Comments on: Prison Reform Should Include Work-Release and Study-Release

By: Nancy Limon

Nancy Limon — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 04:05:30 +0000

March 12, 2009

Mr. Santos:

In the article “Prison Reform Should Include Work-Release and Study-Release,” you give us alternative programs for nonviolent prisoners. Through this form of merit you say that programs like the ones you are proposing will be a benefit to society rather then just having prisoners sit in their cells, play games, and/or feel as if they have nothing to lose. So my questions to you are: First, Do you believe that Career Criminals should be offered this alternative and if so why? Second, What will you say to people that believe offenders know what they are doing when they are doing criminal activities no matter what age they are and should not have any type of merit? Last but not least where do you think the funding for these programs should come from? Finally, I would like to say that I loved your blog and I have shared it with members from La Raza Student Associations de CSULB in which I am part of and we think that your proposal is great and wish you the best.

By: Jose Ortiz

Jose Ortiz — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:25:33 +0000

March 9, 2009

Mr. Santos:

In your article entitled “Prison Reform should Include Work Release and Study Release” you state that you push for prison reform for the good of society and not for personal benefit. I strongly agree with your views because I see prisons as an institution to help criminals, not make them worse. Being that I have a family member that is in prison, I want him to learn from his mistake and try to do something in prison that can help him and society. Also, you mention that with Work Release and Study Release programs, more inmates will be encourage to work towards behaving and not fall into the stereotypical prison life. When California had these types of programs a couple of years ago more inmates were getting educated and actually doing something while in prison. I feel the more opportunities inmates have to change, the better chance that they will not commit crimes when released.

My question to you is, do you think there should be a certain criteria/rubric of what type of non violent offenders should be eligible for these programs? Being that there are different levels and categories of nonviolent offenders. Also will their criminal background be looked at before admitting them into the programs? Meaning the times they have offended and the serious of the crimes they have committed. Although you push for prison reform from a federal level perspective, do you think that Work Release and Study Release programs will work at a State level? And finally, in the means of helping inmates with new skills and education; what do you suggest be the measures taken to help society understand that these inmates will now have skills to bring to the table?

Before knowing about your website Mr. Santos I did not know anything like this existed. I enjoyed reading your article and happy to see that you are trying to change and educate people from the inside. This is something you don’t hear about a lot. Hope everything is going good at Taft Camp.

Sincerely,

Jose Ortiz

By: Carole Santos

Carole Santos — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 16:18:08 +0000

Hi Ana,

Thanks for writing. Michael responded to your questions here:

http://prisonnewsblog.com/2009/03/prison-reforms-save-money/

Best wishes,
Carole Santos

By: Jennifer Wilsey

Jennifer Wilsey — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 03:37:37 +0000

March 5, 2009
Mr. Santos,
In your article “Prison Reform Should Include Work Release and Study Release”, you indicate that prisoners should be given better opportunities while in prison so they can come back to society as more productive members and will hopefully contribute to a lower recidivism rate. I do agree that prison reform needs to happen soon because California’s prison system is in big trouble right now and the recidivism rate is at 60%. But I do not feel like all non violent offenders should be rewarded with a free education when everyone that goes to college, that is not in prison, has to pay their own way or have the opportunity to earn money and be able to save it. It is a great idea to help the people who are in prison to become better people, so when they are released they will not go back to their old ways and get themselves right back into trouble. But I do think California should find ways for people in prison to better themselves while they are still incarcerated.

I have a couple of questions for you regarding this article and your education in general. Do you feel even though you have made such great academic achievements you will have a harder time trying to find a job because you have been in prison? Are you going to continue to pursue your PhD once you have been released? In addition, does it irritate you when the prison administrators hassle you about educating yourself? What do they say? Do they want you to only work toward the cases of soda after a soccer tournament as opposed to a college degree? Do you feel if inmates were given the study release or work release program they would take advantage of it and use it to the best of their ability?

I really appreciate you writing all these articles and helping me out with the questions I have for you. Reading your book and articles really helps me to understand corrections on another level as opposed to just in the classroom. Also, I think it is great that you did use your time in prison in a productive manner by educating yourself. That is great.

Sincerely,
Jennifer

By: Michael Santos

Michael Santos — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 20:27:53 +0000

Hi Noel,

Michael responded to your questions here:

http://prisonnewsblog.com/2009/03/incentives-lead-to-more-effective-prisons/

Best wishes,
Carole Santos

By: Rachel Course

Rachel Course — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:29:16 +0000

March 1, 2009
Mr. Santos:
In your article entitled” Prison Reform Should Include Work-Release and Study-Release” you indicate that prison reform is struggling and should include work-release and study-release programs for those nonviolent offenders, for this will improve society upon their release. My question to you is although nonviolent offenders would be those eligible for work-release programs, isn’t incarceration’s purpose to “detain” those who have committed crimes and strip them of the activities most of us work for, such as employment, education, and interaction with society? If we allow them to earn small freedoms, it will lighten their sentences that they’ve earned by committing crimes. I do agree that offenders need to be productive members of society upon their release, but coming from someone who volunteers with many individuals who can not themselves receive a meaningful education, why should those who have “harmed” society be allowed to receive a better education from our tax dollars and go on to have a carefree life when released unlike some of the worthy law-abiding citizens I have come to know? I do understand that prisoners should be productive while spending days inside their cells,and education is a very productive and beneficial activity for society, but I am just unsure on how I feel about prisoners walking out of prison with degrees, because no matter how much I try to warm up to the idea, I am always thinking that they are prisoners and regardless the severity of the crime, they broke the law, harmed society’s well-being, and should therefore not be so freely allowed the privileges we law-abiding citizens enjoy, especially coming from our tax dollars. I do not mean to be rude to your education Mr. Santos and I do agree with most of your thoughts and opinions, this one however makes me uneasy. Do you think there is any possibility of a credit system for the prisoners where they can earn these privileges through cooperating in jail duties and completing a set amount of time, problem-free? If not, why don’t you think this wouldn’t work? I enjoy picking up your book every free minute I have, and it has really helped me understand life in a prison. Please take my questions into consideration and know that I understand both negative and positive aspects of this topic. Thank you for writing the articles you have and taking your time to answer my questions.
With Best Regards,
Rachel Course

By: Ana Diaz

Ana Diaz — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 21:42:49 +0000

Mr. Santos
In your article entitled “Prison Reform Should Include Work-Release and Study-Release” you indicate that both of these reforms would be far more effective in lowering recidivism rates and making society safer. Also, you mention that prison administrators harrass those who attempt building stronger networks through education.
My question to you is, why do you think prison administrators behave in such a manner against these individuals, such as yourself? I enjoyed reading you article and thank you for your dedication in responding to my entire class.

By: Noel Nicklay

Noel Nicklay — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:56:42 +0000

I agree that prison reform is a must- obviously what has been and continues to occur is not working, with recidivism rates as high as they are. What, in your opinion, would be the first thing that should be changed, or done to have a significant impact on preparing inmates for release back into society? What else do you think should be done?

By: Ana Isabel Plascencia

Ana Isabel Plascencia — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 18:36:39 +0000

I agree with you that a prison reform is needed; for studies have illustrated that a large number of offenders that are incarcerated in our prison system, when released turn out to be more unlawful than when they were incarcerated in the first place. For that reason initiating work-release and study-release programs would bring far more benefits to society than simply incarcerating offenders, by reducing recidivism. Consequently reducing prison over crowing, crime rates….But how could this reform be applied within or society, in your perspective? When due to the bad economy, our government is cutting down funds and a prison reform such as the one you suggest would require additional funding. Also our society is more concern with creating new jobs, foreclosure….than with prison reform.