REAL TALK - THE VIEW OF A CONNECTICUT PRISONER vol.1 No.5
By Richard Stevenson

Greeting Free World! I'd like to weigh in on a substantial
reduction on then budget in this state.
The gov't and its people must realize that they have a
great resource in the prison population. This system is inten-
tionally structured to break down a person and re-mold him/her.
Our school children are being molded. In either case the Connecti-
cut tax payers aren't getting our money's worth. The gov't sees
our children as potential resources (future tax payers). Just
keep in mind that our birth certificates have been securitized
to finance current debt.
We can substantially reduce crime by getting all of our
children involved in gov't. Not just in teaching them how it
works but participate in holding politicians responsible in
keeping their promises and duties and assuring transparency
via utilizing the Freedom of Information Act. That's how you
find out what certain rogue gov't actors don't want you to know.
They could start by requesting copies of any file that
the FBI may have on them. Copies of videos could also be request-
ed. This information could also be downloaded to a computer.
Teach them about what various laws are and the consequences
are for breaking them. It's easy to learn how to research case
law. They should learn how various cases affect them and thus
learn one reason why voting, and keeping their right to vote,
is so important.
I would make it mandatory for all children to know how
the economy works and how they need to contribute to it. Teach
them about the stock market and how easy it is for them to
invest. They should know the difference between a stock broker,
C.P.A. and a financial advisor. They should know the income
potential of the three. Have them practice what its like to
live at various income levels. They should know what and how
much it takes to run a household. Have them actually do it.
Most will appreciate their parents more.
Then, have them see what it's like to live as a convicted
felon. They should know just how much harder it is. See what
I's like to face that stigma. But most important they should
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know that there is help and how to ask for it. The point is
to teach them that they don't have to be victims of their
circumstances and to be sympathetic of the less fortunate by
obtaining knowledge rather than relying on partial truths and
flat out lies.
With regards to the prison population, there is enormous
potential just waiting for proper use! Why wouldn't the governor
assign someone to make deals with corporations for the state
to train us to work for them once released? This alone would
significantly lower recidivism saying the state $50,000/yr. per
person that doesn't return to prison making this state a safer
for all involved thus lowering operating costs.
One of the main problems is that you would have to change
the mind-set of the union members. Most believe that rehabilita-
tion is a farce. They joke and scoff at the changes that the
commissioner is trying to make. They resist at every turn and
this is costing the state millions of dollars. They then complain
about the taxes that they have to pay. WHAT THE HELL!
A number of correctional officers transferred from this
facility due to the changes that this warden has made in order
to lower the recidivism rate and save money. Even more chose
to retire. Again, it goes to the mind-set of these people. Our
politicians said lock them up. The officers said lock them down.
Most prisoners in this state have no more than 2 and a half hours
per day for rec., showers and use of the phone on average.
These officers want to keep us locked in our cells all day so
they can stay in their Officers' Mess and do nothing. They fre-
quently abandon their posts because there is nothing for them
to do. They are totally against anything that causes them to
leave their O.M. particularly if prisoners benefit in any way.
Either the culture has to change or the staff must. The
are just going to kepp rising. So something has got to'change.
Rich.