Due to the war on drugs, I was sentenced to a mandatory-minimum 25-year sentence in federal prison when I was 22 years old. I've been in here for nine years now, and I've spent every day trying to improve, rehabilitate, and educate myself. At first, I figured the best way to go about it would be to enroll in college courses. I wanted to work my way up to a master's degree. I sure as hell had enough time. All I needed was the effort, right? Wrong! I've had enough boulders thrown in my educational path by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to build my own fucking private wing here.

I started my sentence in 1993 at FCI Manchester, a medium to high-security facility in the mountains of Kentucky. It was a brand new prison, just opened. My only goal was to enroll in college courses, and I was happy to learn the education department there offered classes through the University of Eastern Kentucky. I signed up for courses in the fall of 1994. The university professors came right into the prison compound. It was almost like attending a real college. Pell Grants funded my classes and I was on my way towards an associate's degree. After three semesters (holding down a 4.0 all the way), the prison administrators informed us that classes would be immediately discontinued. Apparently, some congressman decided prisoners shouldn't have access to Pell Grants. Overnight, I had no funding and no school.

I contacted my parents and asked if they could afford to pay for my education. They agreed, and the money part was taken care of. Then I looked into different independent-learning and distance-education programs and found a good one offered through Penn State. I applied, and when accepted I transferred my University of Eastern Kentucky credits and was accepted into a Letters, Arts, and Sciences two-year AA program. I was back in school. I worked like a dog, and with my parents' funding I earned my AA degree from Penn State in 1999 while incarcerated at FCI Beckley.

Later that year, I was transferred to FCI Fort Dix—a low-security prison in New Jersey. I decided to pursue my Bachelor's degree through the University of Iowa. They ran a program in conjunction with Penn State, so my credits transferred right in, and I was accepted into a program called Lionhawk.

That's when I found out that FCI Fort Dix doesn't allow prisoners to enroll in correspondence courses that require the use of audio or videotapes. I was outraged. I'd spent six years in higher-level security prisons and had access to video and audiotapes to complete my AA degree, but now that I'd finally made it to a lower-security prison I couldn't touch them? Another roadblock erected.

So I made the best of a bad situation. I studied the degree requirements and plotted a course of study that would enable me to get almost completely through without video or audio. There was only one problem. The degree had a foreign-language requirement. How could I learn a foreign language in prison without any audiotapes? I filed administrative remedy claims explaining my situation, but it was like shooting them into a black hole. I would not be allowed to take courses with A/V components, and that was that. It was against FCI Fort Dix policy.

So, I dove into the courses that I was allowed to take and was soon met with my next obstacle. The lady they assigned to be my liaison—the college program coordinator that every student prisoner must have—was invisible. I would look for her for weeks on end, trying to schedule an exam so she could proctor it. Often we would finally schedule the exam, and then, after I studied for it, she simply wouldn't show up on the designated day. I took my education seriously and this woman didn't give a shit.

And here we see the essential paradox of the entire BOP system. They want prisoners to adhere to their rules and regulations without question, and if you break their policy there is no excuse. You will be thrown into the hole. But the staff? They have carte blanche to do what they want, when they want. They can ignore you, disregard you, and rearrange and break policy at will with zero repercussions.

My problems with this program coordinator got to the point where she complained to her supervisor, saying she couldn't handle me. I was bounced to another coordinator, Mr. Watford. He turned out to be a good guy (after my parents got a senator on his back). They did that because I enrolled in some new courses, and when the books and materials arrived, Mr. Watford refused to give them to me, saying the books were too numerous. But these courses had been pre-approved by him. He couldn't refuse me the books at that point. I related this event to my parents, who advocated for me on the outside by contacting Sen. John Warner, who in turn contacted Mr. Watford. He was angry about my going over his head, but he also got a chance to see just how serious I am about my education. He gave me the books and was very nice to me after that.

After a couple of years, I was well on my way toward my Bachelor's with around 80 credits. I'd maintained a 3.4 GPA. One of the few requirements I still needed was the foreign language. I approached Mr. Watford about it. He had this sign on his door that said, "When policy and common sense conflict, common sense will prevail." I explained the situation to him, and he figured out a way I could take some Spanish course with audiotapes to fulfill the degree requirement. Excellent. I could see the finish line at that point.

Then the biggest roadblock came down. Right after I enrolled in the Spanish course, the warden decided that several people on the compound merited higher security due to the 9/11 tragedy. I happened to be one of them. So I was sent back to a medium to high-security level institution—FCI Fairton in New Jersey, an hour and a half south of Fort Dix. My newest round of books and materials were en route to Fort Dix when I was transferred, and Mr. Watford said he would send them on to Fairton when they arrived.

It's three months later, and I'm still waiting. Apparently, right after my transfer Mr. Watford took another job. So my books sit in Fort Dix gathering dust, while the time limit for my courses ticks down. I have been trying to get the staff here to get my books sent, but it's a no-go. The college program coordinator here has called Fort Dix twice. Both times, they said the books would be on the way. But I don't think so. Even my new case manager has called twice, but still no books. I am trying to be patient, but this whole thing stinks of foul play.

It seems the BOP doesn't want me to gain an education. They don't want me to be rehabilitated. They want me to work in Unicor (the prison's work program) and watch Jerry Springer. They want me to be complacent. Education frees my mind, and the BOP wants me imprisoned. The higher the education, the more free I become. And the BOP doesn't want that. They want me ignorant. The worst thing to them is a prisoner who can think.

I refuse to be controlled. I will finish my Bachelor's Degree and then move on to my Master's. I don't know when I'll get my books, and maybe the $2,000 my parents paid for the courses will be lost, but that's just another roadblock. I won't be intimidated, deterred, or placated. My education is paramount and it will become a reality, despite any obstacles the BOP puts in my path.

SETH M. FERRANTI
Since writing this, Seth has been transferred to another facility and is still awaiting his course materials.

COMMENTS

Subject: mortgage Date: Apr 28 2007 02:43:53 PM Author: mortgage V72TPF http://gaestebuch4u.de/gb/softtabs.html mortgage refinance rate [url=http://gaestebuch4u.de/gb/generic-cialis5.html]mortgage refinance rate[/url] mortgage refinance rate <a href="http://otyanoma.net/~raiden/ragn/mtcgi/mt-comment s.cgi">cheap loan</a> cheap loan Subject: The "War" On Drugs.... Date: Sep 17 2006 11:23:14 PM Author: His friend is complete nonsense and a total waste of money and people's lives. Subject: education in jail Date: Feb 23 2006 01:26:05 PM Author: pissed off I don't care how much education you get, you still fucked up and got caught. Stay the hell out of trouble and then worry about your education. And I'm 50 and paying for my own. Subject: SOS Date: Nov 01 2004 10:25:19 AM Author: sick of stupidity no education, no jobs = more easily believed government lies, larger numbers of desperate people joining the military. if you assholes vote bush in.. well you people don't have a problem setting new lows. so, hang in there cohen. Subject: another new low Date: Oct 31 2004 02:53:05 AM Author: perpetual dawn no jobs, no education = easily believed lies,lots of inductees for the military. if you fuckin idiots vote in bush, world war 3 won't be far off. seriously. hang in there cohen. Subject: Give up freedom? Date: Oct 14 2004 08:11:23 AM Author: jason asshole No shit the 55k doesn't go into his pocket. The money pays for pool tables, condoms, special food, clothing, beding, towels, soap, books, magazines, work programs, socks, shoes, special psychogical treatment, medicine, workout rooms, addiction treatments and cable T.V. The stuff that makes life in North America expensive. Stuff that working people have to pay for. His freedom was just POOF! magically taken away for no reason by the evil state? No! He fucked his life away. Fuck you Cohen. YOU are an idiot for defending this jack-off. As far as my "charmed life " goes, I've had run-ins with the law and guess what? I accept responsibilty for my actions and deserve what I get. He want's an education? Wow! Good for him. Perhaps he should have thought of that before entering the drug dealing trade. Now he will just have to wait untill he proves that he is worthy of a university degree by earning his freedom. Once out of the can he can do whatever the fuck he wants. By the way, great way to debate calling me an idiot.Oh, and his parents paid for his school stuff. Mine didn't. Subject: in through the nose, out through the mou Date: Oct 13 2004 03:37:08 PM Author: L.Cohen I’m really trying hard to not to bite at these fascist postings but (a big hairy one!) I can’t. It is retarded to equate the 45k you make against the 55k it costs to keep a criminal in prison. The 55k goes towards a lot more than simply providing a hip life style for the inmate. How can you possibly think that people in prison are treated better than someone who works hard pays taxes and makes a decent wage? Are you saying you’re willing to hand over your freedom, your salary (the convicts don’t see any of the 55k you dolt!) and your ass in order to have it handed back to you as the charmed life of a convict. You’re an idiot! And THIS ASSHOLE DID PAY FOR HIS SCHOOLING! READ THE FUCKIN’ ARTICLE! Subject: TOUGH CROWD Date: Oct 13 2004 01:26:15 PM Author: Watch It Watch TOUGH CROWD with Colin Quinn on Comedy Central at 11:30 pm E./10:30 C. Monday-Thursday Subject: jason's rant Date: Oct 13 2004 01:09:01 PM Author: deputy dog no shit man! i'm totally down with jason on this one. i've never broken any serious laws (or at least been caught)and you dont hear me bitching about "where's my fuckin'education?" Subject: $55 000!!!! Date: Oct 13 2004 06:58:16 AM Author: jason Please tell me that the figure that somone gave of $55 000 dollars a year to house an inmate is NOT true! I have to work 50-60 hours a week to make like $45 000 and I have a degree and a college education! Fuck that shit. Can't we feed them water and day old bread? Money in the form of grants should be given to average, hard working, honest and law-abiding citizens. Why is it that in North America average people who put forth even a moderate amount of effort are treated worse than rapists and drunk drivers? Yeah, it IS fucking hard to get a degree! Try paying for it assholes. Subject: who the fuck cares Date: Oct 12 2004 10:02:47 PM Author: pstim every prisoner thinks he or she has a unique story, who fucking cares if this guy has an education? who is going to hire a 57 year old ex con? whatever job he will be lucky enough to get will probably rely more heavily on brute strength or in his ability to wield a sour cream gun. Fuck this guy, you know what if he didint fuck his life up, which believe me is his fault, not the goverments, he would have been able to go to a real college. Since his parents are "in" with a senator (which is highly suspect and sounds to me like illusions of grandeur)they must have been at least serviceable parents so i hope penn state or iowa state or EKU teaches burger flipping 101 Subject: andrew gaylord Date: Oct 11 2004 09:13:37 AM Author: razz-a-ma-tazz hey andrew, go fuck yourself. (give me your money before you leave though) Subject: So many issues Date: Oct 07 2004 10:47:56 PM Author: Andrew I fail to have understanding as to why the North American population as a majority can read an article like this and turn it into a petty debate. You people need to stop being so selfish and focused on fiscal issues. Develop a fucking social conscience already. See prison as a way of rehabilitation not punishment. Develop social policies. You are the largest power in the world have access to the greatest of technologies. But all you do is fuck each other & the rest of the world over and wonder why someone hits back in violence at your unadulterated self absorption. You should leave intellectual debate to the rest of world and stick to jumping on the band wagon when there’s a dollar to be made in it for you. Subject: fy all ap Date: Oct 07 2004 10:08:50 PM Author: jfc after reading a little of this shit I realise that american people deserve Bush after all and not the personal part. The right in your face that you might deserve after readind this shit. You deserve a draft. Subject: BlastOff! Date: Oct 05 2004 07:43:56 PM Author: L.Cohen Jetpack, What, do you want a cookie for stating the obvious? No shit what he did was wrong. But it IS society’s problem – read one of my earlier posts – as a member of society we have an obligation to deal with people who break the rules. The rules we (AS A SOCIETY) set out. It just so happens that this guy is trying to change his life for the better. Maybe he’ll get a degree and by doing so learn how to apply himself. Maybe then he’ll start mentoring inner-city youth and stop some of them from either making the same or even greater mistakes. Eventually making amends for his transgression against society (you can’t discount the possibility). However in this case the penal system, acting as an instrument of society, is making it as difficult, no, neigh on impossible for him to take the essential first step. Look at it another way, seeing as he’s already in prison, and receiving the overwhelming benefit of taxpayer money, why don’t we at least attempt to educate him and make some semblance of reintegration possible, rather than just standing on his nuts for the next 25 years. Subject: Undeniable Date: Oct 05 2004 05:37:27 PM Author: Jetpack HE BROKE THE LAW, Cohen. He knew he was breaking the law when he did it. He chose to do it anyway. If jail didn't turn out to be the thing he thought he could handle when he chose to break the law, that's his own problem, not the rest of society's. Subject: Kat's pussy aching Date: Oct 04 2004 03:57:08 PM Author: L.Cohen Kat, I admire your drive if you’re doing all that and still going to school. However, you can still get the books you bought, you can take tests – this guy can’t. It's not so much an obstacle as it is a brick wall guarded by people with shotguns. Subject: waaa! Date: Oct 04 2004 03:38:26 PM Author: kat Just another trust fund baby. Try working two shitty jobs, taking the bus for hours to get to school, have no food and go to AA meetings half the nights of the week to stay sober. And then there are people who do that and have kids. There are obsticles to everyone's education. Subject: do it Date: Oct 03 2004 04:18:03 PM Author: blaine the dude on the right looks like he's about to kick that fukin window out and make a break for it. the window is cracked man,........ run to mexico my friend. Subject: re:boo hoo Date: Oct 02 2004 09:09:18 PM Author: Fair Dinkum Dave What fucking century are you living in Voice of reason? The only reason this guy is even in prison in the first place is because of the draconian laws which your fucked-up country has towards drugs. Mandatory minimum sentencing is perhaps one of the greatest violations of human rights i have ever heard of and the only reason it exists is because your government is staging a so called War on Drugs(this appears to be as successful as your war on terror - where 90% of causalities have occurred since Dubya Bush declared mission accomplished). America is fucked, you are fucked and if you really feel that incarceration of prisoners is waste of your tax-payer dollars, then get off your ass and vote someone who has vision and realises that putting people away for 25 years is not going to help their situation any more than yours. Fuck you. p.s getting an education is about the only option alot of these people have and as you so eloquently put it "all the degrees in the world isn't gonna get you anywhere after a 25 year stint in jail", well maybe not but at least they will have a level of education which will help them tell the difference between people who understand their position and ignorant fucks like you. Subject: boo-hoo Date: Oct 01 2004 04:13:23 PM Author: the voice of "Reason" Fuck this guy and his education. Maybe if having an education was sooo important to him he never would've ended up in this situation in the first place. Besides all the degress in the world isn't gonna get you anywhere after a 25 year stint in jail. I hope he rots along with all the other fuck-ups that are wasting my hard earned money. Its bad enough I already have to support Laquita the crackwhore with 12 kids that is sucking up the welfare money. In the U.S. it costs about 35k a year to house these animals. Bottomline: fuck'em. Subject: Lock'em up & toss away the key Date: Oct 01 2004 07:39:48 AM Author: L. Cohen Mr. Bean has been affected by the gas from his own ass. Mr. Ferranti is trying to make his life better, trying hard. If the prison system stifles someone who is genuinely interested in trying to better themselves, and not return to the slammer 6 months after release, how is anyone with less drive meant to succeed and rehabilitate themselves. This person sounds like a poster child for rehabilitation, yet the system seems to be trying to stop him, trying hard. Are the guards, wardens, prison educational staff all worried about their carrers? I guess the privatized prison system can’t stand to let go of its 2million clients and its biggest customer…the US taxpayer. Subject: Get rid of prisons Date: Sep 30 2004 11:36:51 AM Author: Mr. Bean If someone commits a felony, make it like in the old days where they tried you and executed you. Maybe allow for a 1-year cooling off period just in case other evidence came up. We've got the DNA machines now so hopefully there won't be a lot of the "and now 20 years later it turns out he probably didn't do it thanks to DNA testing" cases. Execute armed robbers, sexual predators, drug dealers, murderers, etc. Screw this guy's education; I don't want to pay to keep him in prison. Release him or kill him but quit billing me damn it. Subject: Soylent Date: Sep 29 2004 02:03:30 PM Author: C.Heston IT'S PEOPLE!!!!!!!PEOPLE I TELL YOU!!!!!!!! Subject: Cost Comparisons Date: Sep 29 2004 11:24:51 AM Author: Jetpack [In fact, it's actually cheaper to keep a prisioner alive in jail, because that hardly costs any money at all, whereas an execution is expensive, because of the way the government does them.] Bullets cost about 20 cents each. Plastic bags are a penny a hundred. It doesn't help that automatic appeals and long stays on death row add to the cost of supporting a guy who'd be better off as Soylent Green. Subject: s.reed Date: Sep 29 2004 02:24:51 AM Author: jfc Wrong answer. In Canada, it's costing at least 55000$ to keep somebody jailed for a year to the tax payer. Give that money to the jailed person for a year's work and I will bet you that same amount that at least 85% of those would not be there in the first place. Subject: Tax dollars Date: Sep 27 2004 05:57:22 PM Author: S. Reed Taxes aren't really your money; they belong to the government. Most everyone pays them, so don't think you're bearing the brunt on your shoulders. In fact, it's actually cheaper to keep a prisioner alive in jail, because that hardly costs any money at all, whereas an execution is expensive, because of the way the government does them. If you're only speaking fiscally, keeping a prision alive in jail is a smarter option. Subject: why a degree? Date: Sep 27 2004 05:36:28 PM Author: littlezombiebird ok, i will preface this by saying that the situation the author describes in this article really pissed me off. i can imagine nothing more frustrating than being unable to control my ability to educate myself. but... this problem could be sort of kind of resolved if he lost his big focus on getting a degree and looked into just educating himself on his own. he obviously has spent enough time working within the university system to understand what is required for a masters, or a doctorate, or whatever, in whatever it is he is doing. so, if he just said screw the degree, got the books/course materials (still a problem, i know) and talked to some professors who were sympathetic to his case and would agree to teach him privately, he could still end up with the education - just no degrees. which sucks, but the learning is the important thing. especially right now, when his immediate concern isn't going to be impressing prospective employers. ramble ramble. it would be a lot of work, but i think it could be even more satisfying because then you wouldn't have to deal with as much crap. Subject: check the priz bio Date: Sep 27 2004 02:29:54 PM Author: l.cohen http://www.prisonerlife.com/page_webpage.cfm?MemberID=51 Subject: i know Date: Sep 24 2004 02:09:25 AM Author: Dr. Fate People want to save there money, so they can be greedy, fat, Neocon, capitilistic pig fucks ? ok, fair enuff. Even if i totally hate what a prisoner did. I personally prefer to champion prisoner rights. A contradiction ? Sometimes compassion doesnt make sense. Subject: fsdfsd Date: Sep 23 2004 09:33:16 PM Author: whiskeytits im a convicted felon. im not going to cry like a bitch to VICE magazine. fuckface. Subject: Cognitive Dissonance Date: Sep 23 2004 04:15:21 PM Author: Jetpack [I was of course referring to the Napoleonic system of law in which the accused are considered guilty until proven innocent & the burden of proof rests with the accused.] This isn't what happened here. The guy was guilty as all hell. It doesn't have anything to do with guilty until proven innocent. They guy in question had the benefit of the American innocent-until-guilty legal system and still went to jail... BECAUSE HE WAS GUILTY. [Once people cross the criminal line they, are no longer worthy of the aid your tax dollars provide?] Sounds reasonable to me. They've demonstrated that they don't think society's laws apply to them, so guess what... they don't. Specifically the ones that protect them and offer them benefits. Personally, I don't think we have a need for animal testing, since our jails are packed to capacity with "volunteers" for those tests. It's a great way to turn prisons' 80 percent recidivism rate into something beneficial for society. Subject: id Date: Sep 23 2004 02:07:08 PM Author: iot Buy a new set of books. Subject: vol II Date: Sep 23 2004 10:46:26 AM Author: L.Cohen G)Ahhh, the Cherry – I was of course referring to the Napoleonic system of law in which the accused are considered guilty until proven innocent & the burden of proof rests with the accused. I was attempting to juxtapose the (as you mentioned) brilliant theory behind American justice against a system I find see as far less just but more inline with how drugnuts seems to think. A-la line’em up against a wall and shoot em….oh yeah, I guess Vice didn’t think your s p a c I n g out of the word for non consensual sex very “smooth”. Nice try. Subject: @ 70 Cohen gets laid more than you do Date: Sep 23 2004 10:45:50 AM Author: L.Cohen A)Drugnuts may not be the author; but you obviously understand who I was referring to. B) Punishment; A penalty inflicted by a court of justice on a convicted offender as a just retribution, and incidentally for the purposes of reformation and prevention. That’s how I know what the purpose of punishment is. Also, there is one thing more valuable to someone than there life, their freedom. Quite a few of your forefathers felt the same way – the same brilliant guys who refer to in part deux (correct translation; partie deux). C) Hey dude – I can’t find a thread to this bit so I’m going to skip over it. D) Fine, tell me how much you make a year and I’ll figure out what tax bracket you fit into, then I’ll calculate what your total tax bill amounts to. My next step will be to break down you tax contribution into percentages (provided by Federal & Sate tax boards) in order to provide you with the actual dollar figure you pay to the prison system; which in turn goes to pay for food, clothing and shelter. Pretty simple really. E) I’d say it take about 1/3 the US defense budget to pay for high quality education for every citizen in the USofA (including those people already in prison). Which agreeable is very close to the “there is no number large enough!!!!” figure you gave. Partie Trois F) The “tangent” is from numb-drugnuts comment that the legal system is obtuse. It may seem slow and cumbersome; however I was trying to provide a reason as to why. Subject: part trois Date: Sep 23 2004 09:36:31 AM Author: n.c. "The theory behind the American justice system is that checks and balances are in place to give that one innocent citizen, wrongly accused of a crime, the best chance to prove themselves innocent." I'm not sure where this tangent comes from but thanks for the explanantion Dr.Knowlittle. Like all theories, the idea needs to be implemented properly. Many of the original political theories that founded this country are beyond brilliant; that has no bearing on the fact that those theories are being implemented like shit! "....move to France and lick napoleon’s boots you ignorant hick." Are you fucking 13? this was the cherry on top of your nebulous, ranting, whiny post. HAHAHA! Subject: part duex Date: Sep 23 2004 09:36:00 AM Author: n.c. "What percentage of your taxable income do you think goes to feeding, clothing and housing Bubba? Maybe like 5 bucks a year blah blah blah..." You may as well have just said " I'm a complete fuckface and I can't be bothered with real facts so I'll just make up my own." if you expect anyone to take you serious in this world, don't make shit up so that you can sound informed...trust me, it has the opposite effect. "How much cash are you going to be willing to part with to save those who haven’t sub come to the temptation of easy money. Once people cross the criminal line they, are no longer worthy of the aid your tax dollars provide?" Way to ignore my previous post, real smooth. As I said, there are only a limited number of situations where rehab is a viable option. Let me ask you the other side of that question....how much is society supposed to shell out for all these losers before they will all be edumacated, productive citizens? Funny, I hear the gerbil running on his wheel inside your head trying hard to do the math...guess what asspipe? there is no number large enough!!!! "Lastly I hope you get wrongly accused of a crime, and you have an expedient trial that unjustly finds you guilty and sends you to prison for a long time." Thanks, I'll have plenty of time to catch up on my reading and pursuing my masters degree. Subject: leonard cohen is a drunk crooner Date: Sep 23 2004 09:34:56 AM Author: n.c. Daddy drugnuts –(<---not the author, the subject) "how do you expect to teach someone (or society at large) that killing someone is wrong by executing people?" why do you assume that is the purpose of capital punisment? If someone commits a crime serious enough to warrant death, the only purpose in killing them is to make them forfeit the only thing they have that could even come close to being as valuable as what they stole (a life, another person's dignity,etc.) "And dude, did you read the article – the criminal had to get his parents to pay for his education, not you!" Hey "dude", we already pay for schools so his dumb ass can get a free education. Now we're supposed to pony up and do it again? He has parents to help, great! Go bug them for money because they're probably the main reason his ass is in the slammer. Subject: Suck my drugnuts Date: Sep 22 2004 10:04:05 PM Author: L.Cohen Daddy drugnuts – how do you expect to teach someone (or society at large) that killing someone is wrong by executing people? Don’t you see a glaring contradiction staring you in the face? And dude, did you read the article – the criminal had to get his parents to pay for his education, not you! What percentage of your taxable income do you think goes to feeding, clothing and housing Bubba? Maybe like 5 bucks a year, if you can’t dole out 5 bucks in order to help people that have come from these poor and uneducated communities you proport to wanting to help, then what’s the fuckin’ point? How much cash are you going to be willing to part with to save those who haven’t sub come to the temptation of easy money. Once people cross the criminal line they, are no longer worthy of the aid your tax dollars provide? Lastly I hope you get wrongly accused of a crime, and you have an expedient trial that unjustly finds you guilty and sends you to prison for a long time. The theory behind the American justice system is that checks and balances are in place to give that one innocent citizen, wrongly accused of a crime, the best chance to prove themselves innocent. If you’d prefer it be the other way around, move to France and lick napoleon’s boots you ignorant hick. Subject: Common Sense Prevails Date: Sep 22 2004 04:49:49 PM Author: Jetpack Sounds like jail sucks. IT'S SUPPOSED TO. Subject: daddy limplungs Date: Sep 22 2004 02:48:18 PM Author: not contraband 2 "If you are truly questioning the necessity of prisons, the concept of rehabilitation...." -I am questioning the necessity of housing large numbers of human filth while they waste more time and money running through an obtuse appeals process on MY FUCKING DIME! I do in fact question the concept of rehabilitation in almost all cases except certain non-violent / drug crime. The classic argument is rehab vs. retribution, I don't personally think housing a bum is retribution. Making him work to pay back the victim of his crime threefold is proper retribution and should be the norm in prison. "Wait, your post has just given me a fabulos idea, once a person commits a crime they become a slave." -That's the best idea I've heard here yet! Oh wait, we'll have to make an exception for the 10 time repeat offender who was "reformed" in jail, let out on parole, then broke into your house and ra ped your mother and shot your dad in his sleep. We wouldnt want to make him a "slave" again...let's try to rehab him one more time. Subject: daddy drugnutz Date: Sep 22 2004 02:46:48 PM Author: not contraband "Are you suggesting that we line all criminals up against a wall and shoot them?" -For some criminals, this is too humane a death. "One of the “things” taxes pay for are prisons, so that blah blah blah..." -One of the "things" my taxes could be paying for is helping improve the economic & social standing of poor/uneducated communites & trying to influence young people for the better instead of flushing my money down the drain to make sure "Bubba" sleeps,eats, and is educated well after he wastes all that tax money in a long-ass bullshit trial. Subject: ... Date: Sep 21 2004 12:11:24 PM Author: apoc You people really think that just locking people up solves anything? Its as good idea as try to hold back education. Education should be mandatory in prisons. There should NOT be a choice between work and school. Prisoners are just cheap labor to the goverment and when they are kept stupid, they wont get jobs outside and fall back into crimes (you know, people gotta eat). Just by looking at the statistics you can see that people with education commit less crimes than people with no education. Elevate your mind. Its the only way out. Beat the snake in its own game. Peace. Subject: Daddy Drugwarbucks Date: Sep 20 2004 11:29:57 AM Author: L.Cohen Dear Contraband, How many prisoners do you know? Have you ever visited a jail? Do you regularly watch cable TV with inmates? Or is all this piss & vinegar being generated from what you’ve heard prisons to be like? Or what TV has told you? Are you suggesting that we line all criminals up against a wall and shoot them? Or is the $0.25 the government would have to spend on each bullet going to irk you as well? We could get them all to hang themselves with the same bit of rope. We live in a society, and as much as it maybe a shock to you (and a blow to society at large) you are a member of it. Along with all the perks society provides such as; police, hospitals, roads, etc., the bonuses are mitigated by this nasty little thing called taxes, which is how all this “stuff” gets paid for. One of the “things” taxes pay for are prisons, so that the 250 pound man from Kentucky who did your granny up the bung hole last week (without her consent mind you) won’t be over there again tomorrow looking for seconds. If you are truly questioning the necessity of prisons, the concept of rehabilitation and its role in society, may I suggest you climb back into your demented slice of hermit-dom, shut your eyes as tight as possible and hope that society never comes calling. Wait, your post has just given me a fabulos idea, once a person commits a crime they become a slave. That way society won’t have to pay a Subject: Simple Solution Date: Sep 20 2004 12:02:40 PM Author: McGreevey Contact the NEA- they'll help you out. Just hook 'em up with an 8-ball every now and then. Subject: keep going Date: Sep 20 2004 11:57:17 AM Author: Mikey Your education is valuable, even if you will only use it [for a job at least] in the distant future. It sends a positive message to others in Prison. I hope that you work to help them out also. Many prisoners never had a first chance, unlike yourself. They need an education to be a part of society, and they don't have the resources that you do. I really think you have an obligation to help them [of course it will be limited]. Subject: Responsibility Date: Sep 19 2004 12:08:19 AM Author: Whistler "Due to the war on drugs, I was sentenced to a mandatory-minimum 25-year sentence in federal prison when I was 22 years old." It would help me be more sympathetic if you said, "Due to my breaking the law..." I agree that sentencing for many drug offenses is too harsh, but it isn't the war on drugs that put you in prison. It was your decision to break the law that put you there. Good luck in your pursuit of education. Subject: stupid Date: Sep 18 2004 11:31:18 PM Author: contraband Here's an idea: Prisoners should not be allowed to sit on their asses all day long watching TV (cable!). They should be made to work at low wages (maybe minimum) and those could be given to them in some way (okay I haven't thought that far ahead) and THAT way you could EARN your right to pursue a college degree. Why are the country's people paying for all these criminals (btw--you didn't get 25 years for selling a quarter of weed on the corner) to live? These people who are being "punished" are actually being fed by everyone who pays taxes. It's like government-enforced panhandling. Although I think your story is so tailored, I do think that you should be able to educate yourself as much as possible. You should just have to get off your fucking fat ass and work for it. Fuckface. Subject: ... Date: Sep 17 2004 06:32:06 PM Author: california sucks you got twenty-five for posessing drugs? Subject: Your Lucky.... Date: Sep 17 2004 03:10:04 PM Author: Robert Dobbs your lucky to not be ass F*&^%'d on a daily basis. They don't want to rehabilitate you they want you dead, or making eddie bauer polos for less than a dollar an hour. (some major brands use prison labor to Subject: Canada comes to the rescue, again. Date: Sep 17 2004 02:49:40 PM Author: kid k Maybe the DOP knows that he writes for Vice and that's why they won't let him finish his education. They like Vice stoopid like the rest of us. He should take correspondance courses based in Canada. The tuition is way lower and the credits are transferrable. Subject: ddd Date: Sep 17 2004 12:00:32 AM Author: whiskytits cry me a fucking river.