INVEST IN EDUCATION-NOT PRISONS

STATE LEGISLATORS FAIL US AGAIN


On Tuesday I attended a forum to discuss the pending pre-parole 500 bed state prison optioned to be built in Madera.

The state says there is no money for schools, education, transportation, yet has millions to pour into additional correctional facilities and criminal healthcare. An inmate hospital is being built is Stockton. Our correctional health care is in receivership due to alleged poor care and bad decisions. Having a receiver costs millions of dollars.

The decision to invest in prisons over child safety and schools continues on the path of bad decisions. First, there is no significant rehabilitation in the correctional system. Inmates are warehoused and released. Any inmates housed in the new Madera prison facility would be released in the same condition as they were when they were transferred to Madera. Second, recidivism is around 80 % and the inmates are mentally institutionalized, so they at some level like to return to prison-but they must commit a crime to get there. We will be the victims. Third, currently the valley has an approximate 20% unemployment rate and an even higher under-employment rate. There is no evidence that Madera will have any jobs for released felons who had previously spent years in Soledad, Pelican Bay, or Folsom. Yet, county supervisors want to risk exposing our youth to felons who would be coming to the facility on a daily basis.

Once these felons are discharged all state health care and support payments stop and there would be an increase in Medicare and ER hospital usage, an increase in welfare and an increase in crime and gangs. We do not have drug rehabilitation services now in Madera due to state budget cuts. If these inmates are already due to be released, then just release them to their home areas and release the allotted money for use by the cities for educational services, transportation, teachers, after-school programs, summer programs and police.

It is unadvisable to locate this facility in a residential area where citizens are striving for a better lifestyle. If you want to share our vision for a better Madera, join us in keeping this facility away from our schools, parks, and housing areas. I can be contacted by email at: saveourvalley@hotmail.com

Dr. Loraine Goodwin, M.D., J.D.

Madera Unified Trustee and Candidate for Congress CD 19