My sister recently sent me an article about declining prison populations. One of the facts cited in the article was that the recidivism rate for inmates over 60 years old was, “approaching zero.” I got me thinking, in light of some other information friends sent me (I am thankful for the support I have gotten), “if the cost of one corrections officer new hire at the BOP is equal to sending 32 inmates to home incarceration, why is there still resistance to recent directives from the new BOP Director?” The answer is that beaurocracies become so entrenched, that change becomes almost impossible with real pressure, and right now the pressure just hasn’t built to critical levels. Part of that problem with that lack of pressure, comes from the fatalistic attitude of many of the inmates. Surprising to me, is that it is often the older, white collar offenders who are most fatalistic. It may be for a number of reasons, but many of these people, who have more resources education, and positive social contacts on the outside, simply feel that the cruel turn their lives have taken can’t be recovered from. I have had several conversations with these folks over the past week and am trying to rally them to get a little fired up, and take some initiative, but it has been slow going. I can only set an example and hope that if I make some progress, others will see some point in pressing for change. More to come, I suspect.
