Hi everybody! I'm a french journalist. I'm preparing a report on the chino prison for male in California. I'm looking for infos on their deep sea diving program. I was told that they used prisoners on the Exxon offshore plateforms. Do you happen to know anything about it? Or do you know where I can get the infos?
Thank you for your help.
Best regards
Ted

I've never heard anything about this! I'd be very interestd to learn about it! Please share with us your report when you're through!

*Moved to California Forum* (This is not a 911 issues)
I too would love to hear more about this..
Anyone ever heard of it before?

Salut Ted !!! :)

Welcome to PTO !!! I'm french too !! Where are you from, and where do you work ? TV, radio, magazine newspaper ??
I don't have any info concerning your question, have you tried to find out California DOC ?
All the best and keep us informed.
A bientôt
Philippe

My son is in Chino and it is true. It's the only one of a few in the country. It's off shore deep sea diving and underwater weilding and rigging. It's a grueling 18mo. course thats very demanding for the few who qualify.Those who graduate are offered off shore work in mostly Texas and La.before leaving prison.

Wow - sounds like a program for a dedicated few.

Valerie,
So, this is part of the vocational training there?
Please give us as many details as possible about this.. If you have documents, please scan them and attach or let me know if there is any other way I can get these from you to publish.

David,
No , I really don't have any thing in writting, I just know about the program from what people have told me that have been in Chino. Sorry I don't know more.

Wow! I wrote to Ted and told him I did not think there was such a program. Guess I got that one wrong.

* Vocational rehabilitation diver-training for inmates:
Co-founded today's only commercial deep sea diving vocational prisoner rehabilitation training program at the State Correctional Institution in Chino, California; Negotiated for Federal funding and surplus military diving hardware; Organized the curriculum and appointed the training staffs, etc. The program operates successfully today, with recidivism practically non-existent and career placement assured to the parolees in advance by major offshore diving companies.

Tom Ebro-

Career Background
"More than 40-years of professional aquatics experience including litigation support service in over 1200 aquatic cases, within 48 U.S. States, Antigua, The Bahamas, Canada, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Turks & Caicos, and The Virgin Islands."

Link for more information:

http://www.aquarisk.com/about.htm

Ted, did you know that there is a movie about this going into production this December, 2002? They are basing it on the program at Chino prison.

The director and producers are very well known. It will be called The Expendables.

Thought that was an interesting side note...

Hi there thanks for your help.
I have just sent an email to Tom Ebro to get more infos on the topic. I will also contact chino press office.
I'll let you guys know whatever answers I manage to get.
Does anyone know if there is any risk taken by the inmates?
I was told that they started diving on the plateforms during their detention, and that it was quite risky for them.
To answer Philippe's question: I'm working on a documentary film on that subject. I would like to follow some guys who take the decision to participate in this program.
I'm currently working for a TV production company based in Paris France. And the documentary should be broadcast on France 2 (public TV channel).
By the way Philippe If you are around Paris we could get in touch.

For Valerie: Does your son know anyone who has decided to participate? What's your son's opinion on Chino prison?
If anyone have more infos do not hesitate to drop a line.
Thanks again
All the best
Ted

Doesn't that strike anyone as completely tasteless calling the movie "The Expendables" and having it be in any way related to a program they're using in the prison system to further education and work skills? May I further that by saying that's our loved ones they're referring to as "Expendable".
I have to admit, that sorta sets my tail on fire.

Oh yes...Soul SLiver, this is exactly what the producers had in mind when they titled the movie. I think though from what I read, they will make the inmates the 'hero's' in the movie and they will be portrayed in a positive light.

That was my take anyway. It's being produced by Warner Brothers...

Release Date: TBA 2003/2004

Not to be Confused With: There's a sitcom TV pilot that was filmed for NBC in 1999 also called The Expendables, which was about "crash test dummies" who gain artificial intelligence. That pilot has absolutely nothing to do with this movie.

Distributor: Warner Bros.

Cast: None announced yet.

Director: D.J. Caruso (The Salton Sea)

Director Notes: Frank Marshall (Congo, Arachnophobia, Alive) had been attached to direct when filming was expected to start in 2001, but has since dropped out, replaced by Caruso.

Screenwriter: Scott Marshall Smith (Men of Honor; cowriter of The Score); rewrite by Jonathan Lemkin (cowriter of Red Planet, The Devil's Advocate)

Premise: Maximum security inmates in a federal prison are trained for deep-sea diving by the U.S. Navy, and then conned into taking on the extremely dangerous mission (since they're, you know, Expendable) of recovering gold from a sunken U-Boat off the coast of Cuba... what will these criminals do?

Filming: Production is scheduled to start in December, 2002 (pushed back over a year from a tentative 2001 start).

Genre: Action, Crime

Input about Greg's Previews of upcoming Movies, or any movie covered here, is encouraged. Just e-mail Greg Dean Schmitz using our feedback form. Please note that all release dates are subject to change.

Ummmm.....

(since they're, you know, Expendable)

Don't care if they're joking...that's just wrong.

So there ya have it...an official review for a movie that hasn't even started filming yet.

Great work on digging up info. I had no idea this was an actual program available to inmates. I think it's cool.. Something I would try to get into if I was doing time in Cali..

Salut Ted

Phew !!! France 2 is good, I was afraid it could have been TF1 with Sebastien and Lagaff !!! :D Is it for "Envoyé Spécial" ? Looks like a report for them.
Anyway, I live right in Paris, quai de Jemmapes along the Canal St Martin, close to République square.
You can find me in "Le Marais" area too ..... :D
Are you working at "Buttes Chaumont" ?? It's not so far from my place.
Anyway, I PM you my cell phone # if you want to get in touch.
A bientôt
Philippe