POWERFUL VIDEO

Click on the tittle to go to this video.  This is a very powerful video, Share it with your family and children.  Maybe this is a lesson we all can learn from.  Sometimes we do need to stop and smell the roses.  Life is too short and we are living to fast.

If you can, read along as she talks, especially when she reverses the video.

Hope you enjoy this

STAFF SEARCH'S REACH OUT TO CCC

Today, we finally got hit.  Coming into work at 0600 hours we were searched.  They stopped the search around 0730 ish.  Which really doesn't make any sense since most non-custody staff come in during that time.  So this search mostly was aimed towards custody it seems.  We didn't look bad, but we didn't look good either.  They found some tobacco, phones, reading material, CD's, a few jump-drives, etc.  I was able to talk to the Administration and got the feeling that there may be some ECR's & LOI's.  Not sure yet until the dust settles.  So we will have to wait and see.

I have been preaching this for months;  to check yourselves before you come to work.  They are searching ALL institutions.  And they will be back.  It is not worth money out of your check.  All I can say is leave it at home and take a couple of seconds to check yourselves.  And do yourself and your partner a favor, if you see something that a staff member did in fact bring in that they probably shouldn't have, tell them.  Look out for each other.  Bottom line.  If I brought a pocket knife in, lost it and an inmate got ahold of it, then stabbed a staff member and they died.  I would feel like shit.  That is a heavy load to handle.

I know there are some who will look at this as all b.s., but whatever any of us feel, they make the rules and we gotta abide by them.  I don't have to agree with it, nor any of you, but we have to remember where we are at and who is around us.  Like I said, I don't ever want the responsibility of staff getting hurt because of my own nonsense.  Take it for what it's worth.

Questions............

DVI started this trend on their blog and I will try it here.  The question is how is the mandate Furlough's effected you family/life.  Write something up, put it in my mail box and I will forward it to the Legislator.  Include how you have struggled, what you have lost, ect.  you get the idea.  Somehow we need to wake these guys up, so we r trying this.  We can't stop trying.

Second question;  Please let  us how we can improve ourselves as a Local Union Board. What are are weakest points.  What are our good points.  If we don't have any feedback, we can't fix it.  We have had positive input on this site, getting the information out to everyone.  that seemed to be the biggest complaint.

Thanks for your response.

Lori 

GIVE CREIDT WHERE IT'S DO...

I must say, I was surprised with our last two Skelly's.  Both were dropped down to LOI's, the Adverse Action dropped.  I know I have vented in the past on the un-fair justice we have been getting.  It feels good when a good cop is off the hook.  I have seen too many good cops get burned for simple mistakes.  And that gets frustrating after awhile.  I will always stress, we are human before we are Peace Officers.  We will make "honest mistakes" in our careers.  That's the point I am trying to get across to CDCr.  Again, no one is perfect.

I am still set firm on everyone treating others fair.  We do not need anymore stress.  So I will take that subject all the way to the top.  I will say this again to all Supervisors.  No matter your rank or pay-grade, we are on the same side.  It is us against the men in blue. I hope one day some will listen to this.

We had our monthly Wardens meeting today.  Many issues were brought forward on both sides.  

1)  Discussion on the hold-overs.  If the hold-overs don't ease off by the end of this week, we will sit down again with them and discuss the next options.  Some idea's thrown on the table were, initiating "Strike teams", letting Camp's come inside to work overtime.  Possibly reducing programs, and the swaps were brought up again.  I did ask them to please meet us half way on the swaps and not pull them completely.  I again brought up the issue that I had brought forward 6 weeks ago on closing programs when holdovers are held on their Friday's.

2)  Discussion on rosters;  There seems to be issues going on when the proper pay code is not on the roster's and staff are not being paid o.t.  Also we are pushing to get the seniority list for the duel appointments so they are hired fairly. 

3) We are still in discussion faze with the staff gym. 

4)  There was also some discussion on possibly making a plan for first watch if transports or something happens where first watch is at a dangerous low staffing level, we come up with a plan; ie:  Delay work release/short line/the morning meal until second watch came on shift.  This option will be further reviewed. 

Besides that, nothing else new to report.  It seems the state is scrambling around with all the staff retiring and receiving pink slips.  Locally it looks like we may be loosing ATLEAST 30-40 Officers.  This will be bad for us.  If anybody has any input on remedies for this, please forward them to me.

Staff Save and Sane

Lori Olah

CCC Chapter President

PERCEPTION

By B-Polished
DVI Blog

This is another word that we hear a lot about especially during training and more specifically, the Sexual Harassment class during the OPT (Off Post Training) or IST Block Training. But recently I’ve been hearing it more on the line in conversations with supervisors and between staff. Again I question if the department, Administration or even our union uses the dictionary’s definition or if they’ve made up their own… again, let’s look and see:

The American Heritage Dictionary, Second Edition states;
PERCEPTION (per-sep-shen) noun 1. The process, act, or faculty of perceiving. 2. The effect or product of perceiving… {So I looked up the root word, perceive}
PERCEIVE (per-sev) transitive verb 1. To become aware of directly through any of the senses, esp. to hear or see. 2. To take notice of; observe. 3. To become aware of in one’s mind; achieve understanding of.

How are we trained when it comes to ‘perception’ or what is ‘perceived’? I thought long about it, even asked a few people and we were all in agreement with CDCR’s definition. These are the answers I received;
• To ‘perceive’ is to possibly have the wrong understanding or view of what was said or done.
• ‘Perception’ is the viewpoint of one which may not have a clear understanding of what was said, done or viewed.
• If you ‘perceive’ something, someone may take an occurrence out of context than what the meaning is without hearing the full statement or seeing the full activity.
• To have something taken the wrong way.
Does the definition by CDCR standards mirror what is in the dictionary?

Administration has a double standard in definitions in certain areas that need to be crystal clear. They are deciding on people’s lives, careers, reputations, finances and futures on the definition of a word that is flipped like a proverbial two headed coin that always favor against us. Intimidation is also used if you attempt to answer without a positive yes or no regarding what you saw or heard. This intimidation tactic will leave you feeling questionable on how you feel on what you report because as a so-called ‘trained observer’, you are led to believe nothing will get past those eagle eyes if something happens in your area of responsibility. Well I have news for you… before you are an officer, you are human and sometimes you can be unsure of what you see or hear, especially walking in the middle of the conversation or incident.

My advice to any of you is to be sure before you report. And if you’re not sure, say you’re not sure. No one can use the truth against you and it does not look bad if you tell the truth and admit you aren’t sure of what you saw or heard. It does look bad if you attempt to boost yourself up in the eyes of supervisor’s or administration by reporting what you think you saw and not what actually happened. Let’s face it, there are times when we may be in a position to see, but not hear what lead up to an incident. Your ‘perception’ may be different than what the accurate truth is if you are not in the immediate area from the beginning of an incident and you may end up with your own veracity in question. if you don’t have all the answers and aren’t sure what you saw or heard, own up and stick to the fact that you don’t have all the answers. You will become more credible than you realize.

The hardest part of our job is not what may happen and how we react to it, but how we face ourselves every day and have to own up to not only our own actions but also our shortcomings. Our honesty and integrity is the strongest character we hold and they are always under attack. They are attacked on all fronts by inmates, other staff members, supervisors and administration. We must remain honest to ourselves. I would rather throw myself under the bus and admit being unsure, than be wrong about what I saw happen or over heard. I may not be looked at as the best witness but at least I can sleep with my integrity in tack knowing I was honest of what I reported. Remember, what you report may not only be used in a court of law, it may also be used to burn a fellow officer. Understand what you ‘perceive’ before you report because the definition that supervisors and Administration use may not be the one you comprehend. I’m just sayin…

Use Of Force Policy

CDCr has just released their new Use of force Policy.  If anybody is interested in a copy, let me know and I will e-mail it to you.  If I don't have you on my mailing list, then send my your addy.

I will look through it tomorrow.  I am sorry I couldn't fully get the Memo corrected from Perry Speth.  Hopefully it will be fixed by tomorrow.  You can click on the tittle and that will take you to the AB.

Stay Safe and Sane

Lori Olah

CCC Chapter President

iMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM CCPOA/CLICK ON TITTLE TO GO TO LINK

ALL EMPLOYEE'S ARE CIVIL SERVANTS

I have been sick with the flu all week, but I have been very busy at home. Writing some serious paperwork on Supervisors. WTF do these guys think they are doing? Just because they have chevrons or bars does not mean that the duties of CDCR Conduct does not apply to them. Plain and simple. Infact, they should be held to a higher standard then us little cops. Well they are going to wake up to a rude awaking when I am done with them. And to be honest, this is not what should be happening. As you all know, I have preached endlessly, "we are supposed to be on the same side". So what part of this do they not understand? Maybe they need some IST on ethics of CDCR.

As supervisor's, their responsibilities are to insure staff are current on all policies. To protect your staff and to train. Where is it written to act like a freaking idiot to your staff? To create a hostile work environment on staff? To humiliate your staff? I can't find that procedure anywhere. Any suggestions??

Maybe these guys need to read The Code of Conduct for CDCR, Tittle 15, Section 3391, Irresponsibility or unethical conduct reflecting discredit to themselves or the department....Or how about California Code of Regulations, Tittle 2, section 172 General Qualifications.

Just because these Supervisors came from another institution, don't bring your bad conduct with you. CCC has been a pro active prison. We can write memo's too. We can play that game. A smart civil servant would adjust to their new surrounding, not shove their own personal agenda on everyone. If you see something wrong, there is a procedure for your suggestions. Don't create animosity among staff. We only have each other inside the walls. If you want animosity within the ranks, then so be it. You will be out numbered and issues will be brought forward to the appropriate personal. Maybe you should play it safe and go back to where you came from. Your antics are not going to work at our house.

As for the rest of you that are doing your jobs everyday, just be aware on what is going on. If you do have a supervisor breaking any CDCR procedures, write it down and contact us. We will be working hard on keeping these wanna be cut-throats in line.

Stay Safe and Sane
Lori

SFbg/Another POS paper

http://www.sfbg.com/blogs/politics/2009/10/prison_report_no_accountabilit_1.html
http://www.sfbg.com/blogs/politics/2009/10/prison_report_the_cell_phone_q.html

CLICK ON THE TITTLE TO GO TO THE BLOG

Anything that will really piss me off, reading in a paper on how the poor inmates have to live in hell in prison. How staff abuse them, they have no medical, they have no decent living conditions, etc.

Well thats what the San Fransisco paper has done. Somehow, they "supposedly" have a connection with an inmate in the system. If you log on that site, scroll down and the POS inmate has several blogs. Of course we all know how inmates are, they flat out lie. They complain about EVERYTHING. They exaggerate their conditions. Comments on some of the blogs consist of how dirty staff are (bringing in cell phones) to straight abusing their authority. So we get some bleeding heart liberal reading this crap and buy it.

The bottom line......Inmates have more rights then any other sector in California. We always hear about the poor freaking babies. The public never hear about the real victims, the children the are loosing their programs. The vets that have fought for their country having no programs. The elderly that continually are loosing their programs. The public doesn't hear about the staff that have been assaulted and how it may screw them up mentally. Nor do they hear about how staff are losing their lively hood because of all the cutbacks. The freaking liberals could care less. But oh hell they will jump for a POS inmate that cries wolf, accusing staff of misconduct, how crappy the food is, how crappy their meals are. I believe a read a blog on how the inmates have justified having cell phones, stating it gives them better opportunity to keep in contact with their loved ones on the street (this also would include the gangs making the drug drops/staff threats).

So I suppose there is a worse newspaper then the Bee. Its the San Fransisco!!!! All I have to say about this whole freaking mess is, we have lost our priorities as citizens. I don't know how it started, but it is in a full blown steam forward. And as long as these fucked up papers buy into the lies of convicted rapist and killers, we are in real danger.

I am requesting that everyone write to Mr. Tim Redmond (he is the mastermind behind this madness) and give him your professional thoughts.

Also I found these links within these blogs; hbrownhour.com & http://hatfield.homestead.com/FoodIssues.html, both are links on inmate families throwing lies out to the public. You will find pics from inside the prison on these sites also. I guess those nice cell phones that mama is bringing in to their sons are paying off for them................

Lori Olah
CCC Chapter President

Some Sound Advice for everyone

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED THE

1930's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!!
First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can and didn't get tested for diabetes.
Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-base paints.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had baseball caps not helmets on our heads.
As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, no booster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes
Riding in the back of a pick- up truck on a warm day was always a special treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle.
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and no one actually died from this.
We ate cupcakes, white bread, real butter and bacon. We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar. And, we weren't overweight. WHY?
Because we were always outside playing....that's why!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.
No one was able to reach us all day. And, we were O.K.
We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride them down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem..
We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's and X-boxes. There were no video games, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet and no chat rooms
WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.
We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.

We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them.
Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment.
Imagine that!!
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!
These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever.
The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all.
If YOU are one of them? CONGRATULATIONS!

You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good.
While you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave and lucky their parents were.
Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it ?
~

LETTER FROM A POOR INMATE THAT HAS THE ANSWER

Okay, this one really gets me.  Anyone who has worked in a prison should not be surprised.  Inmates complain about EVERYTHING.  What gets me is............there will be some dumb ass sitting in the Capital, thinking,"this guy is right" and there goes Pandora's box.  Sigh, I don't know anymore, inmates have more rights then free citizens. The papers will print this, but could care less about a single parent losing everything because of these furloughs............

Lori

Prison guards avoid cost-cutting, rip off taxpayers

 

 

by Desha Carter

 

 

Hello to all of you dedicated fighters for justice and equality. I hope everyone is doing well during these economic hardships and severe cut-backs.

 

The purpose for this missive is to address the issue of state ordered furloughs affecting all state workers in California… except those of the prison industrial complex.

 

Allow me to expound: CDC (California Department of Corrections) has adopted a way to circumvent the impact of the furlough rule and, in the process of getting over by not having to adhere to this rule, never having to suffer any loss of their wages. They make extra money at the taxpayers’ expense!

 

Here’s how it works: On the days that each guard is to take a furlough day, they instead use a “vacation” day, thus not being forced to lose any actual working hours. But here’s the kicker: When those “vacation” furlough positions are open, their buddies (other guards) fill in for them on those days and earn “pay and a half” (overtime pay) for a regular eight-hour shift that is going to be alternated between them all. And they are milking the taxpayers dry.

 

This information needs to be brought before the Senate committee and the governor’s desk. This is a severe violation of funds appropriations and abuse of trust. The taxpayers of California should be made privy of this information so they may see how the penal system is taking them for a serious ride to the unemployment line and ultimately the poor house.

 

The circumvention of the furlough rule isn’t extended to doctors and nurses at all. It is only for “prison guards” who are always whining about they’re not paid enough! What a crock. They already get paid too much for this babysitting job.

 

Prisons are nowhere near as violent as they were in the ‘70s and ‘80s or even early ‘90s. The administration has made practically every prison into a “SNY” (snitch, pedophiles, rapists, victims’ yard) joint. All of the Level 4 180-degree design prisons are on a modified lockdown program like an Ad Seg or SHU unit; no going to the chow hall, no commissary, very limited program activity.

 

And for those who give the slightest hint of being independent thinkers and/or can’t be controlled by their peers or don’t cower in the presence of guards, they are immediately made targets by the guards and accused of and ultimately framed for being an “associate” or “member” of a “prison gang.” Then given an “indeterminate SHU” sentence, where they either parole, snitch (drop out or debrief) or die!

 

This is what prison has become. For those who want to just actively function amongst their peers, they’re either put on modified lockdown yards or validated and externally slammed in SHU. The only program choices are become a SNY or go to SHU to snitch, parole or die …

 

At any rate, the CCPOA and CDC act with impunity in everything they do. That is why they don’t adhere to the furlough rule. Because they, like most law enforcement, believe the law does not apply to them.

 

Why is it that if a regular Joe robs a store he’s sent to prison, but when prison guards (CDC and CCPOA union) rob the state (taxpayers), they get pay raises and promotions?

 

I’ll conclude this missive, but I look forward to seeing active steps being made to expose this information to the people. Continue to fight for social justice and keep up the good work of bringing relevant issues concerning the community and being a voice for the voiceless, who would never be heard if not for your involvement.

 

Revolution is a never-ending struggle. It is not for the faint hearted.

 

Send our brother some love and light. Write to: Desha Carter, H-19027, 4B-3L-07, P.O. Box 3481, Corcoran CA 93212. And make some noise about the prison guard ripoff. Call your state legislators and tell them to obey thefederal judges’ order to release 44,000 prisoners – and lay off thousands of guards. – ed.

 

 

Freeway renamed to honor Correctional Officer Manuel Gonzales

Subject: Freeway renamed to honor Correctional Officer Manuel Gonzales   http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_13369876

Sunday 9/20/09

We had a staff assault on the Sierra yard this morning @ 0800 hours.  The inmate apparently pushed the C/O in the shoulder.  The inmate is now living in ad-seg.

I got the money to Officers Veitti & Hranak.  Both were excited.  They cannot believe the love they are receiving from their fellow officers.  Hranak received $800, Veitti received $900.  They said thank you to all the staff that helped.  I would personally like to thank Stephanie Shepperd for being the brains behind this event.

Lori

September 17, 2009

  It sure would be nice to say, "What a nice smooth week".  but I can't yet.  Yesterday OSHA was called on our CMO.  He decided to make a call on his department without even notifying his AW, Capt. or the Warden.  Main Medical ran out of paper towels.  So instead of asking someone for help, the CMO went and got a terry cloth towel and told all medical staff (all 100) of them, here is your community towel to keep your hands sanitary.  I can say I personally talked to him and personally saw the "community towel" in medical.  And this dude makes how much $$ ?.  The business services A.W. was so shocked he was embarrassed.  What a freakin joke!!!

We made $1,500 on our bake sale for Hranak and Veitti.  What a turn out!!  Thank you to all that helped and made this happen.  I am still receiving $ from staff.  Hopefully Steph and myself will make it over to both officers house by tomorrow to give them the money.  I am challenging all board members to match my $50.00 to put in the pot.  Both officers have CTB.

Bollie and I sat in with Administration on our quarantine issue.  I basically told them that every time we put a dorm/building under quarantine, they act like it is the first time we are going through this. And we all run around with our heads in the sand.  We requested that the Administration come up with a policy so down the road we have guide lines to go by.  The proper people would be notified, we would have ample amount of sanitary supplies and we would try to contain the problem instead of spreading it.  It's all common sense.  I guess that is why it is so difficult to do it the right way.  It sounds like the medical staff are not sure about the swine flu.  This is a new strain of flu and there is not enough information out there on it.  I atleast got him to admit that.  One thing I cannot stand coming from the medical department is, "its just the flu, you don't need to over-react on it".  That drives me batty!!!  Because this is a new virus and nobody knows anything about it except that some die from it.

There was issues with the roof abatement.  There were reports of tools and such blowing over the edge and falling on the ground.  One incident a 20 pound tool box fell off the Main Gym roof.  There was an officer standing in the spot were it landed (luckily he moved) and the tool box left a good size hole in the asphalt.  I got with IDL and they marked off the ground area where they are working and put fall fencing on the Gym roof.  Again, a common sense issue that should have been handle prior to the union having to step in and get the LRA involved.

There is talk about medical changing jobs/hours around on the first of the year.  I do not have any details at this time, but there is talk going on.  They do have to sit down and meet with us prior of them doing anything, so we will see if it does happen the right way.

Also there are other issues with medical going on.  I talked to the Medical Capt. today on LMT issues.  They really need a second transport team on 2nd watch.  Right now LMT is getting hammered on the transports to and from Main-Lassen.  It has gotten to the point were write ups from administration are coming down the pipe line.  Another issue, we HAVE to hire behind any medical transports, even if there is no work-load.  I am being told that this is coming down from the receivership.  So hopefully the Medical Administration can work something out so we are not wasting manpower and money.  I have talked to other institutions and somehow they are able to re-direct their medical staff when there is no workload.

I have spent the last two days working on duel appointments.  Trying to solve the hiring order that is going on right now.  I am contacting every duel appointment and doing a survey on how they want it done.  It is pretty much unanimous.  Go by seniority and hours.  I think we are up to almost 40 duel appointments.  Hopefully they step up when the o.t. gets really bad.

I should have the Conditional Bid grievance completed by Monday.  I found another job that probably should have been posted as a continuous bid (R & R).  Right now, we have B-low, OSC # 5 and R & R.  I heard rumor there is one in Arnold Unit, but have yet to find it.  When this all comes out in the wash, it will be a major mess for personal assignment to clean up.  If you know of any other possible jobs that should be on the bid, drop me a note.

There are about 13 staff that want to transfer to CCC.  Most are from HDSP.  Somehow they are being held up.  By who?  We don't know.  But we are filling on it.  If we get those staff, that will help us alot.  Then we might be able to send some folks back to camp.

I had a heart to heart talk today with one of the higher ups.  I AGAIN expressed my concern on how some lower management are treating staff.  I am so sick and tired of, when a cop makes an honest mistake, they come after us like wolves on a dead animal.  But when they make mistakes it gets shoved underneath the rug and nothing happens to them.  And yes, I gave those people up.  This has got to stop.  Our moral is down with the furloughs and the Department changing rules every other day, we don't need some with a heavy set of bars treating staff like crap.

Today at 1350 hours I find out that the Delta Unit alarm light has been out for three days.  The poor tower cop who was frustrated as hell finally got ahold of me.  I went off on the WC.  But it turned out, she didn't even know about it.  Yes there was a work order done, but it was put in the Captains box last night (who happens not to be here today) and I wasn't notified by one of my peeps.  I apologize to the Sierra Staff for this.  Obviously our chapter has to do a better job in communicating with each other.  So again, I apologize to the Sierra Staff.  If you have a safety concern, call me on my cell.  I will get it handled.

If anybody is interested in stepping up and helping out the board.  Let me know.  I am starting to get a list of staff who are wanting to get involved (with all the b.s. going on).  The more folks involved, the more power we will have in our pocket.  Our Job Steward list has been growing like crazy.  I think this is the most stewards the local union has had in years.  Knowledge and communication is our only tool we have now until we get a contract.

Until next time.  Stay Safe and Sane.

Lori

CIM officers say riot could have been avoided

CIM officers say riot could have been avoided - Neil Nisperos, Staff Writer CHINO - A riot that injured more than 200 inmates at the California Institution for Men in Chino and gutted one of the prison's reception centers might have been avoided had administrators responded properly to concerns raised by state auditors and complaints from the facility's staff, according to some corrections officers at the prison. View Full Story Most E-Mailed (From the last 12 hours) CIM officers say riot could have been avoided Kaiser Steel museum planned out of town Rancho Cucamonga plaster artist fights to save his career Early inmate release no way to reform prison system Interim warden faces challenge in riot's aftermath http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_13232521 http://www.dailybulletin.com This e-mail was delivered by machines from the following IP addresses [75.210.152.181],[204.2.136.62].

Chino, other riots used to argue support for private prison expansion, investment

Locking Up Profits in Private Prisons by Rich Duprey - August 25, 2009 - 0 comments The reports were chilling. Some 1,300 inmates in seven barracks rioted in Chino's California Institution for Men, setting fire to the facility and injuring 250 prisoners earlier this month. Kentucky's medium-security Northpoint Training Center suffered a similar fiery melee just last week. Our prisons are bursting at the seams, overcrowded to the point of instability. But a private solution may help ease this crisis -- and offer investors an opportunity to profit. Prisons on lockdown With 158,000 inmates, California's prisons are recognized as the nation's most overcrowded. Los Angeles County has the largest daily jail population, ahead of Harris County, Texas, and even New York City. Federal judges recently ruled that the state must reduce its inmate count by 43,000 over the next two years. California isn't alone. One in every 31 adults in the U.S. is either in federal, state, or local prison, or is being monitored on probation or parole. The U.S. has the world's largest prison population, with the federal prison system was operating 36% above its capacity at the end of 2007. The situation at Chino was even worse: 5,900 prisoners were housed in a facility meant for 3,000. Unfortunately, crime will always be with us, and criminals will need to be housed. That's usually meant that governments construct and run new prisons. State spending on corrections increased 300% over the past two decades, but when states like California are facing bankruptcy, it's not feasible to expect them to finance more construction. Instead, we may see them turn to private correction and detention facilities in greater numbers, like those run by Corrections Corp of America (NYSE: CXW), Cornell Companies (NYSE: CRN), Geo Group (NYSE: GEO), and G4S. Corrections Corp of America is the country's largest private prison operator, with 65 jails and detention facilities in 19 states. Its facilities have a capacity for 86,500 inmates and typically operate at more than 95% of capacity. In fact, only the federal government and three states run bigger prison systems. CCA generated 45% of its total revenue of nearly $1.6 billion from state contracts in 2008 (and 39% from federal contracts). Geo Group, the second-largest operator, had $711 million in U.S. revenue. No. 3 Cornell had $386.7 million in total 2008 revenue. Manhunt for value Crime remains a growth industry, but the correction industry has enjoyed some phenomenal growth, too, which ought to seize investors' enthusiasm. CCA shares have almost doubled over the past six months, while Geo is up 44% and Cornell 43%. Yet all are trading at or below their five-year average market multiples. With favorable industry demographics for the long term, analysts expect CCA and Cornell to grow by 11% and 12% per year over the next five years, respectively. They foresee Geo Group growing at a more robust 16% clip per year. This gives Geo Group a PEG ratio of 0.85, lower than the 1.52 for CCA and the 1.02 for Cornell.  All three companies are well below the S&P 500's 2.1 average. These private jailers look tempting, particularly in relation to industry trends. Private prisons housed 7.8% of the country's 1.61 million incarcerated adults in federal and state prisons as of the middle of 2008, up from 7.4% in 2007, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. With the U.S. expecting more than 1.7 million men and women in prison by 2011 (a 13% jump from 2007, according to a study by the Pew Center on the States), the growing cost of those incarcerations may force states to increasingly turn to private companies. By outsourcing incarceration services, a government could reduce the cost of housing those prisoners by 10% to 20%. The big breakout A difficult recession; budgetary constraints by local, state, and federal authorities; no end to the supply of "guests;" and cost savings offered by the for-profit proprietors all point to the possibility that investors could lock up good, long-term returns with these companies. While CCA, as the Big House of the three, ought to command a premium for its shares, I find Geo Group the most attractive right now. Its financials offer comparable metrics at a better price. Geo has a strong balance sheet, and while its operating margin isn't as good as CCA's, Geo Group has enjoyed superior compounded revenue growth over the past five years. If I were to make a break for it with just one private jailer today, it would be Geo Group. Head over to Motley Fool CAPS and take a peek at what other Fools think about the company; it could make a worthy inmate in your portfolio. Copyright 2009 by United Press International.

My View, sending to Lassen County Times

CALIFONRIA GOVERNMENT AND LAWMAKERS GET YOUR PRIORITIES TOGETHER

As a California tax payer and a concern citizen.  It really makes me wonder, what is our Governments PRIORITY today.

We are in a financial crisis.  But at the same time, the state worker has lost well over 15 % in wage’s(which I wouldn’t mind if IT WAS GOING TO OUR SCHOOLS, VETERANS OR SENIOR CITIZENS), we are cutting veterans programs, senior citizens programs, our children’s programs and many more.  While these cuts are taking place.  At the same time the convicted felons programs in California have doubled.  So I ask, where is our priority? 

While all mentioned above are losing money in their general funds, health care programs ect, our children (MY CHILD) is losing programs i.e.: sports, music, bus rides, lunch programs, ect.  The inmate’s of California have improved their medical program, recreational programs and educational programs. So pretty much, my taxes are not going towards my children’s education, they are going towards a convicted felon working on his or her high-school diploma or College AA or even BA. Playing basketball, softball, ect. What is wrong with our society?  Why are the taxpayers not outrage?  Is it okay to rob our future for the convicted felon?  Is it right for our vet’s that have fought for our country and still fighting, getting their benefits robbed so an inmate can have recreational or religious programs?  We have veterans that cannot even come close to the medical care that an inmate receives now.

Our grandparents can not get decent medical, but a convicted felon gets top of the line medical attention immediately.

The last time you went to the emergency room how long did you have to wait?  Three hours?  Four hours?  Or longer?  If a convicted felon is rushed to the emergency room, he or she is seen immediately. But still the taxpayers allow this to happen.

We as the taxpayers have allowed these bleeding heart lawyers from the “Prison Law Office” to run the State of California billions of dollars into debt because an inmate had to wait for medical attention on a non-life threatening issue and other ridiculous lawsuits. So now we as taxpayers are paying.  But it’s not about that.  It’s about the state ROBBING our veterans, children and elderly for what? 

The average California inmate costs the minimal of $12,500(low figure).  California will spend $1,400 per veteran.  Over the last two years California has cut $11 billion from our schools.  The California inmates have had no cuts.    When will we as Californians say enough and tell these lawyers and judges and the Governor, “NO MORE”.

WE NEED TO GET OUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.

Lori Olah,  Susanville, CA

Fw: I did not know this...good to know

Somebody do this so I know it works :)  If it does, this is a good feature. Lori   >   Did >  you know about 77 on your cell phone.  You need > to. >    >  I knew about >  the red light on cars, > >  but not the *77. >  >  It was about 1:00 p.m. in the > afternoon, > >  and Lauren was driving to visit a friend. > >  An UNMARKED police car > pulled > >  up behind her and put his lights on. > >  Lauren's parents have always > >  told her never to pull over for > >  an unmarked car on the side of the road, > >  but rather to wait until they get to > >  a gas station, etc.  >  >    >  Lauren >  had actually listened to her > >  parents advice, and promptly called > >  *77 on her cell > phone to tell the > >  police dispatcher tha t she would > >  not pull over right away. > >  She proceeded to tell the dispatcher > >  that there was an unmarked police car > >  with a flashing red light on > >  his rooftop behind her. > >  The dispatcher checked to see if > >  there were police cars >  where she > >  was and there weren't, > >  and he told her to keep driving, > >  remain calm and that he had back up > >  already on the way.  >  >  >  Ten >  minutes later 4 cop cars surrounded > >  her and the unmarked car behind her. > >  One policeman went to her side > >  and the others surrounded > >  the car behind. > >  They pulled the guy from the car > >  and tackled him to the ground. > >  The man was a convicted rapist > >  and wanted for other crimes.  >  >  >  I >  never knew about the *77 > >  Cell Phone Feature, > >  but especially for a woman > >  alone in a car, > >  you should not pull over > >  for an unmarked car. > >  Apparently police have to respect > >  your right to keep going to a safe > >  & quiet place. > >  You obviously need to make some > >  signals that you acknowledge them > >  (i.e. put on your hazard lights) > >  or call *77 > like > Lauren did.  >  >  >  Too >  bad the cell phone companies > >  don't generally give you this little bit > >  of wonderful information.  >  >  >  *Speaking >  to a service representative > >  at ** Bell ** Mobility confirmed that > >  *77 was a direct link to state trooper > info. > >  So, now it's your turn to let > >  your friends know about *77  >  >  >  Send >  this to every woman (and person) > >  you know; it may save a life. >  This applies to ALL 50 states. >  NEW mobile Hotmail. Optimized > for YOUR phone. Click here.  >  >  > > >    > > > >  > > >