B.P.
The other day while standing at my window in the hole, I saw someone new coming in. They were on 2 man which means there are two correctional officers walking with you, in addition to having handcuffs (behind the back) and leg cuffs. I knew this guy was coming back to Spring Creek, no doubt about it, when I heard what was going on with him. There was no way to miss it since that was all over the news on TV and the newspapers for weeks it seemed.
This reminded me of another story that had been covered so avidly by the media, the No Frills Bill. You remember that dont you? That was the Bill that makes prisons so tough in Alaska that no one will ever commit a new crime again, once they had been subjected to it, and just the thought of prison would scare off anyone thinking of crime. Yes, I'm being sarcastic, very much so.
I have read a few articles dealing with the future statistics of the impact of this bit of feel good legislation and came to the conclusion that they dont know anything. Its ridiculous to think that not having a few things in prison will stop crime, or even slow it down. Look at the states with capitol punishment, does that stop people from committing murder? So the lawmakers who came up with this bright idea are trying to convince you the public that taking away smoking and education in prisons in Alaska will stop crime?
Case in point, this person I noticed coming into the hole on 2 man left months before, lasted a day if I remember right before picking up a new case. This was long after the No Frills Bill came into being, and I believe that he and I even talked about aspects of it.
So why then, did this man commit new crimes? Does he enjoy being in prison? Did he not know he would go back to prison? I know him a bit and I dont think he is institutionalized nor is he dumb, so I believe he was aware he would go back to prison.
I can say without having talked to him the reason for his new crimes, MONEY. I know that some people believe that when prisoners are released we are provided with money and personal property to start over. That is just not the case. Whatever property you have when you leave is what you bought in prison or what you already had.
Money? You get $150.00 or so, I forget the exact amount, but thats all. You are supposed to start your whole life over with $150.00. I know you are saying to yourself, Why didnt he just get a job and wait until payday? If only it were that easy.
For the average citizen getting a job is fairly easy. For an ex-con, not nearly so simple. For example, if I were to be released today, 9/21/98, I have no idea what I would do. In the computer era, I dont exist. I've never had a drivers license, never had a job, no references, and never voted, nothing.
Ive been in prison since 10/21/82, I was 18 then and fresh out of juvenile hall, where I just finished doing 3 years. I have no marketable job skills, but since I am not getting out of prison, that doesn't matter. Aside from all that, this other man and I have a record. I can't pretend otherwise, nor can anyone getting out.
If this person had applied for a job at your company, would you have hired him? An ex-con with no references and no job experience? Most of the time the answer would be no. If I remember correctly, he was released on mandatory release, that is to say, he did every bit of the last sentence he had.
If you go before the parole board, you are supposed to have a plan for release, i.e. a job lined up, a place to live, and a goal. In my case, how would I know? How am I supposed to get a job from in prison? Not only would a company, or person have to want to hire me, but be willing to wait a few months, also knowing that I may not get out anyway. Where would I live?
That brings us right back to this other man. He got out with $150.00 or whatever amount of Gate Money he was given, that is supposed to help him start his life over. If he has no family or friends to help him out, what would you suggest he do?
$150.00 will get you a few nights at a cheap hotel, then what? How do you eat? Buy clothes? Get pots and pans and the thousand other things needed to live in a house of apartment or get a job? The skills you learn in here are mostly cleaning skills. There are two areas that you may get some vocational training at Spring Creek, Alaska Correctional Industries and Food Service. College? If you have enough money for college then you can survive on the streets. We pay the full price for any college classes we take. All costs. So if you got no money, you get no college. Simple as that. Other education is limited to GED and a few basic computer courses, taught by other prisoners. Mostly DOS, windows, etc. Since its against security rules to experiment with any settings or programs you are only allowed to learn the basic operation of the programs. The whole world is run off computers now, to do anything you need to know how to operate one.
Of course the biggest most important tool you can have for rehabilitation you can no longer buy to have in your cell. Computers. Oh yes, that is something that I notice reading papers or watching the news. They never say it right out there, but the implication is that DOC, and by extension you the taxpayer, gives everyone in prison a computer, TV typewriter and clothes etc. This is not the truth. Anything were allowed to have we must buy ourselves of course. Nothing educational or vocational is provided to us at your expense.
So prisoners are released to the street with no job skills, and enough money for a night or two in a cheap motel and expected to make it. Taking this into consideration is it any wonder the recidivism rate is sky-high in Alaska?