Prisoner Passion

I have a mission to stop the bullshit that goes on in the judicial system in PA. My daughter is currently serving time in Cambridge Springs State Prison, Cambridge Springs PA and we hope to get her out of there in July 2010. I know from past experience that this may not happen on time. The prison system is a big fat game and they do everything on their own time and when they feel like it. I had another daughter that was serving time in Muncy State Prison and was supposed to be released in January 2009 and didn't get out until July 2009. So I know how this whole process works. 'When we get the paperwork done'..., ...'when you meet the requirements'..., ...'when you complete the classes you have to take'...BULLSHIT! Being released from prison is a privelege, not a right. Did you know that? The real reason is the money. The prison system is a money making racket and they don't give a shit if you're supposed to get out or not.

Recently I found out that 2000 prisoners from PA State prisons have been or will be sent to facilities outside of PA. The prisons chosen were Green Rock Correctional Center near Chatham, Va and Muskegon Correctional Facility in Muskegon, Mich. Apparently those two facilities were selected because they are similar in operation to Pennsylvania correctional institutions and reasonably priced. The money is of course the most important aspect, right? It doesn't matter that inmates have been taken hundreds of miles from their families and friends. But apparently the reason they chose these 2000 inmates were because they received little or no visits. Nice.

It is costing Pennsylvania $62 a day per inmate and a significant portion of the projected budget PA State issuances for the 2010 fiscal year is attributable to the construction of three new prisons, each containing 2,000 plus beds. Now wouldn't it make more sense, and be more cost efficient to:

1. Early parole inmates that have served a significant amount of their sentence.
2. Early parole inmates that do not have a violent crime.
3. Reconsider what is deemed a violent crime. ( Anything that caused bodily harm or threat or where a weapon was actually used).
4. Stop throwing people in prison for petty offenses.
5. Get inmates out on their release date and stop procrastinating.
6. Create alternative punishments for minor offenses.
7. Get rid of judges that are biased and arrogant, ignorant to the actual job they should be holding.

I would rather see someone who had a drug offense out along the road picking up trash or painting fences or working at construction sites than spending time in prison and hogging up room that should be for rapists, murderer's, child molesters and other heinous criminals.

My son in law recently applied for the Census Bureau job in our area. He filled out an application, took a short test and before he left the test center, he knew he passed so he was anxious to get the job. A week or so after he took the test, he received a letter in the mail stating he didn’t get the job because he had drug charges in the past. That question was on the application. He answered honestly. It’s been almost 3 years since he had drug charges. There weren’t any questions on the application about felonies or any other criminal behavior. So I guess when the Census Bureau sends workers to homes across the nation, you could be face to face with a rapist, child molester, burglar or other convict, but at least you won’t have to worry about those horrible drug addicts!