Inmates play major role in fire fight

AP via Yahoo! ^ | 10/27/07 | GARANCE BURKE

[Abathar]

Excellent!!

[BenLurkin]

They deserve recognition.

[blastdad51]

New Democrat heros

[Defiant]

Those who do — male or female — must be physically fit, have no history of violent crime

"The program has helped me a lot physically and mentally," said Rosales, who was convicted of causing great bodily injury and making terrorist threats four years ago.

Somethin' ain't right here.

[Abathar]

Good catch, I missed that.

Of course my tagline does seem to find that pattern here...

[Brilliant]

Usually when I hear that an inmate is involved in a fire fight, I think of something else.

[rickmichaels]

At least one inmate firefighter has died in the line of duty. In July 1999, a male inmate died in Ventura County when he fell from a hillside.

How much did California taxpayers have to pay his family?

[Brilliant]

“a male inmate died in Ventura County when he fell from a hillside.”

Hmmmm... I guess CA hillsides are different from the hillsides I’m familiar with.

[Abathar]

Yeah, the space between the words caught me for a second too.

[MindBender26]

Instead of parole, “gain time” and the like, give them a $1 an hour and a day off their sentence for every day they are out planting trees, cleaning up roads, etc, and two days off for dangerous work, such as firefighting.

Welcome to Life 101.

[Abathar]

I have no problem with that if it was a non-violent crimes like drug use or theft, everyone benefits.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

If they’re about to be released and was incarcerated for non-violent crimes, then their efforts should be appreciated instead of ridiculed. In addition, the state should also give them a recognition award letter so inmates can find a job faster when they’re out.

[Brakeman]

Why should drug users be put in jail?

[eldoradude]

Hmmmm... I guess CA hillsides are different from the hillsides I’m familiar with.

The hillside out the back of my house ends in a 120 foot vertical drop. :)

[Hexenhammer]

Yeah, my dad did that about 30 years ago after getting caught with some pot while living down in California.

[Balding_Eagle]

What you said.

[Abathar]

"Why should drug users be put in jail?"

Because our laws say that they have to be. Change the laws and then we see our prison population get cut in about half.

[karnage]

I’d knock time off the sentences of those who perform this service appropriately.

[Squawk 8888]

This is a great idea! I’m betting it gives them a lot of job skills that would help them stay out of jail for good. Too bad they don’t do that here- my guess is that the public service union bosses would scream blue murder.