Dortell Williams' Radio Broadcasts
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Dortell Williams is an inmate at the Los Angeles County California State Prison in Lancaster, California. Dortell has been published in a number of community newspapers, including the San Francisco Bay View, The Final Call and The Los Angeles Sentinel. He mentors at-risk kids through San Francisco's The Beat Within and is an inside correspondent for Families to Amend Three Strikes. You can email Dortell at: dortellwilliams@yahoo.com. For more information about the Honor Yard Program, visit: www.prisonhonorprogram.org
The Politics of Rehabilitation
Commentary by Dortell Williams, recorded 1/03/08
1) 3:14 MP3 Radio Essay Radio Stations: Not Broadcast Quality
(Please be advised...given the conditions at the prison this recording may not be broadcast quality. You may want to broadcast it with an explanation, or broadcast a limited portions of it. We are in the process of re-recording this segment and will post it as soon as we can.)
The Politics of Rehabilitation
Copyright 2008/ Dortell Williams
Here we go with the politics of rehabilitation, and fear; it’s Willie Horton all over again.
Willie Horton was a life-prisoner serving time in Massachusetts in the late ‘80s. Michael Dukakis was governor.
Like thousands of other prisoners, Horton earned a weekend furlough pass for a reprieve into the free world. Such programs are not uncommon, particularly in European nations. These programs are not uncommon, particularly in European nations. These programs maintain prisoner morale, decrease stress-related and other violence, and help prisoners retain some modicum of social interaction without succumbing wholly to the prison culture.
Tragically, Horton killed someone while out one prisoner messed up, and the entire program, with thousands of others successfully participating, was nixed.
In addition to being a life-prisoner, Horton had another mark against him: He was black.
In a rather reprehensible move, presidential candidate and Dukakis opponent George Herbert Walker Bush exploited these factors. Not only did he politicize the tragedy, but he also racialized it.
Recently, Republican presidential aspirant Mike Huchabee, of Arkansas, was blasted for supporting the release of Wayne Dumand in 1999. Dumand was convicted in the late ‘80s of raping a young cheerleader. Persistent questions lingered about his guilt or innocence after the trial.
Still, other women came forward claiming he victimized them. One woman said Dumand held a butcher knife to her and raped her in front of her child. Another woman said he broke into her home armed with a butcher knife, but the crime was interrupted by her arriving boyfriend.
After serving 12 years of a 20-to-life sentence Dumand was released, allegedly with Huckabee’s support. Shortly thereafter, Dumand raped and murdered Carol Sue Shields.
One of the foremost considerations in determining the release of a life-prisoner is future dangerousness. In light of the intimate details and familiar patterns involving the accusations against Dumand, he obviously should have been retained.
Still, should one high profile failure make for the castigation of thousands of other deserving prisoners? Of course not.
To put it in perspective, Huckabee commuted or pardoned over 1,000 lifer sentences during his two terms in office. Nationally, paroled lifers have the lowest recidivism rate of all: 1 percent, and are the least likely to commit new crimes.
Besides, in no other facet of human fallibility do we castigate all for the actions of one.
When Orange County Sheriff Joshua Blackburn allegedly stole $1 million worth of cocaine from a Santa Ana evidence room, the department wasn’t stained. Sheriff LeRoy Baca is sure to remind the public that there are always bad apples within the overall basket.
Likewise, when Republican frontman Tom Delay was arrested for money laundering, and a slew of other financial and political crimes. Responding to such incidents, Republicans are quick to point out that the miscreant is an individual.
The public was reminded the same when NASCAR driver Scott Wimmer was arrested for a DUI in 2004. Or when Ralph’s grocery chain was indicted in 2003 for fraud and other federal crimes concerning the workers’ strike of that year.
It is never right or fair to paint everyone with a blanket brush. Every person must stand or fall by his own actions, it’s just that simple.
Sources:
NBC Nightly News, December 18, 2007 (Huckabee released over 1,000 prisoners during political terms)
Amy Goodman, Democracy Now!, December 20, 2007 (Huckabee supported Dumand for political reasons)
Huffingtonpost.com (Huckabee supported Dumand for political reasons)
www.huckabee.facts.com
Colleen Williams, KNBC-4, October 19, 2005 (Tom Delay indictment)
NPR News, December 27, 2007 (Sheriff allegedly stole $1 million in cocaine)
Chris Jenkins, USA Today, “MADD Wants Wimmer Suspended if Convicted,” March 10, 2004
Dortell Williams is an inmate at the Los Angeles County California State Prison in Lancaster, California. Dortell has been published in a number of community newspapers, including the San Francisco Bay View, The Final Call and The Los Angeles Sentinel. He mentors at-risk kids through San Francisco's The Beat Within and is an inside correspondent for Families to Amend Three Strikes. You can email Dortell at: dortellwilliams@yahoo.com. For more information about the Honor Yard Program, visit: www.prisonhonorprogram.org
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