One of those nice, feel-good programs that helps local not for profit agencies is apparently gone...
Capt. Evelyn Hopping of the local Salvation Army called today to let me know the NYS Department of Corrections told her they are no longer supplying inmate work details to organizations like hers. The inmates did lots of tasks including painting.
I am helping her get her message to state representitives to see what they can do.
The Watertown Correctional Facility on Dry Hill is the prison in question and its one that is remaining open. Don't say budget cuts....the DOC is saving money due to a new water rate schedule adopted this year....
It would be nice if the inmates could continue to be used in this constructive manner. I will be interested in seeing what the State's response is.
7 comments:
They could consider it part of restitution. Lets not keep a good thing going when it helps people.
Do you know how much of a POS you have to be to be in prison?
You do not want those people scoping your place out.
The same thing happened with inmate work crews at Butler C.F. near Oswego. They did several community service projects for the local area down there. New York State just doesn't get it.
I have worked through Salvation Army before and they are nice people that come to help. Some people may have had their faults in the past but Capt and others have not used their pasts as a downfall. They look at them and see what they can do to help. The inmates have been helping to organize and help the community especially with the holiday season coming up. Do you see other volunteers taking time out of their schedule to help out. This works great for everyone, I don't see why this is being an issue in the first place.
Some of those in NYS gov't can screw up a free supper.
Why not recruit the folks Sally Ann's feeds on a daily basis, they still take "goody bags" to the inmates at Christmas, or about the local sheriff providing some FREE labor with the overfilled jail.
3:55 Yours is the attitude of an ignorant man. The inmates chosen for these assignments are carefully screened by DOCS people. The CO's watching them know what they are doing. The inmates themselves benefit greatly as do the community programs they serve. These are usually guys that are near release, and the experience only bolsters the changes the system hopes have taken place while incarcerated. Is it a perfect system? Hell no. Never will be. But it's a fight that goes on and will continue to go on. Despite the defeatist attitude of enlightened folk like you. Next time you see an inmate work crew, as the attending CO if you can say hello. If you get the ok, do so. Then, after you talk to one of the inmates, tell me if you can come away with so much hate.
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