I think we should be able to change something about the fact that the persons who die in prison, and have no one to arrange a funeral for them, can have their name on their cross. I know that these men and women are burried under their number. It's bad enough for these people that they will never leave the prison yard again, but by putting their number on their cross, they just stay a prisoner, even after their death. What can we do about this?

I guess it all depends on the way you look at it. Money could be much better spent on things prisoners need than on a tombstone after they have passed on. IMO...our bodies are only vessels anyhow, so I guess I just dont think it really matters after you dead.

I agree with you totally Soraya..these are people not numbers.
I always thought it was so cold and heartless to just put there prison number on the cross.
I'm not for sure what we could do..write letters or something .
I hope someone has some suggestions.
Whatever it takes, this is a something I definitely like to see changed!

i, too, agree with soraya...at least in death, these people could be given enough respect to be buried by name. the only place they were known as a number is in prison ~ when they pass on, they pass on as the INDIVIDUAL they were, not the NUMBER they became. goldy, i agree with you that the body is just a vessel, but i think to bury someone with a number that no one else would ever recognize is just awful.

soraya, i'm not sure what we can do ~ i suppose start a petition for every doc in the us? i just don't know what would be the best avenue. definately something to explore!

SURELY IT DOESN'T COST MORE TO PUT A NAME THAN A NUMBER?

Okay girls. I barely noticed this post. I agree 110%. I'm actually a licenced mortician in Ca. And there is a program that donates a deacent service for those that pass behind walls and that no one claims the remains. However I'm not currently working in the field but I know alot of people that are. So I'll get at them. By the way this is a non-profit org., available through out CA. I'll check and see if there's something outside of CA. When I was working, I recall picking up a few over at Chino Prison and several from CRC in Norco. I myself think it's unhumanize to put a number on a person after dying. Not even the Coroner does this. Well they do, but put it this way Jane, or John is the name and a # is their last name! A bit more respectful towards the deceased. I'll get back on this information.