(Courtesy: The Business Tribune, By Senator Patrick Johnston) Paul Douglas Crawford lifts weights in the gym every day and even participates in weightlifting competitions.

In addition to weightlifting activities, one state institution offers a variety of perks, privileges, and services to its clients. The institution is the California Department of Corrections. Its clients are criminals.

Some of these perks, such as educational programs, are offered in the name of rehabilitation. The goal is for the criminal to become a productive, law-abiding member of society upon release.

Others are used to influence behavior — privileges which can be given and taken away.

However, it appears that inmates and others have come to view these perks as “rights.”

A recent study conducted by the California Correctional Peace Officers Association found that inmates file an average of three lawsuits per day against the Department of Corrections. In addition, inmates filed nearly 40,000 grievances in the fiscal year 199293, Many allege “cruel and unusual punishment.”

In 1994, there were more than 120,000 criminals housed in California prisons. 88 percent had prior convictions. It is evident that we need to evaluate the success of rehabilitation programs and prisoner perks,

Some argue we need to put the “punishment” back in the prison system, The public demands common sense action from lawmakers and regulators. The Legislature is responding, Last year, numerous provisions of the Prisoners Bill of Rights were repealed. ‘This year, legislation was introduced to:

  • Take away “goodtime” credit for prisoners who commit serious offenses;
  • Limit access to weightlifting equipment;
  • Limit unsupervised overnight visits:
  • Prohibit inmates from profiting from their crimes by selling their stories,

 

At the very least, prisoner perks should not be viewed as rights but rather as privileges—ones that can be taken away. If prison officials need More authority to take those privileges away, let’s give it to them.

Article extracted from this publication >>  August 11, 1995