jackiedoherty.org

There are currently 2 responses to “Some painful realities”

Why not let us know what you think by adding your own comment! Your opinion is as valid as anyone elses, so come on... let us know what you think.

1. 1 On June 29th, 2008, K-R-S said:

   Margaret, you know I luv ya’ (and to disclose that my husband is a correctional Officer w/ the DOC
   and my primary degree and interest is in this area, but the Massachusetts Court System via our
   State Government (the law setting end of the deal) sends folks to our prisons.
   There is a distinct differance between the Department of Correction and the County
   Correctional systems, both in terms of sentancing and organizationally. Just take
   a look at their rosters!
   As the director of a homeless shelter and day services; on average, per month, 2
   recently released individuals wind up on my doorstep (homeless) with no ID (MEGA issue!)
   for w/out an ID, you may as well not exist!),no benefits
   (health, etc..which is a part of their discharge protocols that are submitted
   to all of their funders (state & feds & available on state websites).
   Years ago, our prison system was somewhat self sustaining, with farms & canneries
   scattered throughout the state. As a result,labor was obtained from the prison
   population. Over the last decade (or more) all of those services have been
   contracted out to outside food vendors, as I understand it, at a much higher rate.
   The problem I see, we have left more prisoners with more time on their hands, fewer
   opportunities for job/skill/life training and a higher cost of operation.
   Secondly, within the prison system in MA, programming is not mandatory, it’s “only
   if they feel like it…” (direct quote)
   In addition, to consider the fact that that the Commonwealth has decreased funding
   for community mental health services, DSS & DYS and closed many of our state mental hospitals.
   As a result we are turning out a popluation of folks that are sicker.
   As a result many of our prisons have become substitutions for state mental health
   facilities with staff (by and large) that are trained to deal with criminal behavior
   not mental health issues.
   The other issue, is job training, described above…in an old life the prisons offered
   trade training in alot of differant areas…mmm…gone!
   So, OF COURSE we spend more on prisons. Perhaps, when we look at the cost
   of imprisoning an individual, we should break those costs down and figure out
   the real costs.
   Perhaps we should take a good hard look at job/trade training implementation and
   mental health/substance abuse services before folks get to the point of being in
   prison, we will realize a cost savings. Perhaps, we should target the “laborer”,
   as those are the ones “thrown up” by by the contracting industry when the economy
   goes bad (they’re the first to get it..don’t see any “local developers/ contractors”spearheading”
   putting forth the effort to better their workers lives!).

   Seriously, the issue of prisons in MA deserves its own blog. Perhaps
   Commissioner Clark, our Governor and our Legislator will take heed AND actually work
   some improvement into our society.

2. 2 On June 29th, 2008, Margaret said:

   You’re right that this is a much bigger issue than the way I portrayed it, especially with regard to the mental health issues. (I lived in Manchester, NH for a brief time some years ago and couldn’t believe the population of mentally ill people just living on the streets which I understood was from a state institution closing down). However, your point of looking at “job/trade training and mental health/substance abuse services before folks get to the point of being in prison” is exactly what I’m saying about our high school dropouts. Let’s be proactive and help people before their situations spiral out of control.