EDUCATION EQUALS REHABILITATION

Got your attention? I hope so! There has been so much talk about relocating the Utah State Prison. Media reports say it is because of overcrowding. Has anyone stopped to examine the “why” of the overcrowding? I have. And here are my thoughts.

Overcrowding in the prison stems from many repeat offenders. Why are these people returning time and time again? It seems to be a revolving door at the front entrances of both Draper and Gunnison.  It all boils down to one thing; lack of education in the state prison system. Now before anyone starts yelling that there are programs, just wait. Yes there are programs but what are the Offenders learning? Some of the programs are geared to help the Offender examine themselves….what happened to make me make this choice? Why did the Offender choose the path they chose? But what marketable skills are being offered to those behind the walls?

 The Utah Department of Corrections has constantly reduced its education, programming and treatment of inmates mainly because of budget cuts. This reduction also comes by choice. It has eliminated post-secondary education and most vocational training programs, exactly the kind of programs that directly result in reduced recidivism. Utah has one of the highest rates of recidivism in the country – over 50%.

There are some certificate programs available. But they are not available to all. There are restrictions such as the Offender has to have a parole or termination date before they can enroll. And then there is the cost for the Offender. Many of the Offenders do work in the prison….for a mere forty cents an hour. Out of this sixteen dollars a week (assuming that they work 40 hours) they have charges such as medical care, medicine, child support , etc. taken. These are paid first and then whatever is left is put on the Offender’s books. The Offender is in debt before they are released! And then if they take these offered certificate courses, they are in even more debt.

Draper and Gunnison (part of the Utah Department of Corrections)  recently graduate a large number of Offenders who earned their high school diplomas. Congratulations to these men and women. But, if an Offender holds a GED, they are still FORCED to enroll in a high school diploma course. Why? On the outside, a GED is equivalent to a high school diploma. Many GED holders made a personal choice to get the GED; whether it was because the Offender was bored with the public school and wanted to complete it early or they had to drop out to support a family. Many of today’s Multi-millionaires have GEDs.  Why waste funds forcing the Offender who has that GED to get a high school diploma? Why not put that money into the certificate programs and teach them a marketable skill; a skill from which they will be able to make a living; a skill that will help them support the family.

 Over 95 percent of Offenders will rejoin society. The cure for this incarceration situation is not in spending the least amount possible, but rather to spend the right amount, whatever the cost. Treat, educate and re-integrate the Offenders back into society. What kind of community do you want to invest in?

I would like to pose a question, who would you rather have living next door to you, a person who has spent years in prison watching television, hanging out playing cards, lifting weights, not acquiring any skills or education or trying to improve himself, who when he leaves prison is filled with hate and anger and resentment; or a person who has spent his years in prison learning how his negative choices brought him to prison, affected his family and friends and most importantly his victims and society, recognizing those faults and learning through programs to deal with adversity, and how to think positively, how to love him/herself so that he/she can help and love others? If your answer is the second person then it is incumbent upon you to take action and make sure that prisons are places of rehabilitation.

 It is up to us, WE THE PEOPLE, to enforce these programs in our prisons. How do we do this? You elected the heads of government into those positions, so make sure they are doing the job they are there to do. I like to think this: DOC has a boss, who has a boss, who has a boss. If someone isn't doing what they are supposed to or they do not have sufficient programs THEN DO SOMETHING!

Many prisons have the resources.  They don’t want to use it to truly fully rehabilitate the offender. Unfortunately money and funding seem to matter more than rehabilitation.

Our society is more about revenge than rehabilitation. Speak up and let us change this concept!

Today’s offenders are tomorrow’s neighbors, is what I say. GIVE THEM opportunities to make it on the outside. Give them the knowledge and tools to succeed. Don’t keep them handicapped!