Prison report: Who are the bad people?By Just A Guy
Editors note: Just A Guy is an inmate in a California state prison. His dispatches appear twice a week.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner was recently quoted in the Sacramento Bee saying: “You have to be a really bad person to get into state prison. So I’m opposed to releasing people who are dangerous, absolutely opposed. That’ s no way to balance the budget.”
I’m curious to know what Poizner thinks everyone is in prison for. Does he even realize that at least 18 percent of the population is in prison for drug crimes? If so, then is he saying that all people in prison for drugs are “really bad people?”
As if the stigma of being an addict and in prison isn’t enough.
I wonder if Poizner thinks alcoholics are “really bad people” -- or just people who need a 12-step program.
What is a “really bad person” anyway? Are the many of you who have done some stupid things in your past but just didn’t get caught “really bad people” too? Or does the stereotype apply only to people in prison?
I’m opposed to the early releases of people who are dangerous, also. But how does one determine who’s dangerous? Is the 80-year-old infirm man in a wheelchair a danger? Let’s be honest -- who doesn’t have the capacity to be dangerous? Prisoner or not?
Poizner says this is no way to balance the budget. But what about the consequences of cutting even more money from other services? (See my most recent blog here.
Has he considered that the industrialization of prisons in California with the three strikes, archaic laws and sentencing, is no way to create jobs?
The other Republican gubernatorial candidate, Meg Whitman, said “the most important role government has is public safety. It’s very important to be consistent.” She’s also opposed to early releases and prison reform. Odd that the former CEO of Ebay is so short sighted about the long-term effects of the current budget and prison situation. Isn’t this a women who had to please stockholders and a board of directors and had to have insightful long-term visions planning Ebay strategy -- which she did quite successfully? I guess your strategy changes drastically when you’re selling a service as opposed to selling fear.
The only things consistent about California prison policy are lock-em-up-and-throw-away-the-key strategies. Most politicians are also consistently spouting tough-on-crime policy against their better judgment because they are consistently afraid of the Willie Horton syndrome.
A couple of gubernatorial candidates from the Democratic side are, amazingly, looking at prison reform as a way to alleviate some of California’s budget problems.
The biggest threat to public safety is not the people in prison or their releases (most of them are going to get out anyway). It’s consistently cutting money for health care, education, welfare and myriad other programs that help to create a brighter future for Californians. Public safety also means maintaining roads and bridges, supplying water, educating citizens etc. The best way to have public safety is to have an environment that creates hope, not antipathy.
Finally, the Canadian government is considering creating a prison system similar to California’s -- and a rather scathing indictment came out from opponents who say doing so is a bad idea.
The majority of first world countries see California and its prison policies as insane -- why can’t we see that for ourselves? It’s like we have “prison addiction.”
I wonder if people with prison addiction should be consistently labeled “really bad people.” The rest of the world seems to think so.
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Comments (8)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
MITT ROMNEY, MEG WHITMAN, STEVE POIZNER, CARLY FIORINA NAMED IN HAVA VOTER FRAUD INVESTIGATION
Persons named in the Complaint to the Election Fraud Investigation Unit filed Sept 25.
Meg Whitman
Steve Poizner
Carly Fiorina
Mitt Romney
Ron Nehring
Tom Del Beccaro
National Republican Party (GOP)
California Republican Party (CRP)
The Lincoln Club
American Solutions
Young America’s Foundation
“Victory 08” Political Action Committee(PAC)
Young Republican Federation Of California (YRFC)
California Republican Party County Chairmen and Boards
HAVA Election Fraud Investigation Unit
www.sos.ca.gov
On September 23 leading US Republican Organizations and Gubernatorial and Senatorial Candidates have been named in a Complaint to the California Election Fraud Investigation Unit as breaking HAVA laws in recent elections.
It has been revealed that at the Feb 2009 CRP Convention, no legitimate election was held for internal positions including CRP Chairman.
According to sources, “Candidates set to run for positions were told ‘this is a coronation not an election.‘ No voter process, ballot boxes, nor the most basic rules that the US requires when overseeing an election in other countries was in place and was, in fact, overtly squashed by the highest powers in the Party using the harshest methods of coercion and intimidation.”
According to this same source, “One of the candidates resides in the same CA Assembly District as Whitman, Poizner, & Fiorina (District 21) and was subjected to libelous fabricated allegations, some of which were mass emailed to a large number of voters the day before the election. In addition, threats and intimidating tactics were used against anyone who supported candidates other than the single pre-selected candidate. This violates election code 18540 and is punishable by 16 months in state prison.
HAVA Hearings will conclude by Nov 23
Final Determination will be posted to sos.gov by December 23.
The comlaintants ask that those involved and their staff suspend all campaign and political activities including those for this weekend at the CA GOP Convention in Southern CA until the Secretary of State office publishes its final rulings on December 24.
For more information contact :
David Fennell
Vivian Abellana
274 Redwood Shores Parkway #331
Redwood City, CA 94065 USA
Phone: 650-685-2435
Fax: 650-373-2002
Email: davidfennelldistrict21@yahoo.com
Research Links
http://www.cagop.org/index.cfm/convention.htm
Posted by davidfennelldistrict21 | September 25, 2009 04:55 PM
Two comments:
First, as some wise person has said in the past, "We should reserve prison for those we are afraid of, not for those we are just mad at" Secondly, using a health care analogy, why can we have a degree of empathy for a person who has terrible health that was self-inflicted and yet have no empathy for those who are in prison through their own choices?
I have worked with inmates for the past 10 years and I've learned at least two things: There are those who are so evil that they should never again be released to reign havoc on the community. There are those who can truly be said to be changed people and have come out of prison, started their own businesses and are now leaders within their communities.
Posted by Sam | September 26, 2009 10:36 AM
JAG-
I am making sure you are "everywhere".....keep on keeping on....we ALL appreciate the TRUTH!!
Posted by PrisonMovement | September 26, 2009 11:12 AM
It would seem to me that the first place to go would be to the people in prison due to the three strikes law. In actuality they have already served the time allotted for the crime they have committed. The outrageous time added because it was considered a "3rd strike" is a ridiculous amount of time and adds to the over crowed situation. So many of them are older and matured and are determined to make their lives better and really don't want to be back in the horrible conditions prison has shown them. There would be no threat to the public releasing those who have already served twice and in many cases three or four times the sentence that would normally be given for whatever crime they committed, especially knowing that committing another crime would mean going back to prison. Nobody wants to live like an animal, and that is what prison is, living and being treated like animals. There was so much controversy about the treatment of those who threatened the country, such as the argument over "water boarding". Why are people not concerned about the inhumane treatment of the Americans here on our own turf?
Posted by Janet Booth | September 26, 2009 11:36 AM
thanks!
Posted by Jag | September 26, 2009 02:06 PM
Politicians dealing with the prison budget could either make a couple major structural changes or several small changes to reduce prison costs. Overdue structural changes would save billions. For example, passing a community corrections act (CCA) would save about $1 billion in annual prison operating costs and avoids spending about $4.6 billion in prison construction costs. Oregon and Minnesota have operated successful CCAs since the 1970s.
Adding 20,000 prison contract beds would save about $600 million in annual operating costs and avoid spending about $4.6 billion in prison construction costs. Contract bed annual operating costs are about $30,000 less than standard prison operating costs.
They decided to make several small changes even though it will not save much money. They chose the small changes because their principles are obviously more important than just saving taxpayer money. That principle is that the politicians will never unnecessarily offend the correctional employee unions. Taxpayers only count during elections but the unions count every day.
Posted by rich mckone | September 26, 2009 02:17 PM
Well written article. It's good to learn the perspective from those on the "inside." I hope we'll give REHAB and then release the needed amounts to make living the prison humane again. It's past time to get started....
Posted by listen-and-learn | September 27, 2009 09:54 AM
Tim Redmond, contact me if you want more messages from the INSIDE:
On Monday September 21, 2009, at 5:30 pm more than 60 inmates belonging to the Norteno prison gang were walked onto 5 yard at Avenal State Prison.
There are a number of prisoners that are considered NO GOOD by active gang members. If an inmate belongs to one of these gangs or desires the regard and respect of his fellow convicts he cannot stay at these prisons. Upon arrival he must GET BUSY attacking someone, earning him a trip to the HOLE or Administrative Segregation; otherwise he is deemed NO GOOD himself.
Avenal State Prison is one of the NO GOOD prisons. Administration is aware of this stigma. In a move that shows just how truly callous and indifferent to the well-bein and safety of their wards, they transferred these Nortenos into Avenal anyway.
The officers were waiting with guns at the ready. The Nortenos did what they needed to do and a great many people were injured, stabbed, and shot. Many inmates (e.g. the Nortenos) will catch additional time. The news media reports yet another SITUATION at a low-level security prison in California. It is all part of CDCr’s Grand Symphony.
Californians choose to believe whatever they are told, being duped by half truths, outright lies, and gross exaggeration. You are as much a prisoner of CDCr as we are. While it’s our bodies they imprison, it’s your minds they hold enthralled.
Posted by Eyes Wide Open | October 3, 2009 06:52 AM