Prison Reform
 After
thirty-six years of deliberation in prison,
my verdict is in on the California penal
system. GUILTY! -- on all counts, of gross
mismanagement beyond a reasonable doubt!
If I were their attorney, I'd ask for leniency
due to their admission of trying to solve
a spiritual problem through punitive means.
Most states have better parole systems and
are much less punitive. As a result, their
penal systems are less expensive and more
productive, with less recidivism.
I'm Not Complaining
I was originally sentenced
to death for my crimes and it was a sentence
I deserved. I believe it was the grace and
mercy of God which delivered me from it
and in an eternal sense, from much more.
I write not to complain about my own circumstances
or experience with the parole or corrections
departments. I'd just like to see the system
work in a more meaningful way. It seems
most people have lost hope that prisoners
can really change. Could this be because
their own hearts need to change before they
can perceive life with a confident expectation
of good?
President Abraham Lincoln,
said: "It is fit and becoming in all
people, at all times, to acknowledge and
revere the Supreme Government of God; to
bow in humble submission to His chastisement;
to confess and deplore their sins and transgressions
in the full conviction that the fear of
the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and
to pray, with all fervency and contrition,
for the pardon of their past offenses, and
for a blessing upon their present and prospective
action." 1
Catch The Vision
Wouldn't it be nice for
a person to come to prison, experience a
true change of heart and leave a better
person? This could happen if the Legislature
would catch the vision and establish laws
that require a person to demonstrate change
before release. This would entail new sentencing
guidelines and parole board procedures,
but in the long run it could save the taxpayers
money and solve some major problems in our
society.
The Law given to Moses
has worked on our behalf for over thirty-five
hundred years. The Lord intended for the
law to show men their sinfulness, so they
would repent, turn from their sin to God,
seeking forgiveness. Our tough laws are
in place for punishment, not to promote
repentance and award obedience. Reward works
better than punishment. In California, a
felon is usually given a long determined
sentence, and put in prison where he becomes
lazy, playing cards and watching television,
without any incentive for change. Amazingly,
both he and the prison staff realize that
once released, he will quickly return to
a life of crime.
A New Philosophy
What we need is a sentencing
plan which would not only act as a deterrent,
but would work on behalf of the felon, the
state and the public. A person should realize
that if you commit a felony, it is a life
sentence. There should be a minimum eligible
parole date of one to twenty-five years,
depending on the severity of the crime.
For instance, if a petty thief came to prison
with a one year to Life sentence, he could
be released in a year if he applied himself
for change. If he didn't, he would remain
in prison for life or until he demonstrated
a change which would be indicative of being
able to succeed in society.
The philosophy of the present
parole department would not work. Almost
all of those who come before them are automatically
denied parole. The few who are found suitable
for parole are subsequently denied by the
Governor upon review. A non-political parole
board could be set up at each prison saving
taxpayers money since it would consist mostly
of existing staff. One parole board member
would oversee the board made up of an Associate
Warden, Psychiatrist, Chaplain, the inmate's
Counselor, a Correctional Officer and possibly
an inmate, who would not have a vote. All
these people would be able to continually
observe the inmate who is seeking parole.
They would hopefully be able to provide
a fair and objective hearing.
True Rehabilitation
In all fairness to corrections,
they have recently recognized the value
of rehabilitation by forming a threefold
plan for job training, education and religion,
but there is little positive incentive for
inmates to participate in life skills, moral
responsibility and accountability programs.
Current incentive programs are punitive
in nature. If you don't participate; you
lose privileges. By implementing a new vision
for change, most inmates would be eager
to get their education, develop job skills
and allow God to deal with their hearts.
I believe they. would catch the vision of
a plan and purpose for their life.
The correctional community
should be able to point every inmate towards
programs for his betterment. They should
provide every opportunity for change through
spiritual means, not fearing the separation
of church and state. Inmates should be afforded
all their religious rights, in accordance
with recent court decisions. Training programs
would be supervised by free staff, and some
classes could be taught by qualified inmates.
These classes could be conducted not only
in facilities designed for such purposes,
but in housing units, at tables where games
are usually played. Religious and training
programs could also be made available over
the institutional television system. Inmates
should have every opportunity to prove that
they are serious about change through applying
themselves to study programs with the purpose
of being released one day.
A Change of Heart
I doubt that these changes
for prison reform will be taken seriously.
It would take a miracle for the Legislature
to turn back the clock by repealing laws
that have been firmly established for punishment
during the past twenty-five years. Corrections
has become big business in California, so
there is a lot at stake here.
In recent days, we've seen
people go to prison no matter what their
social status or how affluent they are.
It takes more than job and educational training
to stay out of prison. The way to stay out
is through one thing -- a repentant heart.
John the Baptist, Jesus and Peter all preached
repentance of sin. They knew that without
a repentant heart that we are all doomed
to perish in one way or another. Repentance
is the only way for a person to truly have
a spiritual transformation of heart, where
the true problem lies.
My Testimony
In my case, I agree with
my prosecuting attorney, who said I needed
a new heart. I needed more than the superficial
change that self help programs and groups
offer. I was fearful of someone operating
on me who was as sick as I was. The Lord
began tugging on my heart, while giving
those who knew Him the courage to reach
out to me. They told me of the great love
God had for me, even after committing such
a horrible crime. My eyes were opened to
God's goodness, which brought repentance
to my life. On a Friday night in May 1975,
in the prison chapel, Jesus Christ came
into my heart. I returned to my cell that
night with a glow on my face. Since that
time it has been a continuous growing relationship
with Jesus Christ that has transformed my
life.
Who could ever believe
that something good could come out of something
so bad. I believe as the Apostle Paul wrote
under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit,
that all things work together for the good
of those who are called according to God's
purpose. The Lord is asking that we believe
a person can come out of prison changed
for the good. It requires we believe beyond
a reasonable doubt in the Supreme God, who
has provided the ability for hearts to be
changed through the gift of His Son at Calvary.
Let us passionately profess that we can
do all things through Christ who strengthens
us. Let us believe for change beyond a reasonable
doubt!
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