Topic: The Club House / Pay for experience

I’ve seen the same thing in many cases but there have been exceptions. Right or wrong education can carry the day. My first warden went from a Sergeant to Deputy Superintendent in one jump and a state DOC facility because he completed his bachelors degree. Private prison systems appear to recognize experience than the government systems. I think to change this practice it will take years and for a lot managers to retire.

Topic: Letter of The Law / Should ex-offenders be allowed to vote?

No

Topic: A Broader View / Will Barack Obama and his new administration have an impact on corrections issues?

My one concern in reading Senator Webb’s article is that most drug offenders in state prison are there for marijuana possession only charges. My experience is that most offenders at the state level aren’t there for a one time marijuana possession charge. In most cases just to receive a state sentence the offender would have to have a possession to sell offense. I also get tired of the continue comparison to other countries. In many countries they execute offenders for many offenses so of course their incarceration rate if very low. It’s matching apples to pears and not apples to apples. I think Senator Webb should be asked to back up these statistics.