Kettle Moraine Correctional Institution P.O Box 282
Plymouth, WI 53073
“I came into the Wisconsin prison system for the first time
when I was 18 years old: That was 32 years ago and like a lot of the young guys
I see around here, I didn't take things serious. I had a bad attitude, didn't
respect authority, and hated anyone telling me what to do. Needless to say I
didn't change because I didn't want to at the time. So this became a revolving
door for me until 1995 when I was sentenced to 7 years in the Wisconsin State
Prison System. I served 4 years 9 months (my release date). That was the
longest prison term I had ever served until now. I thought that would be the
last time for me and I would never come back to this place, but here I am, 12
years later. I have 8 years left.”
Read “From the Inside”, how prisons have become a big ponzischeme:pdf
see posted/text of ponzi scheme
see posted/text of ponzi scheme
Or continue scrolling and read below
FROM THE INSIDE
The Wisconsin State Prison system has become a joke when it
comes to rehabilitation, because there is no rehabilitation, no incentives and
no efforts within the system to try to motivate offenders towards positive
change. Governor Walker took what incentive offenders had away when he did away
with Act 28 and other options offenders had before Governor Walker and Truth
and Sentence (TAS) came into effect The Wisconsin Prison system has become like
a "Ponzi Sheme", a money making system for big investors to get rich
quick at the taxpayer expense. Wisconsin taxpayers pay $50,000 plus for each of
the 20,000 plus offenders yearly. I feel the system is run similar to its Dairy
Industries. They house offenders in warehouse like settings, feeding, bedding
and clothing them until their release date or transfer to another institution,
as with the fanner. The cattle is taken care of until sold or slaughtered, you
make the call. This also reminds me of another atrocity that happen to a race
of people about 400 years ago which is still happening in a very covert way
throughout this world today. But I won't go there, at this time.
From 1980 to 1990 the prison population jumped from 3,980 to
7,362, and from 1990 to 2000 the population jumped to 20,336, and from 2000 to
2008 it jumped to 22,443 and from 2008 to 2009 it went down to 20,917, costing
taxpayers at that time $50625 per inmate that year.
The Wisconsin Correction Institution System seems to be
greatly flawed in it's rehabilitative methods for changing the offenders
behavior, and criminality thinking. This may be because everyone from the
Governor, the Judge, right down to the Warden and it's staff, with the
exception of the teachers, seem to think punishment rather than correction. Now
don't get me wrong there are some people that need to be in prison for the
heinous crimes they have committed and for them there may not be any help. But
for the ones that can and want help, it should be afforded them accordingly.
Now this leads me to the Department of Corrections Mission
Statement, which says "Developing individualized correctional strategies
based on the uniqueness of each offender holding offenders accountable for
their action though sanctions, restitution and restoration". I don't see
how these unique strategies has been working sense there is this outrageous
turnover rate for re-offenders. I think that if there is going to be any gained
ground in this area, issues must be addressed as soon as the offender comes
into the system, and not be just shuffled through or put on the back burner and
hope the offender changes his/herself. This is what seems to be happening from
my perspective and personal observation. The teachers here are the only ones in
my opinion that are developing individualized correctional strategies based on
the uniqueness of each offender, and encouraging change with the offender by
helping them overcome some of their shortcomings by motivating them and
empowering them with knowledge, while maintaining there professionalism and
integrity.
In 2012 taxpayers spent 800 million in the Wisconsin Prison
system for its operations, offender's rehabilitation, education and motivation
for positive change. This brings me back to the Mission Statement for the
Department of Correction that says "Being accountable to taxpayers through
efficient, effective and innovative management of resources" I don't think
so! Offenders are placed on waiting list to address the very issues that has
gotten them here in the first place, and from my understanding you can be on
these waiting lists until you are three years away from your release date. I
don't think this is efficient or effective or innovative managing of the
resources here in the institution. Because there are a lot of us who are
waiting with a lot of time left before release that need these programs so we
can get to a minimum or to address the issues that has caused us to be here.
Either way its a catch 22 because everyone that comes into the system is given
some A& E needs such as AODA, CGIP, GED, Domestic Violence or a Vocational
need that must be addressed before you are even considered to go to a minimum.
So here's the catch if you have a lot of time, 7 or 8 years
you are put on the waiting list doing nothing or offered nothing to address
your issues, until you get within that three year mark. So people like
myselfjust wait here with no kind of incentive but self will and motivation to
change and do better with what I have at hand. As for these over paid
babysitters they call correctional officers its a battle within itself at times
to understand what's what with them. Some are really decent people, but others
are just down right mean and evil people that should not be working in this
type of setting because they create a high security risk for themselves and
others including the offender. In my opinion these officers are only here for a
paycheck and to make the offenders time even harder. Just the other night an
officer threw a shampoo bottle almost hitting an inmate and officer said
"Write me up ifyou don't like it. "This officer has been reported
several times for repeated behavior of this sort but nothing has been done as
of yet. This brings me back the mission statement "Assuring that staff
functions professionally, honestly and with integrity." This is certainly
not true for this officer.
Prison has not been all bad for the most part, I think it
was designed with good intentions but over time lost its vision for
rehabilitation for the offender. But honestly speaking it saved my life and
possibly others because I was using drugs and alcohol on a daily basis and
driving under the influence about 80% of the time. Not only has prison saved
myself, I have heard other individuals story about how they were "getting
money" as they would call it and they were saved as well but will not
admit it. The young kids that are in this system reminds me of myself when I
first came into the system, young, dump and full of......you know what I mean.
I came into the Wisconsin prison system for the first time
when I was 18 years old: That was 32 years ago and like a lot of the young guys
I see around here, I didn't take things serious. I had a bad attitude, didn't
respect authority, and hated anyone telling me what to do. Needless to say I
didn't change because I didn't want to at the time. So this became a revolving
door for me until 1995 when I was sentenced to 7 years in the Wisconsin State
Prison System. I severed 4 years 9 months (my release date). That was the
longest prison term I had ever severed until now. I thought that would be the
last time for me and I would never come back to this place, but here I am, 12
years later severing a 8 years two, two year consecutive sentence for my 5th
and 6th OWl and two, 1 year consecutive sentence for Bail Jumping and
Possession of Narcotic Drugs and 4 years for the 7th OWl which is a total of 10
years but because of jail credit and time already served I have 8 years left.
I realize now none of what I was doing was worth this, nor
do I blame anyone but myself lam now trying to make the best of it, by
educating myself and staying busy and expressing myself in my writings about
things that are happening in the present. The older I get the more I see the
importance of being responsible and being a good roll model for my kids, our
youth in today's society. In the news there is so many young drug users and
crimes committed by our youth. On a daily basis someone is getting killed, shot
at and ifs mostly young adults ages 16 to 25. They too, those who survive the
streets will be coming here to serve time in the Wisconsin State Prison System.
There must be something I or we can do to help our younger generation that will
be coming into this place so they won’t have to let this be a life style or a
revolving door for them fbr the next 30 years, as I have. A change must take
place from both sides.
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