Going Straight -- And Staying Straight -- After Prison
Most of us who haven't been incarcerated have, at least at times, periods when we really, really need the help of a friend or a supportive person in some area of our life.
People who've been incarcerated and are just out especially need this, and I was especially struck by the parts of this guy's story that reflected it.
Now, I don't know anything about private prisons, and I don't know if his experience is representative (in any way), but these measures seem to me ways to keep people who've done time from ending up in jail. And on a positive note, they seem a way for at least some of them or maybe even many of them to rejoin society and live as regular, non-crime-committing citizens.
From Inside Sources, Elmo Golden tells his story:
My name is Elmo Golden, and I live in Tampa. But for 17 years, my home was the GEO Group's correctional facility in South Bay, Florida.I've been out for almost two years now. I'm not very political -- prison life has its own politics -- but a reporter recently asked me what I thought about President Joe Biden's decision to order an end to contracts with private prisons.
First, I thanked the reporter for asking, because most people don't do that. They don't come to the prisons and ask us "how do we feel?"
Second, I told him if they did ask, they'd hear a lot more 'yes, we need private institutions' than 'no, we don't' from guys like me.
I have no interest in talking about the crimes I committed that put me into South Bay, or about what life is like in prison day in and day out. What's important to me was the most important question I faced while I was incarcerated: What would happen to me when I got out?
The fact is, 95 percent of state prisoners will be released at some point back onto the streets. For me, I was afraid that would be actually "on the streets." I had experienced homelessness before, and my primary concern about leaving prison was housing -- where would I lay my head?
I had already made up my mind that I couldn't go back to Ft. Lauderdale where I grew up. I knew what was waiting for me: Drinking, drugs, partying -- when I went back to my old neighborhood, my high school friends were still on that same corner. If I went back there, I figured it wouldn't be long before I went back to South Bay or someplace like it.
The folks at GEO helped me find housing as part of their 'Continuum of Care' program. It actually started about 16 months before I got out. They assigned me a personal counselor, someone I had to be in the interview room with every week, teaching me basic life skills like dealing with my anger.
Now, months after I left their facility, the program continues. I've got a counselor. I'm being held accountable. They check my living conditions, give me someone to talk to about problems I encounter out in the world.
GEO also helped me find a profession. While I was still incarcerated, I had the opportunity to take a college course. It's called the Water Treatment Program. At first, I was the only person interested, but soon it exploded into a full class of 10 people. They provided the space, as well as the books and calculators -- both of which were expensive - and the ability to take the qualification test.
When the day of the test arrived, there was a mix-up and I didn't have a way to get to the site where the test was going to be proctored. I had been up since five o'clock that morning and I didn't know what I was going to do. But the warden and assistant warden from South Bay, they made sure I was able to take that test and graduate.
They told me, 'We need you to take that test. We need you to graduate.' This coming from the prison administration, which most people think of as the enemy. It was amazing.
And there was one more amazing thing still to come.
When I went to prison, I had never met my father. I knew he lived in Tampa, so when I got out, they were able to provide transitional housing for me there. And after a few months searching, I found my dad.
You can read the rest at the link.
This private prison was really successful. They did faith-based programs, a vegan diet, and rehabilitation programs. It was opt-in, which skews the data, but still...
http://vegetarianspotlight.com/2011/vegan-diet-impacts-california-prison/
NicoleK at March 16, 2021 11:19 PM
I think the problems people have with private prisons isn't that they can't be successful, it's more because of abuses like the PA judge and things like that.
NicoleK at March 16, 2021 11:21 PM
Don't kid yourself NicoleK. It is the very concept of a government function being run by a private company. Doing a better or worse job doesn't enter into it. They just feel that government should be doing these things.
Ben at March 17, 2021 5:39 AM
Wokies abhor the profit motive, believing that anyone doing something for a profit cannot be at all capable of doing the same job humanely; that cost cutting will drive the provider of any service to cut corners just to increase the net profit.
And, given some past corporate abuses of employees and customers, their fears are not entirely unfounded. However, what they refuse to recognize is that those abuses are not the default setting of capitalism.
Conan the Grammarian at March 17, 2021 7:03 AM
It isn't even that deep Conan. Any attempt to be informed will reveal that government abuses as much if not more than the private sector. Those abuses are ok and completely acceptable. It really is as simple as 'Government should be responsible for jobs x, y, and z. No one else should be doing those jobs.'
Ben at March 17, 2021 9:41 AM
Okay, now let's go back to effectiveness.
On the impossibility of justice...
Radwaste at March 17, 2021 12:06 PM
"It was opt-in, which skews the data"
Unfortuantely, if someone doesn't want to be helped few plans will work for them. And it is very hard to motivate someone, especially through a major life change.
Trying to do one plan for everyone, will more likely hold back those who want to change rather than motivate those who don't. IMO
Joe J at March 17, 2021 1:28 PM
Ben is right: it is the very concept of private enterprise. At Coyoteblog, Warren points out the angry opposition to his private running of parks, even when the park before he took over was a mess. Same with charter schools: hateful opposition.
cc at March 17, 2021 1:39 PM
Maybe, but it's still a rude tic:
Crid at March 17, 2021 2:23 PM
Going straight - and staying straight - after going to prison must be difficult. The environment is full of evil people intent on continuing to do evil, and to be released and walk the path of 'not-evil' is an admirable thing.
"Robinhood Markets Inc has appointed former Google executive Aparna Chennapragada as its first chief product officer"
But sometimes the money is just sooooo good, y'know?
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at March 17, 2021 3:27 PM
Is there a financial reward for everyone who doesn't go back to a life a crime?
For example, give the prison x amount if the person hasn't committed a crime for 5 years, a bit more at 10, and a bit more at 15?
NicoleK at March 17, 2021 11:02 PM
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