Rant: That volunteer program at the county jail on Oak Street actually changed how I view sentencing

I used to be all for long sentences, thinking they kept everyone safe. Then last spring I helped with a reading program at the county jail downtown. A guy named Mike had been in for 8 years on a drug charge, and he was more put together than half the people I know on the outside. He ran the book club, helped new guys learn to read. Got out last month and already has a job. It made me wonder if we overdo it with time served and underdo it with actually fixing people. Anyone else see a program like that change your mind on something?

3 comments

3 Comments

jadej501d ago

Three years back I saw a guy named Carlos get released after serving 11 years for selling pot, and the only thing the system did for him was give him a bus pass and a list of places that wouldn't hire him. The reading program you mentioned is exactly what more jails need, but here's the thing: most of them don't even have a budget for books let alone tutors. If you want to actually help, call the jail's education office and ask what specific materials they're short on right now, because last time I checked they were desperate for high interest low level reading books for adults.

rileygarcia1d ago

That "fixing people" part you mentioned, it's like how we throw away broken stuff instead of repairing it.

michaelgrant1d agoOG Member

Jade's right about the high interest books, I've seen those fly off the shelf at the prison library I volunteer at.