Dear Ann Landers: The other day you printed a letter from a reader in Sunrise, Fla., expressing her anger over the wasted man-hours of prison inmates. She suggested they might at least clean up parks, city streets, etc. My husband and I lived in Kenya for 21 years and recently retired. The Kenyan government puts prisoners to work cleaning up the highway roadsides. The prisoners wear their prison uniforms and have virtually no opportunity to escape. They are guarded by police officers with rifles. These prisoners are better off for the exercise and less inclined to become repeat offenders.
They are also ”paying” for their keep since the highway department saves the wages that would otherwise be needed for these services.
There are doubtless some people who would argue that to subject prisoners to manual labor violates their civil rights. Actually, being sentenced to prison should cancel many of those so-called civil rights. How about the public`s rights to benefit from the cost of room and board for a prisoner?
These criminals should be allowed to be productive members of society.
Having seen this prison system work so well in other parts of the world, we feel it could be used to great advantage here. Will you look into this, please?
Mrs. H. in Gainesville, Fla.
Dear Gainesville: Others have written from time to time and posed this same question. Here are some answers:
My office spoke with Greg Bogdan, public information officer at the Federal Bureau of Prisons, who explained that federal and state prisons handle prisoners differently. Each state has its own rules. Federal inmates are used in projects dealing with federal agencies. They are not permitted to work for private companies because of liability problems. Federal prisoners living on or near military bases do maintenance work, such as cutting the grass and trimming the hedges. They also work with the National Park Service.
Extensive vocational training is available and encouraged. Inmates are trained in mechanics, auto repair, plumbing and carpentry. These classes are accredited by the Labor Department. In addition, inmates are offered courses through local community colleges, which allow them to earn associate degrees in computer programming and other subjects.
A company called Federal Prison Industries employs inmates in its factories and makes products sold to the federal government. Of the current 62,000 federal prisoners, 15,000 work at Federal Prison Industries.
This may be more than you wanted to know, but I have had so many inquiries on this subject, I decided to give you the whole load.
Dear Ann Landers: I am glad someone has spoken out on the subject of piped-in ”music” everywhere. I, too, am tired of being assaulted on all sides by the miserable stuff. Like your correspondent, I have walked out of several stores without buying anything because I couldn`t stand the racket.
Not only is this a sad commentary on people who don`t enjoy being alone with their thoughts, as you said, it is a shame that some folks consider this entertainment. It says something about our culture.
M.A., Bakersfield
Dear M.A.: It certainly does. Thanks for writing.
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