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Wednesday’s Hotlinks – June 9, 2010

Mag Wright at Corrections.com writes about the win-win scenario in using stray dogs to help the rehabilitative process with inmates.

 

Don’t confuse confidence with arrogance, as one helps create a better correctional officer while arrogance and secretly destroy a productive work environment writes Joe Bouchard.

 

The Spokane County commissioners chose a new site for the second jail and courthouse campus and voting to locate a community corrections center near the existing jail.

 

A Utah inmate who was granted his wish to be executed by firing squad is set to die on June 18^th by five anonymous marksmen.

 

Officers at the Chelan County Regional Justice Centerwere shocked to find the amount of contraband one inmate smuggled into the center. Among other things, a cigarette lighter, rolling papers, and a bottle of tattoo ink were found.

 

And in this week’s news of the weird…

A man was arrested wearing a quite ironic T-Shirt. I’m sure the CO’s had quite a chuckle after seeing this guy walk through the doors.

Wednesday’s Hotlinks - June 2, 2010

If you missed the announcement, the National Center on Institutions and Alternatives (NCIA) has released their newest research study on inmate suicide. Commissioned by the US Justice Department NIC, the study found a dramatic decrease in the rate of inmate suicide in the past 20 years.

One of the ‘Hotlinks’ favorite writers, Corrections.com’s own Joe Bouchard, has written a short article on contraband control, and how theory and practice just isn’t enough

In a sad story, a warden in Mexico was kidnapped and dismembered over the weekend in the Mexican state of Morelos. Luis Navarro Castaneda was taken as he was reporting for duty at the Atlacholoaya prison outside of Mexico City.

Correctionsone.comreporter Eric Williams writes about the differences between ‘citizen wardens’ and ‘hermit wardens’ and why a ‘citizen warden’ is more effective to a rural community than a ‘hermit’.

Inmates in Cleveland County, OK will now be more recognized due to their new uniform color changes from basic orange to hot pink shirts and yellow and white pants.

And, finally, in the news of the weird…

Here are 13 of the most ironic mugshot T-shirts worn by criminals. My favorite? The “Go To Jail” shirt made famous by the board game Monopoly. 

5 Most Interesting Prison Escapes during Wartime

Being held against your will during a war is 100 times worse than being incarcerated for a crime you committed. There have been countless stories of prisoners escaping during WW2 and other wars, but here are 5 of the most interesting stories about soldiers escaping from their captors. (Warning, there is definitely some 'colorful' language in this link)

Wednesday's Hotlinks - May 26, 2010

Ruby Joyner writes an article at Corrections.com about her interviews with two teenage girls who have been giving life sentences. Very interesting read, where you can view the full text here.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is becoming more concerned about the amount of furlough credits being racked (8.7 million hours to be exact) that will beginning to look like a short term gain – long term loss for the state.

Corrections officers already conduct a thankless job in supervising society’s misfits. It’s even tougher when the media and entertainment industry typically portray officers as bullies to the poor inmates.

Chris Dornin writes a great article about the facts and myths of sex offenders.

Researchers are starting to conduct research experiments to better understand addiction, specifically chemical dependence, and how to combat and prevent it.

 

And in the news of the weird…

Crime in the United States had dropped again in 2009, despite one of the worst recessions the country has ever seen. 

Boycotting the Boycotts

I have been to the great state of Arizona several times now and feel saddened every time I leave. And even though it’s considered a ‘dry heat’ by my counterparts in the East, it’s still really hot. Nonetheless, I have been disturbed by the increasing size of the bandwagon of people, associations and political entities jumping on to boycott the state due its recent signing of a controversial immigration law. The latest to jump on is the Los Angeles City Council, joining the likes of the San Francisco BOS; Oakland,San Diego and Boston City Councils; and several unions and other associations.

Although I understand the reasoning behind the boycotts, both philosophical and political, I am not convinced that the embargoes will have any effect in changing the law. More than that, however, the powerful organizations boycotting Arizona could better use their resources and clout to create alternative solutions in

 curbing illegal immigration instead of hurting their fellow US citizens. These boycotts are nothing more than old-school political bullying tactics that shouldn’t be regarded as righteous but as archaic.

The people of Arizonawho depend on the tourism and government contract dollars are the ones who will be hurt by the boycotts, not the legislators. So, I challenge these people who call for a boycott to not take the easy way out to show their displeasure, but come up with solutions to help curb the amount of illegal immigration coming through our borders.

 

So share your thoughts in the comments section below!

The Numbers

Nope, I'm not talking about the 'Lost' numbers (although I can't wait to watch this Sunday's finale), I'm talking about the numbers involved with Arizona's newest, and controversial, law.

There has been a lot of furor over the recent signing of Arizona Senate Bill 1070, also known more coequally in the news media as the ‘Arizona Immigration Bill’. The bill has attracted both national and international attention because of its broad and strict measures in regards to enforcing immigration. For a different look, beside the ethics and philosophies in play, let’s take a look at the numbers…

Per the new law, if you’re in Arizonaillegally, you can go to jail for six months. Since it’s a misdemeanor, an illegal alien that is caught will most likely end up in a local city or county facility. In 2006, over $68 Billion was spent on corrections across the board (local, tribal, state, and federal) and the average cost of housing an inmate is roughly $60/day. Arizonacurrently has an estimated 460,000 illegal immigrants. Let’s also include the actual cost of deporting the illegal immigrants, which by some estimates range from $148/person to $1,000/person and average it to $500 per person deported. 

If all immigrants were rounded up and housed in the county jail for the maximum six months and then sent home, the cost to Arizonian taxpayers would be $5.1 Billion dollars, or $788 per every man, woman, and child in the state of Arizona.  Of course, that’s assuming every illegal immigrant is caught and put in jail. (I used the estimated population of Arizonain 2009 if you were wondering how I came up with the $788 number.)

 

So, what are your thoughts? Are you for, against, or neutral on SB1070? Let your thoughts be heard in the comments section below…

 

 

Thursday Afternoon Book Club - "Soul of a Citizen"

[In a newly minted feature of the blog, every Thursday I'll talk about a book I have read (stop your snickering back there, I can hear you) or have heard about related to law enforcement and corrections]

I came across an interesting article today about a new book out called “Soul of a Citizen: Living with Conviction in Challenging Times” written by Paul Loeb. The book’s thesis is basically what would happen if we listened closely to the stories in our community, and used them as clues to how to act for change? The article I read was a quick excerpt on man named David Lewis, who spent a long time of his life in prison, then got out and reformed his life and made an impact on his community, mainly East Palo Alto. It’s a very quick and interesting read if you have a few minutes.

 

So, readers, what other books about inmates and prison have you read recently? Share your book reviews with other readers in the comments section below.

Wednesday’s Hotlinks – May 19, 2010

This week’s ‘Hotlinks’ presented to you by ‘Murkey Research’...

The California DCR pulled the old ‘bait-and-switch’ technique on parole violators by promising amnesty if they showed up at theOakland parole office, only to then re-arrest them!

Illinois DOC officials visited the Lake County Jail to study the jail’s rehabilitative programs. The DOC is looking into programs that inmates can start at the jail and finish up at the state prison.

The Mighigan DOC implements a new procedure called ‘Offenderlink’ that allows low-risk parolees to call into an automated system and check in, instead of physically meeting with the parole agent. (DSI / ITI also carries an automated check-in system for paroles called ‘Call-Track’)

Nancy Zappulla writes at corrections.com about how reading became cool (by accident) and provides some tips on how to make reading cool with juvenile detention students.

Charles Remsberg wrote this quick and short read on better methods and tactics for transporting prisoners.

 

And for your weird news story of the week…

Don Denevi has created and implemented a tennis team and court at the San Quentin Prison. See how the reporter’s match goes down with two offenders.

Wednesday’s Hotlinks – May 12, 2010

A whole lot of corrections news to get to, so let's jump right in...

The Enid Community CorrectionsCenter in Oklahoma recently received its fourth perfect accreditation in the past four years. Let’s applaud the administration staff and officers for this achievement.

The Duluth City Council passes a new ordinance limiting where Level 3 predatory offenders can live. The ordinance takes effect in about four weeks.

In related news, Corrections.comwrites a fascinating article on the comprehensive approach to sex offender management. Definitely a must read for anyone involved with sex offender management, from rookies to veterans.

In a ‘thinking outside the box’ approach to reducing recidivism, the Indiana DOC has developed a talent show for inmates. As silly as it sounds from reading the headline, this could be a great way to reduce recidivism.

Back in February, I wrote a post on how to count inmates for the 2010 Census pitted urban lawmakers versus their rural counterparts. Here, Correctionsone.com and the AP write a spotlight article of this debate going on in Maryland. (To give myself an ego boost, let’s just pretend I gave the AP the idea for this article!)

 

And finally, you’re weird news story of the week…

A man, dressed as beloved cartoon character Snoopy, tries to break into a British prison. The firearm ‘Snoopy’ was carrying turned out to be a water pistol. In the words of Charlie Brown…’Good Grief’. 

Wednesday’s Hotlinks – April 28, 2010

What exactly does ‘Paramilitary’ mean anyways? Lt. Marvin Preston writes that although the obvious similarities, there are differences between the way the military and a corrections environment operates.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation Monday that will make sure that prison corrections officials who were laid off last year will still be paid through June, although he admits he isn’t sure where the money will come from.

The Wyoming DOC is receiving a $242,000 grant to help strengthen its education programs it provides to state inmates. Programs Manager Betty Abbott says the grant will help pay for staff training and support the Career Readiness Certificate testing for inmates.

For struggling county jails, ICE inmates are a needed boost to help the jails’ bottom line, according to this article in the Columbus Dispatch. And when a jail loses or cannot hold ICE inmates, keep in mind other federal law enforcement agencies need a place to hold their detainees as well.  

Inmates within the Riverside County, CA jail system are paying less for telephone calls compared to other counties in Southern California according to this Press Enterprise article.

 

And in this week’s edition of “News of the Weird”:

A Wisconsin woman is in jail for using blow darts on unsuspecting pedestrians out of a black minivan. Her excuse was she “liked to hear people say out”. Unbelievable.