What Do You Propose?

Called to task.

Nora Scott, in response to one of my posts, asked me what changes I would propose to the Texas prison system. I responded that Texas Department of Criminal Justice should be more transparent and should be held accountable to its mission statement. Nora wrote back and said, but what would “you change” if you could change two things.

 It is so much easier to criticize than it is to suggest improvements. I’m grateful to Nora for calling me to task.

 There are virtually countless changes that need to be made to the Texas system of incarceration and parole, which is one of the worst systems in the United States. Here are important doable changes that would substantially reduce Texas’ rate of recidivism:

 (1) All inmates who work would be paid a minimum salary of $50 per month, with some jobs paying more.

(2) Prisons would serve healthy food, including fresh vegetables and fruit.

(3) All inmates would be required to maintain good physical condition.

(4) Prison would be airconditioned.

(5) Before being paroled, every inmate would have proper identification or a driver’s license, would have secured satisfactory living arrangements and would be in touch with agencies that help the inmate find meaningful employment and medical services.

(6) The primary mission of parole would be changed to assisting a former inmate’s transition to the outside world from parole’s current mission of preventing the former inmate from committing a crime.

 These changes do not address the deep issues of injustice throughout the Texas judicial and penal system, or the emotional torture inflicted on inmates, inmates’ families, prison guards and administration officials.

I urge you to send an email or write a letter to your federal and state representatives and senators letting them know that you consider prison reform important and urging them to support legislation to treat inmates humanely.