Schools in Session

Last Monday classes resumed for both the regular associates degree students and the specialized IT/college students. For the IT guys, the week was especially overwhelming. Each of the two groups of twenty are enrolled in ten credit hours of classes. They are in class six hours per day, every Monday to Thursday afternoon and evening (almost every guy holds down a job so they work in the morning). Each class has numerous reading assignments, worksheets, essays. We returned from class at 9:15 pm, caught our breath, had evening count, then started reading. I do all the assignments with the guys so I’ll know what the “correct” answers are.



By mid-week, tempers were fraying. Guys were up late studying; they were going to classes and getting new assignments (“for tomorrow, read chapters two and three” – sixty pages). A number of guys were ready to quit. One of my “strengths” is I apparently can cajole and goad guys to “man up”.


Thursday, the President and various Deans from the Community College gave a “pep talk” to all the college guys.


“You guys are making history. This is a test program. Nowhere else in the county is this happening.”


It was moving what the college president said. He urged all of us to endure, to not accept defeat, to fight for our futures. He then said this: “and the Governor believes in this. He wants his re-entry initiative to become a model for corrections.”


I thought a good deal about that comment. It’s a laudable goal the Governor has put forth. Unfortunately, until he gets his “rank and file”, front line staff to buy in, it amounts to nothing. The fact is, until Governor McDonnell and DOC Director Clarke kick their wardens and officers in the pants and demand change, nothing in the Governor’s initiative will succeed.


The truth is, DOC doesn’t want re-entry to become the model, doesn’t want an incentive based policy that allows for rehabilitated inmates to be released early without the stigma of incarceration branded on them.


Until Governor McDonnell and Director Clarke compel DOC to change their antiquated approach to housing, movement, programs, and treatment of inmates, this program – no matter how well these guys do – will not be successful. Simply put, the rank and file who work at DOC don’t give a damn about these guys succeeding.


Each day, the men going to college in here (the “campus behind walls”) deal with difficulties not faced by any other college student. That’s understandable. We broke the law. Rules have to be in place to preserve security. But, many of the rules have absolutely nothing to do with security. Many of the rules are enforced to simply make it more difficult on the guys trying to get an education.


Case in point: Evening classes are to begin immediately after count clears (every inmate has been accounted for). Every college student is in building 4A. Every evening, Monday through Thursday, at least seventy guys head to the program building for classes. The total number of inmates in programs those nights other than college students is perhaps thirty from the rest of the compound.


What do they do? They call “college and programs West side” first. Then, after those few guys find their way up to the building, they call “college East side”. A mad rush out of our door ensues and finally – around 6:45 pm – classes get underway.


The exact same principle holds for lunch service. Guys have to eat before class. But, the way they call “third period school lunch”, the 12:30 classes usually don’t begin until 1:00, the guys are being shortchanged (they can’t stay in the building after 3:30 – another rule).


Each college student has a stack of five to eight textbooks. Add notebooks to that and you have a huge stack. Dorm rules prohibit more than two books on your locker shelf. Dorm rules prohibit any personal items being left in chairs or under lockers. Where does DOC want these guys to keep their books?


Shortly after the school year began, the principal sent three long wooden tables into the building. Most buildings have heavy circular tables that barely allow two men to sit at comfortably. The new tables allowed six men to spread out comfortably and study. Within two hours, the tables were removed (forget the fact the assistant warden OK’d their use). The reason? Security: “Guys could break table legs off and use them as weapons.” There are fifty items in the building that can be used as weapons and not one word is said.


I sat there and listened to the college president speak and noticed no one from the prison administration was there. Not once has any warden, assistant warden, or senior officer ever spoken to the college group and said “we are behind this program”.


The annual cost to hold a prisoner in Virginia is $24,667. In fiscal year 2008 Virginia taxpayers spent 7.6 percent of the state’s general funds on corrections. Virginia’s percentage of adult correctional population behind bars is the fourth highest rate in the country. The state’s imprisonment rate per 100,000 residents is nine percent higher than the national average for all states. Those are the facts.


Yet politicians and DOC and their contract benefactors continue with the myth of having to keep prisoners locked up longer to ensure “public safety”. Corrections today isn’t about public safety – it’s about money.


As I sat there listening to the college president, he suddenly called my name and the other academic aides’ names to stand up.


“These guys work with you daily. They are putting you first to give you a chance. Without them, this program won’t succeed.”


It was nice to hear. After twelve and fourteen hour days working with guys who have never known academic success, it was a nice change to know somebody appreciated the effort I was putting forth. I like to think Harold Clarke and Governor McDonnell are paying attention and will say “this guy deserves out of here. Look how he’s worked to improve the lives of those around him.” I like to think that. But, the truth is, unless Bob McDonnell specifically looks at my situation, and Craig's and a host of other guys, we will continue to languish in here.


If Governor McDonnell and Director Clarke really want their initiative to succeed, come up her to Lunenburg and meet with a few of us. Let us sell the program. Give us a second chance. That’s the challenge I’ll set out.


I have a set of English papers to read, then computer worksheets. The guys are working hard. Hopefully, it’s not in vain.