiming that multitudes of criminals are eyeing your possessions and your freedoms for their own selfish gains.
When does this lie end? At what point will you see that this indecency supposed is its own indecency in fact? That treating your fellows with ill regard will result in ill regard to the community that lost its ability to think beyond its self? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you still applies, doesn’t it?
I’m not saying that the prison walls should come down and all should be released. I surely know many people I’d not want to see released. But I’d like to believe that our ability to sever out fellows could not be clouded by our desire to serve ourselves, for it is by serving our fellows that we best serve ourselves and open the door to rehabilitating our prisoners, our communities, our schools, our budgets and our dreams.
And so it is with our state as funds are slashed from programs that are the foundations for the hope to dream – but the institutions of cement and steel bars face only minimal cuts.
Less school equals more crime. Less healthcare equals more crime. The more that’s taken from the hope to dream, the more we create the obscene.
“And that’s the way it is.”
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Comments (11)
You said a lot and it makes sense. If one does not have hope, he has nothing. More programs should be added and all inmates should have the opportunity to listen and speak to learn better ways for their lives. Locking up inmates and throwing away the key is not the answer to crime and never will be. Education is the answer. Not only for the inmate but for their families and society as a whole to learn that because one is behind bars does not mean he is bad. Most inmates should be sent home and communities should help to rehabilitate so the person can become a positive member of society. Basic needs must be met. The mentally ill should not be in prisons but rather hospitals where their needs can be met. Rehab is needed for inmates with addictions and support to obtain better jobs so they can provide for their families. Hope is the big four letter word. Without it all will fail.
Posted by Goingsilver | July 24, 2009 04:26 AM
We are seeing the results of constant incarseration and no rehabilitation. It is bankrupting the State, and now takes 10$ of the State budget just to partially run the prison system.
One rotten apple will not spoil the whole barrel if you remove the rotten one fast enough.
To think that we are going to solve the entire society problem by throwing everyone in jail or prison is total insanity. We should be trying to rehabilitate all the ones we can because, we need many productive ones working and paying taxes.
Posted by norweb | July 24, 2009 07:47 AM
It's sad that we as a people have let politians bring us to this sad state we are in now, They have striped us of our dignity, of our freedom, and our Hope, Our children have been rob of an education, our Elderly and Disabled and Poor of the bare nessesities of life, food clothing and a place to live, and there health care they so desperitly need,communities are being striped of services that are esential to all of us in emergency situations. And they call this a balanced budget, yet they will not release prisoners that are to old or sick or mentally ill, or are nonviolent, why you ask because the Gov has made sure the CDC has job security even if it means keeping all these people at tax payers expense and fearmongering everyone into thinking that you will be the next victim if they are released, it's not public safety there concerned of it's the money they'll be losing by releasing them.They'll tell you where are these prisoners going to the street, well all of them have families there going to go to thats where. But I really have to give it to these politians they have secured the jobs of the prison guards by cutting education makeing sure there will be plenty of new people to fill there prisons. And yet the oil and tabacco and big business sit back and laugh at us for the great deal they got at our expence. What California needs to do is get rid of this tyrant and get people in government that are for the people not for themselves!!!!!!
Posted by Rachel Contreras | July 24, 2009 09:53 AM
What hope is left of California the dreams that all of us held dear to our hearts of giving our childern more than what we had, of a higher education, a better way of life, of us as adults to have a job to give our families a sence of security,of taking pride in owning a home where our families could grow and become a part of a community,where our Elderly and Disabled and Poor would be taken care of, all that was changed with one swift stroke of a pen! Now what we have is broken promises and lies to look forward to, the Gov said making cuts would help California to balance the budget yet the prisons are packed with people that should be released to there families the Old the Sick and the non violent can be released except we have been fearmongeres into believing that we will fall vitim to them what a crock the only reason they won't release them is the money, and if you think it was nessesary to cut education think again they needed to give the prison guards job security that was the deal that was made to elect the Gov why do you think the oil companies or the tabacco companies or all the big business or special intrest groups are not being taxed? Wake up California and do something say no to the budget that is killing our future get rid of the Gov and all his crooked politians, together we can get a government that is for us not for special interest groups and crooks to get richer!!!
Posted by Rachel Contreras | July 24, 2009 11:14 AM
"Less school equals more crime. Less healthcare equals more crime. The more that’s taken from the hope to dream, the more we create the obscene."
AND THAT IS THE SAD BOTTOM LINE!
Posted by Sierra Mist | July 24, 2009 11:50 AM
"Less school equals more crime. Less healthcare equals more crime. The more that’s taken from the hope to dream, the more we create the obscene."
And that is the SAD-PATHETIC-IGNORANT bottom line!
Posted by Sierra Mist | July 24, 2009 11:52 AM
The big boom of prison building with increased jail and prison terms have bankrupted California.
The budget is no fix at all for a bankrupt California. We better start rehabilitating some of the prisoners and get them back out into society working and supporting their families.
We cannot afford to lock people up for life, and then have to support their families on welfare, food stamps,and free health care for the rest of their life. This is an insane theory that will never bring in one dime of financial benefit to the State.
We need to change our punishment mentality and start educating these people with intense efforts to keep families together and supporting one another.
Posted by norweb | July 24, 2009 12:25 PM
What is the Cali. gov. doing? It's taking away all the money from the children's education, and then giving it to the correctional officers who torture these children's incarcerated parents. These children are suffering a great injustice: little education with lots of family suffering. What a shame. Instead, let's spend our tax dollars on the kids' education. Instead, let's put the well-behaved inmates on house-arrest and let them help their families at home. For every incarcerated inmate, many loved ones on the outside suffer because of the absence of their parent/spouse/child at home. Let's bring these prisoners home on house-arrest so that their families can learn to function again. That way they can work and pay their taxes instead of living off welfare. Let's stop paying our tax dollars to the CCPOA who try to ruin families. Instead, let's give our tax dollars to prevent our children from becoming future criminals. Let's use our tax dollars for the improvement of our society.
Posted by berkeleygirl | July 25, 2009 02:23 PM
Ive been abscounding for over 5 years because i couldnt survive on the street with 200 dollars and no home or help ,especially from my p.o . I am not sad that i did either cause i went to the state where i actually lived and had help and resources to make my life whole and productive again.I am in contact with my p.o as of the past month and trying to get this all behind me but i trust cdc as far as i can throwem. he asked me what i want, i told him i just want to transfer my parole to where i am like i tried to do before i abscounded.he has not got ahold of me even after i have left messages . im sure hes waiting from his hugher ups to tell him what to do . Because they dont even know where thier going to cut the 1.2 billion dollars from the cdc budget yet. The politicians are all cowards and put it off till later this month. Well im curiously waiting to see whats being cut and from where .And when these cuts are made and implemented then im going to call and see what he says then . knowing cdc like i do , it is safe to say i might be going back just to have to abscound and do it all over again . So my fiance is telling me wait , because you have waited this long having to look over your shoulder and have made a great life with a fiancee and a family .So only time will tell but i hope and pray daily that someday soon i will actually get this all behind me and never again step foot in the state of california, AMEN
Posted by BC43_ROCKS | July 28, 2009 11:05 AM
Hope is what keeps the human going forward. Hope in the future, hope for better life, hope for our children and decendents, hope we can always strive to overcome and become better citizens.
And as we know by experience that if everyone is not free to pursue these goals then we limit ourselves as well. For hope to flourish we need it's companion and that is respect. Respect of other human beings. Not everyone is perfect or even nice. That's not what is important. It is how society treats it's members. All members and not some artificial caste system. The prison system as it exists in it's present form almost guarantees that all who pass those prison gates are guaranteed to be DOOMED to a life of NO HOPE!
Pat J
Posted by Pat J | July 29, 2009 02:23 PM
The real waste is in medical. begin billing spouse's insurances, medicare(where applicable), or whatever means were used by the inmate to cover medical costs on the street. These avenues would also allow the same approval/denial of medical procedures law abiding citizens must go through. In addition to this we continue life saving medical care for inmates who have been sentenced to death, and have exhausted appeals. a streamlined execution procedure would solve this, as would a change in the number of appeals these inmates are allowed. then maybe we would have a true deterrent in the criminal justice system. add to this stricter sentencing laws, making inmates serve at least 90% of their sentence inside prison before release on parole supervision, and you have a recipe for safer streets.
Posted by NOname | August 3, 2009 04:42 PM