Others paying the price for Epstein misdeeds
We see it happen all the time. After a high-profile misdeed happens, politicians implement a knee-jerk reaction that doesn’t punish the wrongdoer but punishes those having nothing to do with his or her misdeeds.
Friday night, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw put a stop to the inmate work release program pending further review.
According to the Sun-Sentinel, “Epstein spent 13 months in the county stockade during 2008-2009 as part of a once-secret plea deal widely criticized as being too lenient. About 3½ months into his sentence, Epstein was allowed to spend up to 12 hours a day, six days a week, working out of a downtown West Palm Beach office.”
The are assigning a 32-member panel to investigate.
Really Palm Beach County?!?!? You need to waste time and money on a 32-member panel to try and figure out what happened? The world knows what happened! The wealthy and politically connected use their resources to get preferential treatment. That’s how the criminal justice system works in the United States. In this case, Epstein paid the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s office $128,000 during the time he was locked up there.
So now other inmates will be punished because of this?
The US Department of Justice – National Institute of Justice states, “The goal of the Florida Work Release program is to improve the recidivism outcomes of individuals reentering society from prison. The program provides a structured reentry environment to allow incarcerated persons nearing the end of their sentences to work regular jobs in the community. This program aims to help individuals arrive at their release dates with jobs and some savings.”
UNFAIR!
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Work Release, Trustess, that’s for Theft, Drug Dealing and Cop Shooting, not aka Sex Offense
30 or so years ago I was in prison on a sex offence in Ma., sex offenders were not permitted in work release but everyone else was,, even murderer’s.
Cancelling the work release program for everyone is typical for those in the ‘rehabilitation business’. The get caught with their ‘knickers at their knees’ and correct their failure by punishing everyone. It doesn’t make sense except to those who are trying to ‘get the heat off’. People who are trying to get their lives in order for reentry are now held back because some bureaucrat in the corrections business was able to make a few bucks off of turning away from a travesty. I hope they are honest about the investigation and that the ‘low life’ corrections official finds him/her-self experiencing some time in the ‘cross-bar hotel’ without work release.
I agree with other posts, if you have a “sex crime” conviction you are ineligible for work release. Only jobs in prison were galley, inside grounds and houseman. The fix was definitely in.
If anyone in Duval is interested, there is a “2nd Chance Job Fair” this Thursday August 8 at FSCJ Downtown Campus. Here’s a link to the flyer:
https://healthyjacksonville.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Second-Chances-Job-Fair-Flyer.pdf
I emailed [email protected] Friday and asked them straight up “Realistically, do any of the employers at the event intend to hire registered sexual offenders or predators?”
I have not received a response yet.
I received a response from Optimum Personnel Services this morning:
“The answer is yes. We do have employers that intend to hire employees with that kind of background, as long as the meet the requirements for the job. The idea of the job fair is that people deserve a second chance, and the employers participating at the event are aware that people of any background can show up.”
I thanked them and asked for a list of companies hiring. Will post when (if) I get it.
Can’t publicly post employers. Email [email protected] and ask for list.
They have to cover their own butts. So, they have to make it look like they are doing something about it. That way no one suspects them. That’s what it’s all about.
Loosing battle there. What needs to be done is work centers for SOs and others where they have manufacturing or service behind a smaller gate for people which in turn pay child support, restitution, savings, ect as well as an educational fund for inmates with more time. Prisons could easily be self sufficient and rehabilitating they need a CEO figure to run it though so it’s never gonna happen. The worst punishment in prison was 1 no women 2 no way to make money. I’d have picked strawberry’s anything to make money and pass the day. Instead I educated myself daily and gave myself a better than college education and was a millionaire after 2 years. In at 19 out at 26. Today with the laws the way they are I couldn’t use the same path and tired but it could be done. Look there is 300 homeless in Miami alone someone with a blue flame of ambition bowing out of their ass could make millions on that not to mention actually help those people. Someone could easily take over (for profit) a reentry program and make millions for all those people that have no plans, no education, no goals, no money provide a bunk and a job I’m telling you the shit is ripe to make truck loads off what the state is missing. I recently spent time in jail and those people in there listened to me hung off every word. Their is no mentoring there no hope. The sherif thinks they are being tough for their own image but a real leader makes things better.
“There are too many unpleasant things in life as it is without creating still more of them”
– Renoir
I would be down for partnering with the right people to change the things we can it’s a ripe time right now but will take a team. Lawyers a big one because the states gonna fight getting SOs together in one area.
“Instead I educated myself daily and gave myself a better than college education and was a millionaire after 2 years.”
If you’re a millionaire, as you claim, how about donating $5,000 to the Ex Post Facto – Sustainer fund and $18,000 to the Out of State Challenge fund! You could also fund a Jacksonville/Duval holiday ordinance challenge!