Prisoners doing farm work
If there is a shortage of farm workers an ideal solution is to use prisoners. They would get paid the same as farm workers.
Also model prisoners who work steady in the fields can earn time off of their sentences for showing the inititive to work hard.
This helps everyone around. The farmers get their workers,
The state gets money to help the prison system.
The prisoner gets to earn money upon his or her release. The prisoner also learns what hard work really is and may figure out when they get out that getting an education is the way to make a living.They will also have money to get a place to live and find a job to learn to support themselves.The ones that stick with the program can earn time off their sentences for working hard and showing the prison system they are willing to work hard to get out and start a new life.
This is the way to fix the labor shortage without the State spending millions of dollars. Without the farms spending millions of dollars to house and to get visa’s etc...This is another solution to the problem of bringing more people from Mexico on work visa’s , only to have them disappear when the visa is up. Who is going to make sure they return?It also helps the State pay for prisoners and the prisoner’s to earn money to live when they get out.
I think this is a Win, Win, Win, situation that could solve a lot of problems with one solution.
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Way to totally steal my idea Ms. Fanning. No biggie though!
Posted by Dan2 on August 29, 2007 02:03 PMAbsolutly great idea! It makes to much sense. La Raza and the pro-illegal politicians here in Colorado wouldn't approve! Probably will never happen.
Posted by A on August 29, 2007 04:20 PMGreat idea Tracy,
I think it's already being done..I may be wrong ,,maybe Joann Fitzgerald (???)
proposed that a while back..I remember posting my Hallelujahs so we won't need a guest worker program.
I proposed this last week on the show. The idea was a big hit.
Now I have The Pretenders hit "Back On The Chain Gang" running through my head and it won't leave.
Posted by Gunny Bob on August 29, 2007 06:27 PMIt makes complete sense. That pretty much means our government won't make it happen.
Posted by Ben on August 29, 2007 08:37 PMIt does look good, but if I were a farmer I wouldn't want to trust them with tools and equipment around my family unless armed deputies were at hand. Could still be lucrative enough even after paying for guards.
Posted by Gail K on August 29, 2007 08:48 PMThe prisoners should sign a work contract.
It should state that any attempt to escape and the person automatically adds 5 years to his or her sentence with no time off,they must serve all five.
It should also state that any infraction with tools used as weapons or harming another worker,gaurd or employer ,10 years will be added to their sentence.Again they must serve all ten.
This program should not use violent prisoners or illegals from the prison.
Each applicant should be screened and allowed to evaluate whether this is a program they would like to work in.
The benefits it provides far out weigh the risks.
Also any infraction of bad behavior is automatic suspension from the program and forfiet of all monies in savings account.
On the down days when they are not working in the fields,the state with the monies they have collected from the work of the prisoners , should provide a life skills coach.
This would be someone who comes in and teaches them ,money management,proper ways to fill out a job application,how to set up a budget,how to get a GED,if they don't have one,how to present oneself at a job interview,how to apply to get an apartment,how to use the transportation system,how to get up and be positive for their future.
Also how to see the road blocks that could lead them to give up and go back to crime and drugs.
If these people show hard work,inititive,the willingness to change,the willingness to stay sober,the willingness to learn,let's give the all the help they need to make it when they get out,
Working the fields is hot back breaking work.It is hard work.If you have a person that shows he or she can work hard and work on themselves to be better people before they get out of prison,that person has done their time and worked their way out of prison and hopefully into society.
What have we got to lose?Isn't this program better than letting them sit around all day and do nothing but time? Or is it better to let them take that time and turn it into a future?
I think this is restorative justice at it's best.
Let's not try to rehabilitate them after we let them out with no money,no skills,no work ethic,no hope.Only to have them repeat their crimes.
This is a workable program and has been done.I think the program doesn't go far enough. Just sticking a person out in the fields and say work is not the way to approach it. Many will quit. what's the incentive for them to continue?
Put a plan together so the worker can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Have a contract for them to sign,that clearly states what their pay will be.I would even have a bonus plan set up for those who really work hard to better themselves with work and studying how to become a better person. How to fit in with society.
There are alot of people with low level crimes that keep going back to jail or prison because they haven't been given the chance to work their way back to being a part of society and learning life skills.They do their time ,walk out with the clothes on their backs and then what? they do what they do to survive ,crime. they need to be retaught.
Some will fail and they can do their time. I think though if you teach them how to work,how achieve,and how to live. They will become better people.
Posted by Tracey L. Fanning on August 30, 2007 07:21 AMI thought we had 12-25 million "undocumented workers" picking our crops.
Posted by Tom on August 30, 2007 08:45 AMThere was an article in the paper (several weeks ago? a month ago?) regarding this same subject, that the female inmates (Pueblo) were working crops. These inmates are in prison for nonviolent crimes.
I know I've been echoing for years this same strategy. Hope we see more of it.
Posted by on August 30, 2007 09:19 AMHave the youth offenders/juveniles ,in camps
and MS-13 gang bangers/the crips and bloods work the fields in the hot sun..I'll bet that would be a rude awakening! LOL
6:12 post,That wouldn't work, because they aer violent and need to much supervision and are high escape risks.Also they don't care about bettering themselves.
All gang bangers should stay in prison and do their full time.Alot are illegals,so they should be deported after the serve their time
Posted by Can I get an AMEN! on August 31, 2007 07:02 AMGood idea, but they should have to pay back court costs and the victim(s) first.
And why pay them as much as farm workers who haven’t done anything wrong? This is supposed to be punishment, not a job opportunity.