| # | Name | Comments |
|---|
| 251 | Dolores v. Higgins | |
| 252 | Donna Knotts | |
| 253 | Donna Knotts | |
| 254 | NANCY AMATO | |
| 255 | mary-e fitzgerald | I wholeheartedly support this platform! |
| 256 | Pearl Taylor | Our men and women that are incarcerated should have a chance to re-enter society, if they have a good record, programs, education and things that are positive in there lives. Also those that have famly support. Right now inmates are warehoused. |
| 257 | Carolyn Marnell | |
| 258 | Stefanie Pickus | Justice system is very unfair especially the innocent who r being abused. |
| 259 | Bernie Winchell | |
| 260 | LARRY FAUNTLEROY | IF OUR GOV CAN ALLOW MEN AND WOMEN TO ENLIST WITH FELONY CONVICTION, YET THEY CAN GET JOBS IN THEIR COMMUNITY ,, WILL SOMEONE PLAESE TELL ME WHAT`S GOING ON |
| 261 | Avis Crawford | it's about time we get a break to return to society as law abiding citizens/ |
| 262 | Jean Young | Economic self-sufficiency of those released is a pre-requisite to reducing crime and subsequent government expense. Job-oriented education/training is the foundation of any solution to this problem. In today’s work environment, that usually means secondary and post-secondary, vocational education/training.
Productive work, the work ethic, and the sense of personal value that come with adequate vocational training/education are important parts of the total rehabilitation process, providing a base for overcoming diverse addictions, and the transformation of criminals into law-abiding taxpayers.
We can:
Reduce Recidivism: Texas data compiled over a four-year period revealed that with two years of college, the recidivism rate drops to 10%, and with four years of college, the recidivism rate drops to 5%, compared with a recidivism rate of 60% for those receiving no additional education while incarcerated. (Kemp Study, in conjunction with Texas Southern University’s Earl Carl Institute for Legal and Social Policy Inc., 2003).
Reduce Cost: In 1990, the State Auditor’s Office estimated that the state of Texas saved 6.6 million dollars for every one-percent reduction in recidivism.
Correct a Bad Mistake: A November 2005 report by The Institute for Higher Education Policy revealed that over 85,000 incarcerated persons were enrolled in college courses in U.S. prisons in 2003-2004. (mostly college-based vocational courses). Among these states, two-thirds received at least half their funding from state appropriations.
However, in 1994, NYS forbad the use of TAP grants for any post secondary education for persons who are incarcerated in state prisons. This serious mistake can and should be remedied.
I THEREFORE URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING STEPS:
Direct SUNY administration to 1) conduct an in-depth study of educational needs of incarcerated persons, including literacy, special education, vocational education, GED programs, and post secondary education; 2) produce inmate-oriented curriculum guides in each area; and 3) offer instructional services, from all SUNY facilities, to selected prison facilities, in areas of greatest promise.
Authorize a comprehensive study, under DOCS direction, of the distance learning services now becoming widely available; and evaluate the technical, economic, and security feasibility of using diverse forms of distance learning for the education of incarcerated persons.
Again allow NYS TAP grants for post-secondary education of incarcerated persons. TAP grants should at least be available to incarcerated persons who are enrolled in job-skill-oriented post secondary educational programs (specifically intended to promote employability upon release), including up to 2 years of post-secondary remedial education, vocation-oriented certificate-programs, or other primarily vocation-oriented programs, possibly leading to an Associates Degree.
Consider still other means of NYS funding for job-oriented post secondary education for incarcerated persons.
Increase cooperation with NYS Dept. of Labor and NYS trade unions, for 1) design and certification of vocational training and apprenticeship programs in prisons, 2) networking with prospective employers, and 3) educating employers on incentives for hiring formerly incarcerated persons.
Increase pre-release job preparation and job placement services.
Increase investments in the education of incarcerated persons, in accord with the above, and with particular attention to special education and advanced vocational education.
Consider using one or more correctional facilities as honor facilities offering college courses, personal transformation courses, family reunion and intensive family counseling, and job preparation.
Make it illegal for colleges to ban the applications of formerly incarcerated individuals solely because of their incarceration.
Supplementary considerations:
The NYS Commission on Sentencing Reform, in its October 15, 2007 report, states "...the Commission believes that DOCS should provide more educational opportunities for offenders who have completed their high school education or obtained a GED. While obtaining a GED will realize modest reductions in recidivism, post-secondary educational programs have been shown to reduce recidivism by approximately 40%."
Through a partnership with the Correctional Education Association, the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and the Milwaukee Area Technical College, TLN provides college credit-bearing courses to subscribing facilities via satellite. This partnership is offering courses leading to an Associate of Arts Degree to many correctional facilities nationwide via satellite. It's only one example of a cost effective way of using distance learning to prepare inmates for jobs that require technical skills |
| 263 | Anonymous | |
| 264 | Robert W. Hare | |
| 265 | Howard Josepher | |
| 266 | Ann DelCarpine | |
| 267 | Pearl Taylor | This is a free country and "everyone" has a right to counsel. When counsel is refused than the people refusing are playing judge and jury. Everyone has a right to make a new life for themselves and we are here to help. |
| 268 | Anonymous | |
| 269 | Anonymous | too many of our children are being wrongfully labeled as felons through the injustice and prejudice of our criminal justice system toward minorities |
| 270 | Caitlin Dunklee | |
| 271 | lorraine Gargano | |
| 272 | William H Bortree | |
| 273 | Jolene Festa | |
| 274 | Stefanie Pickus | The justice system is very unfair. |
| 275 | jayettelansbury | |
| 276 | ZELDA GREENBERG | |
| 277 | ZELDA GREENBERG | |
| 278 | Judy Meikle | |
| 279 | Anonymous | |
| 280 | Ted Taylor | |
| 281 | Thayer hEATH | It's time for NY State to move into the 21st century and provide ways to reduce recidivism, funds for adequate defense lawyers etc. |
| 282 | Mary Attanasio | Restoration and decent care for imprisoned people. |
| 283 | Deb Mayo | |
| 284 | Howard Meyer | |
| 285 | Nancy Grosselfinger | All the suggestions proposed will improve both the outcome of a prison sentence and make the individuals involved (staff and inmates) have a more productive, humane existence along the way. |
| 286 | Ted Taylor | |
| 287 | Joseph M. Lamb | |
| 288 | Robert W. Hare | |
| 289 | Cathy S. McDowell | Everyone deserves to be treated fairly under the law and be provided with competent legal representation. I applaud this right as an American. |
| 290 | E. Mantell | Please help change the prison system with these important processes. |
| 291 | Alison Coleman | Director, Prison Families of New York, Inc. |
| 292 | Jim Murphy | Rudy I'm not sure if I signed. |
| 293 | Anonymous | I think this platform should definately be done and done right. Too many men and women are locked up that really need a chance to become productive people. Their familes also need them at home. |
| 294 | Ralph Purdy | |
| 295 | Anonymous | |
| 296 | Leah Gitter | New York
-New York spent $2.622 billion in fiscal year 2007 on corrections.
- For every dollar spent on higher education, New York spent 73 cents on corrections. |
| 297 | Barbara Allan | |
| 298 | Julie Davis Carran | |
| 299 | Carole Burton | |
| 300 | Kathy Varsos | |