[B]Prison Education in Florida[/B]

[schickgirl1980]

My fiance just told me that his CO told him that florida is taking out all GED and College education classes from prisons. He said that they will only offer certain things but nothing that will be useful when they get out. No drug or alcohol classes either. If anyone has heard this also or knows anything about this please let me know. If they do this then he will be transferred closer to home instead of a facility with all the education you can get.

[LoUiE'sLaDy]

Damn I haven't heard that, but I hope that isn't true, because my man was trying to get into a GED class, and if that is true, that really sux, but it is probably true because they don't want to help them when they are in prison, they just want to make their life a living hell.

[chuloswife]

Got I hope that that isn't true! Those guys need help!

[RaW-Raswifey]

I doubt this is true ladies. I mean, Im not speaking with facts to back me up. But their going to take away alcohol and drug programs? I dont really think logically that they would. Although, more taxes... i dunno. Maybe. I really hope not. That would be a sad sad day. My sweetie got his GED in prison and also has taken alot of vocational courses. If this is true, I say WE do something about it. Writing a few people sohuld possibly help. That would just be horrible to do to these men.

[Phil in Paris]

Well, I don't know. Joey is preparing his GED, and in a letter I got last week, he was telling me about his teacher giving him some work.

Phil

[raifordgirl]

Over the last few years they have been slowly removing all "self-help" programs that were offered. My understanding is that there are only two prison's left in Fl. that offer drug and alcohol treatment, one is Holmes C.I. This has been done because the "public" was against spending the money for these types of programs. Of course, their attitude about it was helped along by the media and the doc. Although we know that there have been huge budget increase's, they have NOT been used to provide any type of help for the inmates. In fact, the dorm where my husband is housed has been leaking for a week now, getting worse everyday, and nothing has been done about it. Self help programs??? They won't even provide decent housing, food, or medical!!! Until we can make the media see how they're being lied to by the doc, nothing will change and they will continue to be a "parrot" for the doc.

[sweetpea]

Originally Posted by schickgirl1980

My fiance just told me that his CO told him that florida is taking out all GED and College education classes from prisons. He said that they will only offer certain things but nothing that will be useful when they get out. No drug or alcohol classes either. If anyone has heard this also or knows anything about this please let me know. If they do this then he will be transferred closer to home instead of a facility with all the education you can get.

what facility are you speaking of?? I know of MANY that do offer programs from getting your GED to computers/PC/digital support to many other hands on technology courses (such as plumbing/automotives/carpentry). They can get certified in many fields, and even though it may not seem a lot to some, getting educated and learning a trade is a great way to prove that you are trying to better yourself, since they are all voluntary. Almost all of them have betterment/wellness and substance abuse programs. Now, yes, there are some camps that do not offer schooling, but please let me know which ones you are talking about and I'll let you know what they have to offer.

[raifordgirl]

The "programs" that are still offered are a joke, at least where my husband is. They DO offer AA and he attended when he first got there. However, when the "free person" that was supposed to run the meetings didn't do that and most of the inmates that attended went only for the doughnuts & coffee he quit going and I don't blame him. Alcohol is his problem, but there was no help there. Having a "program" available and running that "program" so that the inmates can get real benefits from it are two different things. The few "programs" that the state hasn't already cut are pitiful and few. Pride offers some educational programs and actually "pay" the inmates that work for them. Slave wages in most cases, which is kind of funny for a "not for profit" organization. Especially since their manager's receive a "bonus" if their industry makes a profit. Sweetpea, I'm sorry, but the "programs" that are still offered are not what is needed, nor do they help teach an inmate a skill that he/she can use when released. Perhaps in a few facilities this is not the case, yet. But it IS the direction that our state is going in and we will all suffer for it. Our loved ones more than anyone. Until the "public" is educated about what the doc is REALLY doing the few "programs" that are still offered will not be available much longer and this state will continue to build more prison's to house offender's rather than trying to help them become a productive member of society, which many are capable of becoming. With help.

[Marta1967]

My fiance is at Walton and early last year they did offer educational programs and my fiance was a tutor - helping inmates that did not speak english get their GED's ( he speaks spanish) and in June they cut all of that out and he lost his "job" - he now picks up cigarette butts in the yard - so much for trying to rehabilitate - I have been going back and forth with the DOC now to try to get authorization for him to receive materials for a correspondence course that I am paying for. AFter about 4 letters back and forth to them, the warden and anyone else I could think of - they finally called my fiance in last week and gave him the proper paperwork that I need to fill out to get his program approved - of course the "Director of Education" at Walton told him there was no reason I should of been denied if I am paying for the program and he does not need the internet to complete it - but what was funny was the letter of denial came from this same person - when my fiance told her this - she said that was not possible - even though I have the letters with her name and signature - I did get another letter from her yesterday saying that she gave my fiance the proper paperwork and I am to fill it out - I did get it and I sent it back - we will see what happens. My feeling is they don't want to rehabilitate these men so when they get out they have nothing to go to but what they left behind and they will end up back in prison and all of the "staff" in these prisons will have a job. My thinking anyway. I am trying to do what I can to get him some sort of education - he does have his high school diploma but it would be nice for him to have something to go to when he gets out and not just spend all his time in there - doing nothing. Good Luck to all who fights these people. It's an everyday thing with them.

[sweetpea]

[quote=raifordgirl]Over the last few years they have been slowly removing all "self-help" programs that were offered. My understanding is that there are only two prison's left in Fl. that offer drug and alcohol treatment, one is Holmes C.I. QUOTE]

Every single facility (excluding work camps and those types of facilities) have substance abuse programs that can include: Alcoholic Anonymous, Narcotic Anonymous, Readiness Group, Substance Abuse Education, Long Term Residential Therapeutic Community (RTC) and many others.

I definitely agree with Marta1967 about not wanting to rehabilitate them - but its that (and I have been told this by many respectable lawyers and policemen) Florida has come to the conclusion that prison does not rehabilitate, its like they have given up, and only see prisons as secluding these offenders from the public. I believe that it is up to the inmate to take advantage of whatever it is that prison has to offer, no matter how small or large that it may be - it is bettering themselves and they and only they can do that since the system has given up on them.

gain, schickgirl1980, if you would like information on any particular facility I'd be more than happy to help you out.

[bella]

FYI
I heard what sweetpea said straight from the horses mouth. I work part time assessing court ordered supervised visits between children and their families. Anyway, one of my co-workers is a full time probation/parole officer. Needless to say she is not my favorite person. Partically because she is a PO, just being honest, but she is also a nasty little B****. None of the other coworkers like to much either. Well, I always start converstaions with her about incarceration so I can put her in her place. I know it's not right but I honestly can't help myself I guess deep down this is the closed I'll ever get to telling a CO and use her to vent my frustrations. By the way she has NO clue that I have a loved on in prison...anyway...during a conversation at work the other day she said "I don't believe in rehabilitation. I used to be so pro rehabilitation but it is proven that is doesn't work" I couldn't hold back! I looked at her with that deer in the headlights look and said "what jackass told you that???" So I went on for about 1/2 explainning to her why every other country has a lower crime rate an a lower rate of recidivism than the US. I asked her if she had a traumatic event happen to her would she seek therapy, if she has a drug prob would she go to a 12 step program, if she got hit by a car would she go to ohysical therapy. She answered all with an "of course I would" I then kindly explained to her that THIS is exactly what rehabilitation is only it's a 'big' word for it. She tried to defend herself but I just kept making her feel like a jerk...heehee...It was obvious that she has been conditioned to think the way she does and I am mad I didn't say that to her. I will for sure next time be sure to add that one in
I did tell her that she needs to stop sticking up for the DOC, that I worked for DCF (HRS) and I am the LAST person who would stick up for any caesworker. Didn't when I worked there and wouldn't now. I told her that fact is that 80% of the people who work for either agency are underqualified and DON'T do their damn jobs.

[raifordgirl]

Good for you Bella! You "hit the nail on the head" with that one...they have been "conditioned" to believe that our loved ones are where they "belong" and that any and all attempts to help them rehabilitate are a waste of time and money. They've also managed to convince the general public that this is true by having the media concentrate on the story's of ex-inmate's committing more heinous crimes after being released (Carlie Brucie story is just one example), but never report on the successes or offer alternative's to handing out longer sentences. I believe that there are people that should never be allowed back into society, but also believe that number could be MUCH lower if they offered any kind or REAL rehabilitation inside. Many of our loved ones have been institutionlized because of the length of time they've been locked up. Why don't they look at some type of program to de-institutionlize those that are going to be released? If these people could do it on their own, they wouldn't be there to start with. They need help to re-enter society, instead they're released without that and when they commit another crime everyone points their finger and says "See, they didn't learn anything. Lock them up & throw away the key"! What we REALLY need to do is document the programs that are still offered in this state and how they are really run. In the case of my husband, yes, they offer AA, but the person that is supposed to lead the meetings does virually nothing and most of the inmate's that attend go for the "refreshments". It's the same with most of the other programs in this area ( if not all), so why should they attend? My husband was looking for a REAL AA meeting, it wasn't available. We all know the doc doesn't care and as long as we let the media control the general public they won't care either.

[Marta1967]

I have given up on the DOC trying to rehabilitate these men and women - it's pretty much in our hands - it's wrong that they don't do anything - since our tax dollars are the ones paying them - but - unfortunately we have to do something to try to change it. I will continue to write letters, make phone calls, etc. - to make it at least somewhat better for my fiance and maybe for the next guy/girl who is put in the same situation -