[Photo by B.F.]I don't know about anyone else, but I needed to see something bright and hopeful --- and this photo is right "up there" with seeing the photo of the President Bush Jr.; three former presidents (Clinton, Carter and Bush Sr.); and the president-elect (Obama) on the front page of today's Kingston "Daily Freeman" (P. A1) --- every one of them (even if it hurt!) smiling...
A smile that we all must HOPE (Is Obama working some "magic" here?) speaks of HOPE --- and NOT of superficial and ultimately meaningless (We need some big SINCERE smiles here folks!) facades...
Because the winds of misfortune are blowing...
[Photo by B.F.]Pretty darn strong for some of us...
And something, somewhere, really needs to give... [in a productive, positive manner!]
[Photo by BF; (Yo B... who IS that guy on the sign?????]That said, I want to send kudos to Police Chief Gerald Keller and the rest of the local crime-busters (lol) for bringing down (according to a report in today's "Daily Freeman" - PP. A1 & A6) the "serious crime" numbers in the area - with a special thanks to Chief Keller and members of the KPD for (according to the same paper; P. A6) working with a local non-profit agency (Family) to steer "high-risk" youth towards appropriate programs and services!
Because prevention, where "high-risk" youth are concerned, is KEY in my opinion --- with appropriate intervention (counseling, support, etc) being the next best step (when a youth is already making some self-destructive and/or outwardly-destructive choices) along the road that we all must travel... from raging adolescent hormones and identity struggles... to some semblance (oh how I try!) of maturity!
[Photo by BF]Still (on the subject of serious crimes...) --- I DO have to ask this:
WHY is it that the physical and sexual abuse of children is NOT considered (by the FBI) a SERIOUS crime?????
This is an issue addressed in a couple of the books that I wrote, and truly... inquiring minds WANT TO KNOW...
What (This is a serious question I am putting "out there.) would one have to do (suggestions please?) to remedy this situation?????
[Photo by BF]And, whilst I am on the topic of serious questions...
Did anyone catch the fact (today's "Daily Freeman", P. A3) that in some cases, the county (UC) is making $95 dollars a day "per inmate" off boarding folks from other counties in the U.C. jail?
This is cool... yeah? Big bucks...
BUT... $95 a day = $665 a week = $34,580 a year...
Which, I have to admit, makes me squirm a little bit! Especially when one considers the fact that a lot of these same folks (the inmates) are out of the workforce, missing child support payments, etc., etc. etc.
Am I glad that something positive (money for the county) is coming out of the whole jail (ahem) fiasco?
Yep.
But when you look at the whole situation - a "little bit" objectively - don't ya' think there has GOT to be a better (for everyone concerned!) way????? [No, I am NOT talking about an Arizona chain-gang!]
[Photo by BF]How about we put them to work - at minimum wage HUMANE jobs (like moving this community towards going GREEN...) - so that those that need to (speaking of the inmates) CAN pay their child support and/or CAN put money away for housing when they are released?
Just a thought...
I would love (on any or all of these topics) to hear your thoughts, as well! 'Cause this tunnel we are ALL in...
[Photo by BF]Is going to take a lot of brainstorming... if any and/or all of us are going to make it out (What is the "light at the end of the tunnel?) the other side!
Peace, Love and Humane Justice,
N.
4 comments:
According to the provisions of the NYS Correction Law and the regulations of the State Commission on Corrections, County Correctional Facilities are to have care, control and custody of prisoners who:
1) Charged with an offense and can not make bail while awaiting trial or deposition of criminal charges.
2) Sentenced for a criminal or petty offense by a court to 365 days or less.
Therefore, the jail's inmate population is extremely transit unlike state corrections which is relatively stabile.
That being said, Given the fact of the county jail holding offenders charged with offenses ranging the gambit from homicide to DWI would make any work release program unfeasible.
----CCO
Thank you for the input CCO. That makes sense. The situation I had in mind - in this aspect of the post - was that of a young man that was sentenced to jail for non-payment of child support - which of course he could not pay because he was in jail - which seemed like a rock and a hard place kinda' bind to me. The longer he was in jail (and couldn't work) the more he got behind on his child support... and thus, it went.
What do you think about that type of situation?
N.
The scenario you depicted is not a criminal matter but a civil action falling under the jurisdiction of the County Family Court Judge.I don't know how the court's jail commitment orders work in reference for failure to pay child support. One thing is certain is that you can't keep a civil prisoner in jail indefinitely!!
Actually this is a case that is a few years old, and it did work out okay in the long run. The thing is, though, when they put these guys (or gals) in for non-payment of support - the support is still not being paid while they are in jail - so theoretically, at least, it seems like they could turn around and put them right back in...
It just seems crazy to me... Like a serious double-bind / no-win sitution... And trust me, back when I was in college I thought (along with the most of the rest of the feminists) that the jail bit for non-payment of support was a viable answer...
So I'm eating my own (past) views on that. And I think there has GOT to be a better way!
Thanks for posting. Hope you are feeling OK.
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