Letters: Editorial just plain wrong

Re: Our Views: “A new fight over prisons”

The Advocate’s recent editorial linking the consolidation of the offender population at C. Paul Phelps Correctional Center in DeQuincy to dwindling educational and vocational opportunities for offenders is simply wrong. It is also contrary to everything the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections has worked toward over the last several years.

Successful offender re-entry programming has been a priority of mine since I was warden at Dixon Correctional Institute. Since my appointment as secretary in 2008, it has become a top priority for the department as we have standardized re-entry programming at all state facilities and mandated offender participation prior to release. Equally as important, the department has expanded re-entry programming to reach state offenders on the local level.

DOC offenders assigned to PCC are moving to state correctional facilities so that the department can continue to provide the same level of educational, vocational and job skill opportunities available at PCC. In many cases, those offenders transferring to the Louisiana State Penitentiary will have more choices available to them compared to what Phelps provided (welding, automotive technology, carpentry, plumbing and other vocational and job skills). LSP, through its established Re-entry Court program, will also provide mentors (bible college graduates and others) that will help transferring offenders in adjusting to the new environment.

The consolidation of Phelps, as well as the consolidations of Forcht Wade Correctional Center in Keithville and J. Levy Dabadie in Pineville, saves millions of dollars for taxpayers while maintaining (and in some cases improving) the vital services and programming that offenders need to be successful. While the facilities have closed, the programs have been maintained in all cases. The Steve Hoyle Substance Abuse program moved from Forcht Wade to Bossier Parish and the department maintained the treatment staff to provide services. The offender work crews from J. Levy Dabadie Correctional Center still provide valuable community service, traveling instead from Avoyelles Correctional Center or a Rapides Parish facility. Similarly, there will be a “Phelps camp” at Angola where transferring offenders will be assigned (separately from lifers) and will pick up where they left off in terms of educational and vocational programming. If they were not involved in such programming, we will certainly encourage participation.

James “Jimmy” LeBlanc, secretary

Louisiana Department of Public Safety
and Corrections

Baton Rouge

Comments

1) Comment by LifeTraveler - 04/10/2012

What a load of cow manure this letter is. What Mr. LeBlanc fails to mention is the lack of any programs for DOC offenders that are warehoused in private facilities and parish jails. Some inmates who actually want to better themselves don't have an ice cubes chance in hell since there is NOTHING going on in these facilities. A lot of them that want to work can't even get a job in these facilities. Every facility in the state is bursting at the seams. Don't be surprised when tempers flare and all hell breaks loose in some of these facilities.

2) Comment by Bouncer - 04/10/2012

Recidivism is very high among the criminal population. I believe anyone should be given a second chance. But if you get a second chance and prove yourself not deserving of it, then you should get no more chances because in real life, you are not given an infinite number of chances to do the right thing. I would say that in the vast majority of cases, criminals are criminals not out of necessity.....but because they LIKE being criminals. Once they demonstrate their unflinching dedication to criminal activity, they should be locked up, permanently.

3) Comment by DMJ - 03/10/2012

So...we just shouldn't try? We should embrace the revolving door approach? I share your cynicism, but I don't think defeatism is the answer.

4) Comment by Whatchange - 03/10/2012

Mr. LeBlanc & DMJ, my mother was a guard at DCI for 20 years, so I know what is in this letter is pure bull. DMJ, that put here right smack in the middle of it all, a front row seat to the show. She always said, prisons should have a revolving front gate, they always come back. She said when she first started, she always believed the convict when they said, I received my GED, took college courses, learned a trade, so I won't be coming back, I've learned my lesson, within 6 months to a year, they were back, never held down a job, never further their education, they went right back to what put them there in the first place. Said it took her bout 2 years to learn, they never change. In 20 years, she could count on one hand the ones who never returned, not a very good record.

5) Comment by DMJ - 03/10/2012

Tradewinns, you have to pay for their defense because that's what the 6th Amendment requires. And just how do you think an ex-con will make a living if he/she doesn't have any job skills? They'll sling dope and they'll steal. Punishment is not the only purpose of incarceration. Think big picture, bub. What's cheaper...paying for a guy to be incarcerated repeatedly, or paying for one incarceration that includes job training skills which would enable the ex-con to make his own way after he got out? Right.

6) Comment by tradewinns - 03/10/2012

"jimmy", being the taxpayer has already paid for these felons to be educated the first time, is the cost of another education a loan the felons are suppose to pay back? why should i, a taxpayer, have to pay to correct whatever crime they committed (thru insurance, restitution, etc); pay for their defense in court; pay to keep them in prison for their sentence; pay to educate them, again; and pay thru other social programs for them to live after prison? i thought prison was a punishment not a forced educational opportunity. if you and your followers believe, that all is needed is an education, then may i suggest we start early and imprison all students who are not doing what they should in say 5th or 6th grade so we can "fix" them before they become criminals. we will save $billions in La. alone over the next few years.

7) Comment by [e-mail] - 03/10/2012

Mr. LeBlanc makes it sound like the prisoners are actually students getting a 100% paid sojourn in college instead of felons paying their debt to society.