Comments on: California’s prison guards lock up reforms

By: Loco

Loco — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 02:43:55 +0000

Rehabilitation doesn’t work for prison. I’m sorry to those of you who have family or friends incarcerated, but the reality is, rehabilitation only works for a small percentage that want to change their lives…I do believe in programs for the incarcerated, but I strongly believe In programs for the youth. Young children, kids in school that are going to be our future..It’s ridiculous that government is willing to spend millions of dollars in rehabilitating programs for convicted felons but, cut after school programs…I don’t get it.. Less teachers, higher amount of students, Lower after school programs, and reduce the budget for school district spending. In addition, the general public has no CLUE how much money the State spends (tax payers) in medical benefits to ALL the incarcerated in prison.. It’s appalling to me that law abiding citizens with health insurance, have to wait several weeks for an approval for certain medical procedures, whereas, incarcerated are approved same day (in most cases). Everyone has their opinion on what’s right, and what’s wrong….all I’m saying is learn the the true facts before basing an opinion…..

By: Kathy Harrington

Kathy Harrington — Mon, 27 May 2013 01:31:09 +0000

So currently lots of inmates are being put on buses and planes and shipped out of state to make it look like the numbers have decreased. The number have not decreased, they have only been moved out – the State still pays. Yet there are many inmates who have served their time, older lifers who have completed their sentence, have a very low recidivism rate and are still being held for petty and unjust reasons – 66 years old and not released because an inmate does not have a GED? But he has a family willing to support him and a job promised to him and even if he didn’t have this job his family is cabable of his support. Take the state off the hook and let these older inmates come home!!

By: Sean Morham

Sean Morham — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:20:10 +0000

Commons Sense reforms are needed. Cap the number of beds as a percent of the population. We could have an ongoing ” Califonia Felon” (think American Idol__ contest to select the most vile criminals. Gather up the winners, execute by firing squad, over crowding solved. Let the union keep the money from the contest(pay per view, internet, t- shirts, hats, etc, naming rights to prisons. “Mossberg State Prison at Soledad”..) after expenses of feeding the vermin their last meal( need to be humane), shooting them, disposing of the remains, and add prisons as needed. What’s not to like about this? The union has got to love it, pensions can be lowered to 45 years old with 20 years experience at 90 percent(spiking will not be allowed, hey need to get some reforms in negotiation). Think Common Sense.

By: Randy

Randy — Thu, 23 May 2013 06:18:21 +0000

Prisons for profit are the only ones who oppose releasing the people that are in only for drug offences and not violent acts or murder. Most of the inmates are in that catigory and can be reliesed with no danger to the public. The prisons want to keep them in only for the profit they will gain

By: baycommuter

baycommuter — Thu, 23 May 2013 04:04:10 +0000

Yes, prison guards make more money than other jobs, such as most newspaper reporters. But I bet very few newspaper reporters would switch jobs with them. Texas, which doesn’t pay guards much of anything, has constant understaffing which leads to even more forced overtime and employee turnver.

By: Lynle

Lynle — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:44:32 +0000

Why can’t they get an accurate inmate count? They take prisoners out and place them on buses to be shipped out to other prisons, While on the road a count is taken and yes there are less in that prison because they weren’t in on the count, just being transferred like cattle. It cost money to move them around. There should be stiffer laws on crime and not such a fast sentence to lock them up. What I don’t understand is why they can send a person to prison for under 10 years for murder and a guy that took pictures of his daughter and had porn on his computer and never shared any of it, who never hurt anyone, never raped anyone and is not a repeat offender, and NO threat to society yet got 405 years to life. When did taking pictures become worse than taking a life?

By: Frank Courser

Frank Courser — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:29:27 +0000

It is not about good public policy,nor is it about public safety. It’s all about the money! The CCPOA has pushed and paid for stiffer laws that keep our prisons full! That is why the governor and legislature refuse to address sentencing and parole reform! That is why we spend 10 billion dollars every year on a broken prison system!

By: SHERRI

SHERRI — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:17:22 +0000

I can name a few programs that have worked.. The on ei went to for that matter I have over thirteen years clean and have been working at a County government job for over 10yrs.. When I was re;leased from Prison it was with a record of five felonies. I got my Ged in prison nad a rehabilitation program sent me to clerical school taught me about computers and now Im a very sucessful person in my carrer oh y amy spelling sucks at times.. Im human and as for the Officers who bring in contraband and are human really well i dont have issues with them caus ei know alot of the inmates have a problem to and are human just like me.. Kind of funny how someone can see them as human and not the inmates.. Stop building more prison stop overcrowding county jails and offer the inmates that want to learn and aquire skills to do so with incentives.. We are all human and deserve a fair chance locking poeple up like animals and yes some of them are treated like animals is helping them their families or society as a whole. I wish i had more clear answers I think evryone should be held accountable for their actions and Im very grateful thaT I WAS AND ALSO GIVEN AN OPPURTUNITY TO LEarn no skills..

By: Max the Hippo

Max the Hippo — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:57:38 +0000

Like in any profession, there are unethical individuals among California’s correctional officers. That’s why there’s oversight to investigate bad behavior and fire or discipline those guilty. The problem with this article is it seems to use a few bad officers to smear the whole profession. If a plumber commits a crime, does that mean we should all be anti-plumber? No, of course not, that would be ridiculous.

Most correctional officers are good people who do an incredibly difficult and dangerous job. Officers are paid well for what they do, but it’s not true that the state would save a bunch of money were officer pay cut. In Texas, the turnover of officers is so high because of officers’ low pay that they have to deal with a lot of costs that we don’t, not to mention that public safety suffers when officers are inexperienced and underpaid.

By: Michnrich

Michnrich — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:06:56 +0000

Sorry , that excuse, that where the prison is located gives reason for pay increase is absurd , many California commute to jobs over an hour a way everyday ! And your talking about only 3 prisons , out of 33 , most of which is in the middle of no where , and I highly doubt that those are very pricey ! And only 3 officers a year get caught ? Really ? Or only 3 get charged with the crime ? There is multiple lawsuits and investigations in the CDCR and for good reason , sorry the criminals are not the only ones in prison they are the ones running it also , I’m not saying every CDCR employee is corrupt , but the majority are indeed ! And it’s safe to say , that every person that oppresses people or are a witness or involved in it will have to answer to God in the end ! So those that are driving nice cars and living in nice houses at the downfall of others , there day of judgement will come forth soon ! Corruption is everywhere in this day and age , but oppression only lasts so long till ppl revolt , check your history books or the bible , God rises up every time !