Put cons in the fields
Here’s a better idea than some silly employment office in Mexico (“Major hurdles stand in way of guest worker proposal,” Aug. 23).
If our farmers need help, they should take a page from our Southern compatriots and put the state’s prisoners to work in their fields. These convicts owe society for their crimes. It might even make them “productive” citizens, unless, of course, they are illegal aliens. If they are, drop them off at the nearest ICE office. Meanwhile, we have how many people in prison in our state? Sounds like enough to get in the crop.
David T. Wright, Lakewood
David,
Where have you been over the past 30 years? In the 70s the our state legislators said it was against convicts rights to make them work or do anything they did not want to
Posted by legal on September 6, 2007 02:28 AMWhere have you been in the last year? That silly idea has been proposed by a state representative from Pueblo. "Cons" were sentenced to jail, not slave work in the fields.
If you want "cons" to work the fields, have the judges sentence them to do that work....otherwise leave them locked up for 23 hours a day....as the judges has ordered during sentencing....
Where have you been in the last year? That silly idea has been proposed by a state representative from Pueblo. "Cons" were sentenced to jail, not slave work in the fields.
If you want "cons" to work the fields, have the judges sentence them to do that work....otherwise leave them locked up for 23 hours a day....as the judges has ordered during sentencing....
Cons used to work the fields, as well as other jobs. All in the name of paying thier debt to society. If you are old enough to remember the prison farm and roadsie stands near Buena Vista at the state pen. They used to sell thier producxe along with leather and wood crafts. this was in an effort to help pay for thier stay in prison, as well as make them a productive member of society. This all changed when liberal bleeding hearts said it was unfair to make them work.
Now days if you look at the make up of those behind bars you will see that there is a vast growing majority called illegas that are on the dole. They are locked up getting free room and board on the taxpayers dime. So if we put them to workk in the fields are we not supporting illegals to come here. Giving them a job with room and board.
It sounds to me like yet another way we will be supporting Mexicos economy and not ours.
Posted by on September 6, 2007 05:56 AMhow about we change our prison system to look like the ones in chian and thialand. you go to jail and if your loved ones dont show up with food you dont eat. you dont get color tv's with cable provided, no fancy workout rooms, no extra free educations programs, all you get is hard work to pay your debt back. they also have very few repeat offenders over there compaired to our system of pampered care and how can we help you as you are really the victum.
now this will set all the libs at the aclu on their heels.
I'm fine with convicts working in the fields as long as the huge number that are in jail for petty drug offenses are pardoned and let go.
Posted by Charles B on September 6, 2007 06:47 AMDon't you folks read the papers - starting this past March, Colorado already has a pilot program in place to do this:
Prisoners who are a low security risk may choose to work in the fields, earning 60 cents a day. They also are eligible for small bonuses.
The inmates will be watched by prison guards, who will be paid by the farms. The cost is subject to negotiation, but farmers say they expect to pay more for the inmate labor and its associated costs than for their traditional workers.
Posted by Mary on September 6, 2007 08:15 AMA few days ago RMN had an article w/ Sakata Farms in Brighton..welcoming a guest worker program and showed workers in the fields making $9.36.per hr.
How much do prisoners get per hr?
If prisoners worked the fields..they may be so tired crime rate in the prison may be low.
What do the do now? Go to educational programs and chill?
It's not like they're breaking rocks into pebbles for the States highway, loke they did in the 50"s.
Posted by on September 6, 2007 11:41 AMWash your veggies real good, it is easy to contaminate food in the field. Or did you forget the spinach debacle? And that was by mistake, not done of purpose.
Posted by Sharon B. on September 6, 2007 06:56 PM