Platinum Contributing Member steve from amherst Posted November 19, 2018 Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted November 19, 2018 As flames consume parts of California, an unexpected group of firefighters has put their lives at risk to protect communities: prison inmates. For $2 per day — and another $1 an hour when battling fires — qualified inmates can volunteer to help authorities combat fires. More than 1,500 of the roughly 9,000 firefighters dealing with the current fires are through the state's Conservation Camp Program, which began working with fire officials to add firefighters in the 1940s. For the inmates who volunteer, the program offers sentence reductions and more comfortable prison accommodations. Inmates who have been convicted of crimes like sexual offenses and arson are not eligible to volunteer. Participants are given "the same entry-level training" that the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, gives its seasonal firefighters, in addition to the same ongoing training, according to the state. "Boulders the size of Volkswagens" Daniel Erickson spent five years fighting fires for the state while serving a sentence for drug possession. His sentence was reduced by a year the first time he went to fire camp."I never felt like, 'I can't believe I got myself into this, what was I thinking,' " said Erickson, who now works to install redwood fences. "Was I scared at times? Yes, but I've been scaErickson described working conditions that include temperatures above 100 degrees and "boulders the size of Volkswagens" rolling past him as he and his colleagues fought to protect communities. red in the regular prison setting more so than on the fire line." When inmate firefighters aren't battling blazes, their duties can include maintaining parks, clearing brush and fallen trees, and sand bagging as part of conservation and community service projects, according to the state's Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Using inmates to fight fires saves the state $100 million per year, according to WBUR, but critics say the program amounts to slave labor. In August, David Fathi, director of the ACLU's National Prison Project, said prisoners are a "uniquely vulnerable part of the workforce." "This is very, very hard work, and at times I felt like just, I'm done, I can't do no more," he said. "And that's when I would tell the captain ... if we don't want some mistakes and some injuries, we need to lay it down for a minute, and then we would lay down and we would rest." It's not just injuries that could happen. At least six inmate firefighters have been killed in the line of duty since 1983. "A lot of times when an inmate was hurt back in the day, they didn't mention that an inmate firefighter was killed," Erickson said. "Now they say three firefighters were killed. They didn't say it was an inmate firefighter. They said he was a firefighter, because that's what he was." The communities that are protected by the inmate firefighters are also aware of the work being done. Residents in Santa Rosa, Calif., shook hands and shared hugs with a team of inmate firefighters after their neighborhood survived last year's Tubbs Fire, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported last year. The fire killed 22 people and destroyed roughly 5,600 buildi Erickson said firefighting was the hardest work he has ever done, but that it was worth it to him. "I could be sitting behind the [prison] wall right now, dealing with all the drama that that entails, or I could be out here helping save this part of California because of this disaster." The historic disaster will likely continue: This year's Camp Fire is the deadliest wildfire on record for California, killing at least 76 people as of Saturda ngs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member Jimmy Snacks Posted November 19, 2018 Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted November 19, 2018 Great program and good on those inmates that volunteer for this duty. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 Yeah, this is great. I have said before, more programs like this for low level, non violent offenders should be implemented all over. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anler Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 State sponsored slave labor. Awesome. We should put more people in prison to do stuff like this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member Jimmy Snacks Posted November 19, 2018 Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted November 19, 2018 2 minutes ago, Anler said: State sponsored slave labor. Awesome. We should put more people in prison to do stuff like this. Slaves weren't volunteers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anler Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 Just now, Jimmy Snacks said: Slaves weren't volunteers. Too dangerous to be released into society but not too dangerous to work for the state at $2 a day? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmo Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 8 minutes ago, Anler said: Too dangerous to be released into society but not too dangerous to work for the state at $2 a day? Sitting behind bars all day has to suck the life right out of you. Giving these folks some purpose is a good thing. I’m all for it. They could pay them a bit more though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anler Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 Just now, Edmo said: Sitting behind bars all day has to suck the life right out of you. Giving these folks some purpose is a good thing. I’m all for it. They could pay them a bit more though. Oh I get it I'm just not a fan of the chain gang programs. These guys can't even qualify for these jobs when they get out of prison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member steve from amherst Posted November 19, 2018 Author Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted November 19, 2018 4 minutes ago, Edmo said: Sitting behind bars all day has to suck the life right out of you. Giving these folks some purpose is a good thing. I’m all for it. They could pay them a bit more though. yes they should and use the money to help them get set up with a real life upon release. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mileage Psycho Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 7 minutes ago, Anler said: Oh I get it I'm just not a fan of the chain gang programs. These guys can't even qualify for these jobs when they get out of prison. Oh really........... Programs like this are good, Illinois has a boot camp for the convicted that is good too. Quote Daniel Erickson spent five years fighting fires for the state while serving a sentence for drug possession. His sentence was reduced by a year the first time he went to fire camp."I never felt like, 'I can't believe I got myself into this, what was I thinking,' " said Erickson, who now works to install redwood fences. "Was I scared at times? Yes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anler Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 37 minutes ago, Mileage Psycho said: Oh really........... Programs like this are good, Illinois has a boot camp for the convicted that is good too. How about a firefighter or a police officer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gold Member BOHICA Posted November 19, 2018 Gold Member Share Posted November 19, 2018 They could rake the forest 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racer254 Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 (edited) I like the idea of having inmates work, but, seems to me, chain gangs were ended due to the fact that they were taking jobs away from regular citizens. Edited November 19, 2018 by racer254 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anler Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 18 minutes ago, racer254 said: I like the idea of having inmates were, but, seems to me, chain gangs were ended due to the fact that they were taking jobs away from regular citizens. 1500 of the 9000 firefighters fighting that fire are convicts. If they die nobody really cares. But when they get out will they be able to get that job that will pay them real wages and benefits? Seems a bit hypocritical. If they arent that dangerous that they can be out in the public doing work then do the tax payers really need to spend $70k a year keeping them locked up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member Jimmy Snacks Posted November 19, 2018 Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted November 19, 2018 1 hour ago, Anler said: Oh I get it I'm just not a fan of the chain gang programs. These guys can't even qualify for these jobs when they get out of prison. This isn’t Cool Hand Luke we’re talking about there Dragline.🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zambroski Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 2 hours ago, Jimmy Snacks said: Great program and good on those inmates that volunteer for this duty. Agreed. 1 hour ago, Mileage Psycho said: Oh really........... Programs like this are good, Illinois has a boot camp for the convicted that is good too. Get your boy in line, Vinney. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member steve from amherst Posted November 19, 2018 Author Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted November 19, 2018 Just now, Anler said: 1500 of the 9000 firefighters fighting that fire are convicts. If they die nobody really cares. But when they get out will they be able to get that job that will pay them real wages and benefits? Seems a bit hypocritical. If they arent that dangerous that they can be out in the public doing work then do the tax payers really need to spend $70k a year keeping them locked up? No, that's why working helps them qualify for early release. Yet many should probably never have been inside in the first place. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member Jimmy Snacks Posted November 19, 2018 Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted November 19, 2018 23 minutes ago, racer254 said: I like the idea of having inmates were, but, seems to me, chain gangs were ended due to the fact that they were taking jobs away from regular citizens. Yeah because regular citizens are going to walk down the side of highways in the blazing sun chopping weeds down with sickles.🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anler Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 Just now, Zambroski said: Agreed. Get your boy in line, Vinney. His boy is a fiscal conservative. Something you libs and neocons wouldnt know anything about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zambroski Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 1 minute ago, Anler said: His boy is a fiscal conservative. Something you libs and neocons wouldnt know anything about. Oh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anler Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 1 minute ago, steve from amherst said: No, that's why working helps them qualify for early release. Yet many should probably never have been inside in the first place. War on drugs puts most of them in there. How much does that cost tax payers to house all of these guys in the penal system and then the security and support to bring them out in public to do work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry ginger Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 i honestly think all inmates should have to do some public serve work and this would be included in there. there is zero reason we are paying big bucks to state employees for a lot of jobs that could easily be done by low risk inmates. unfortunately you can't just not punish these people where would the consequences for actions be then, you either hurt them in the pocket or take away their normal life which has been the case for as long as the justice systems been in place in this country. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Platinum Contributing Member Jimmy Snacks Posted November 19, 2018 Platinum Contributing Member Share Posted November 19, 2018 Analer = Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry ginger Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 2 minutes ago, Jimmy Snacks said: Yeah because regular citizens are going to walk down the side of highways in the blazing sun chopping weeds down with sickles.🤣 30hr+ to run the new holland down the side of the highway here a job that could easily be done by an inmate for 1-2 an hour. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anler Posted November 19, 2018 Share Posted November 19, 2018 1 minute ago, Jimmy Snacks said: Analer = Well I know a couple of farm girls that really know what fer. sbyl. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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