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Critics Say Prisoner Transfers Punish Children and Families
A California Superior Court judge Tuesday tossed our Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to solve the state's severe prison overcrowding by transferring inmates out of state. Two labor unions that represent correctional officers and other prison employees had sued to block the transfers. Three hundred and sixty prisoners have been relocated.
The ruling by Judge Gail D. Ohanesian who acknowledged a "climate of peril" in the prisons comes as the state is under federal order to ease "dangerously" overcrowded conditions or face strict limits on new admissions. Eliminating the option could lead to some inmates being released early and other convicts being held at county jails.
In a statement, Gov. Schwarzenegger called the ruling "an unacceptable threat to public safety." "I will not release dangerous criminals to relieve overcrowding."
While families of inmates like James W. agree prison conditions warrant immediate action, many say the transfers punish the whole family.
"What about the inmate's families? What will become of their children?" asks Malisa Oliver of Rialto.
Oliver remembers the look on her 7-year-old cousin, Danen's face when he pressed his forehead against the inch thick window that separated him from his father James W. who is serving a 10 year sentence at the Chino Men's Prison for multiple nonviolent drug offenses. "He said, ‘Daddy, why are you leaving us'? He pounded on the glass petition with his fists and shouted, ‘it's not fair. You can't leave me'."
Oliver could only watch and wipe tears from Danen's eyes. "It's like a second death." Thirty-two-year old James W. is one of more than 400 inmates who volunteered to be transferred to out-of-state private facilities in Arizona, Oklahoma and Mississippi. James W. told family members conditions at the Chino prison are ‘dangerous, inhumane and shackle his hopes for rehabilitation'.
"He told us he sleeps in a triple bunk bed in the middle of a packed gym. He says he lies awake at night poised to defend himself against violent inmates. He says the place is a powder keg. He just wants to get the hell out of there," says Oliver.
James W. requested transfer after Gov. Schwarzenegger issued an emergency executive order authorizing voluntary and involuntary transfers.
Oliver said James W. viewed video tapes of the more favorable living conditions in out-of-state prisons. "In one videotape, a former California inmate boasts about having television selections that include ESPN."
"Up to half of all male children of prisoners will go on to commit crimes themselves, perpetuating a cycle that will feed the prison boom for generations to come," says Denise Johnson, head of the Center for Children of Incarcerated Parents.
More
http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=bd7f8e8f59bb9f4aa5467627be467a5e
In a statement, Gov. Schwarzenegger called the ruling "an unacceptable threat to public safety." "I will not release dangerous criminals to relieve overcrowding."
While families of inmates like James W. agree prison conditions warrant immediate action, many say the transfers punish the whole family.
"What about the inmate's families? What will become of their children?" asks Malisa Oliver of Rialto.
Oliver remembers the look on her 7-year-old cousin, Danen's face when he pressed his forehead against the inch thick window that separated him from his father James W. who is serving a 10 year sentence at the Chino Men's Prison for multiple nonviolent drug offenses. "He said, ‘Daddy, why are you leaving us'? He pounded on the glass petition with his fists and shouted, ‘it's not fair. You can't leave me'."
Oliver could only watch and wipe tears from Danen's eyes. "It's like a second death." Thirty-two-year old James W. is one of more than 400 inmates who volunteered to be transferred to out-of-state private facilities in Arizona, Oklahoma and Mississippi. James W. told family members conditions at the Chino prison are ‘dangerous, inhumane and shackle his hopes for rehabilitation'.
"He told us he sleeps in a triple bunk bed in the middle of a packed gym. He says he lies awake at night poised to defend himself against violent inmates. He says the place is a powder keg. He just wants to get the hell out of there," says Oliver.
James W. requested transfer after Gov. Schwarzenegger issued an emergency executive order authorizing voluntary and involuntary transfers.
Oliver said James W. viewed video tapes of the more favorable living conditions in out-of-state prisons. "In one videotape, a former California inmate boasts about having television selections that include ESPN."
"Up to half of all male children of prisoners will go on to commit crimes themselves, perpetuating a cycle that will feed the prison boom for generations to come," says Denise Johnson, head of the Center for Children of Incarcerated Parents.
More
http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=bd7f8e8f59bb9f4aa5467627be467a5e
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It has become painfully obvious to me that the major hurdle to overcome with regard to prison reform and the enormous problem of overcrowding is a pervasive feeling among many that prisoners deserve nothing. That is, little or no consideration for their predicament or their conditions. The general public simply doesn't really care what happens to them as long as they are "off the streets". They should care, because most will one day return to "the streets".
Shipping a few to other States will have little effect on the current situation. It's just a ploy to keep the Feds at bay. Won't work.
The billions being spent on Ca. prisons is a money pit as no rehabilitation nor "corrections" are happening. It's a revolving door.
Very often people will come out worse than when they went in. What's the point here? If keeping them off the streets is all that we care about, we are sufferig from delusional thinking for "They'll be back" and with a vengeance.
What is needed is rehabs and treatment facilities. In the meantime we need sentencing reform and alternatives to our "tough on crime" mind-set. It's not working and is only making matters worse.
Shipping a few to other States will have little effect on the current situation. It's just a ploy to keep the Feds at bay. Won't work.
The billions being spent on Ca. prisons is a money pit as no rehabilitation nor "corrections" are happening. It's a revolving door.
Very often people will come out worse than when they went in. What's the point here? If keeping them off the streets is all that we care about, we are sufferig from delusional thinking for "They'll be back" and with a vengeance.
What is needed is rehabs and treatment facilities. In the meantime we need sentencing reform and alternatives to our "tough on crime" mind-set. It's not working and is only making matters worse.
The families of inmates should not have to suffer anymore grief over their loved ones because of all the mistakes our politicians have made over the recent years. Prison conditions are horrendous and something needs to be done ASAP. I am not talking about using bandaids on this large wound either. There are many people overcrowding the prisons that should have been put on probation or under house arrest. Parole Violations also add to the burden. Quit sending petty parole violators back to prison. I say we vote to transfer all of the tough on crime politicians from California to Iraq so they can try and restore order over there.
Our Governor should do something to stop the pain that many families have been suffering when their loves are incarcerated. Schwarzeneeger should implement more solution for all those immates that are treated as an animals.
Why punish the children and families of inmates? There should be no reason to transfer those that don't Volunteer. The two labor unions know what the meaning is for Volunteer/Voluntary. When their employer uses the word "Mandatory" boy do they come unglued. So why don't you think as if these inmates where your members? After all they are your customers.
Remember these are human beings that may have made a mistake or to and should be treated with dignity as well as their families. Don't loose sight.
Remember these are human beings that may have made a mistake or to and should be treated with dignity as well as their families. Don't loose sight.
Children of prisoners need love, acceptance, and support -- from both of their parents. Often children don’t understand why a parent has been incarcerated and learn to fight the system themselves, or perhaps they understand but believe the parent has been treated unfairly. Others are torn between love for the parent and hate or shame for what the parent has done. Most children of parents in prison feel isolated not only from the parent but from their peers and community; they are condemned through no fault of their own. Too often these circumstances, coupled too often with not being able to visit their imprisoned parent, set the child up for failure in relationships with family members and peers and failure at school because the child feels alone and worthless.
Children of sex offenders, for example, are forbidden to have contact visits with their parents, even though the sex offense had nothing to do with the child, even though visits take place in the supervised and guarded room full of inmates and other families. Granted, special permission may be granted for non-contact visits, but this would not only embarrass and further damage the child, but would put the inmate parent at great risk of rape or serious injury by other inmates.
More needs to be done to support children of inmates, not only by communities but by the CDCR in not adding to the difficulties these children endure. Visiting should be made a priority for inmates’ children. Their very lives and futures depend on having contact with their parents, as well as community support. Transferring inmates with children out of state is a huge mistake.
Children of sex offenders, for example, are forbidden to have contact visits with their parents, even though the sex offense had nothing to do with the child, even though visits take place in the supervised and guarded room full of inmates and other families. Granted, special permission may be granted for non-contact visits, but this would not only embarrass and further damage the child, but would put the inmate parent at great risk of rape or serious injury by other inmates.
More needs to be done to support children of inmates, not only by communities but by the CDCR in not adding to the difficulties these children endure. Visiting should be made a priority for inmates’ children. Their very lives and futures depend on having contact with their parents, as well as community support. Transferring inmates with children out of state is a huge mistake.
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