To accommodate growing prison populations, state officials in 16
states now have contracts with private corrections companies
operating prisons to supplement space available in
state-owned-and-operated prison facilities.
To accommodate growing prison populations, state officials in 16 states now have contracts with private corrections companies operating prisons to supplement space available in state-owned-and-operated prison facilities. Still, with the demand for prisoner housing exceeding supply, state officials are looking at other options. An emerging opportunity in some states is to rent prison or jail bed space at out-of-state facilities with excess capacity. At least 12 states are currently sending prisoners to out-of-state facilities operated by private companies or local governments.

Privately operated jails in Texas are a primary destination for prisoners from several states, including Arkansas, North Carolina, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Missouri, Oklahoma and Utah. Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon and Virginia have approximately 2,500 prisoners housed in county correctional facilities in Texas. What does this have to do with Gilroy? These criminals being housed were once youth in communities like ours, who, if someone had intervened early on when they first got into trouble, might not have gone on to commit the crimes that led to them being held by an overburdened system, costing taxpayers millions to house.

The cuts caused by the current budget crisis in California are beginning to be felt here by Santa Clara County non-profits. One of the most successful programs now feeling the pain is Santa Clara County’s Juvenile Probation Department’s Restorative Justice Program. It works hand in hand with other Gilroy non-profit agencies, such as Community Solutions. Rather than just sticking with the current dominant approach of punitive justice (let’s determine what law was broken, who broke it, and how they should be punished), this program goes a step beyond that traditional line of thinking and asks, “What caused this person to do this in the first place, and what would make this person take responsibility and decide they don’t want to commit this crime again?” When a teenager is referred to the Restorative Justice Program after committing a first offense, such as minor property damage, volunteers help him learn accountability, competency development (empathy for others, what harm his actions caused), and how to heal and repair the harm he has done to the victim and to the community. Lacey Trevino is the community coordinator for Gilroy, and she tells me volunteers are needed. They must be a resident or business owner in Santa Clara County and willing to give five hours a month of their time.

One thing these volunteers sometimes do is take the youth they are mentoring to juvenile hall for a tour. There’s something about seeing another youth your own age in handcuffs and leg chains that shakes one up and makes one think twice the next time. Offenders in punitive justice programs repeat the same criminal activity (or worse) within two years of being released. This program has an amazing non-recidivism rate of 85 percent, according to Gilroy coordinator Lacey Trevino. She can be reached for more information at 846-8490. This program needs your support now more than ever as greater demands are placed on non-profits all over our county, but resources are being cut due to the budget deficit. With restorative justice, everyone wins: you serve as a voice for the victim, you help reduce and prevent crime in your community; and you assist youth in making positive changes in life by referring them to services that build upon their strengths. Punitive justice keeps our jails full. Gandhi once said, “An eye for an eye, and soon the whole world is blind.” It’s time for more restorative justice.

Kat Teraji’s column is published every Thursday in The Dispatch. You can reach her at ka****@ea*******.net.

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