We put the finishing touches on a million
dollar DOJ grant proposal this week. Funny how much money is out there to do
things; just getting it is the hard part.
So, we are trying to provide technology college
training to 60 high at-risk offenders. And, the DOC appears interested. At
least, that's what they say. And good publicity for them, I guess. The problem
continues to be the disconnect between what is claimed and what is.
In two weeks I'm appearing on a panel to
discuss "education vs. ignorance" part of the re-entry program. I
wasn't going to do it, but a counselor I admire asked for my assistance. See in
here there is a lot of "inmate.com" that controls what guys think.
Everything is anecdotal. "I know a guy who went to college and he was
unemployed...." Therefore, every college guy can't find work. The other.
That's ignorance. That's the biggest problem in here. Guys are notorious for
believing any crazy rumor or conspiracy theory, or worse.
So they announce this program and come to me because
I have facts ad figures that show (1) educated inmates find work (2) educated
inmates make better money and (3) educated inmates don't come back to prison.
It's all there in black and white...yet few in here believe it. Why? Because
it's easier to believe in rumors and falsehoods than the truth. The truth is a
tough thing, not just in here, but in the real world as well.
How does the prison feel about education? They
aren't our biggest supporters. In fact, there are those in power here who are
openly hostile to education programs; then, there are the ones even tougher to
deal with--the ones who aren't so upfront, but use their power to stop guys
from getting to school.
Education. You can send an inmate to college,
get him or her real job skills which do more to stop the cycle of crime and
prison than any program, and do it all for about $5000 a year; no one wants to
fund that. Instead, taxpayers pay $27,000, at minimum, to keep a man or woman
behind bars for much too long in dirty, unhealthy facilities where you get
overwhelmed with self-pity and bitterness; and you come back out just as bad
off as before.
Perhaps my remarks on the 29th should be to the
Virginia General Assembly and not just the men in here.
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