Trying to ease the image of the prison system once again, the Washington state Department of Corrections is adding an espresso stand at its McNeil Island penitentiary. Why? Because the D.O.C. thinks it will make a fine addition to its vocational training program. So here we are with cable TV and espresso. Whats next? TIVO so you can tape Maury while you’re out in the prison yard? Pretty soon it will be better for some people to live in prison for free than to pay for a house and food. So much for decreasing the crime rate.
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You know, even if I had espresso and free cable TV, I think being incarcerated is very nearly the worst thing I can imagine. The loss of personal freedom, the loss of control over my own life, and the loss of most of my personal privacy is in no way remediated by fancy coffee or something to watch on television.
I can tell you, as a (mostly) lifelong resident of Washington state, that being without espresso here is worse than the death penalty.
McNeil Island is a cold, lonely, isolated place that can only be accessed by ferry. And that ferry is passenger-monitored so it’s not like any other ferry here in Puget Sound. The arrival there is impersonal and psychologically devoid of warmth and acceptance.
The inmates that arrive there are already mind-open to the construct of “parole”. A simple dozen cappuccinos per day is an easy slow-integration back into society. It would be unwise to deny the current inmates of this right to become productive contributors to the Pacific Northwest lifestyle.
Power to the power of espresso.
yeah.
I happen to work at this facility, and myself am opposed to giving these inmates anything that is not a constitutional right. Did anyone think for a minute though, about the close to 1000 employees who are on the island between 8 and 16 hours a day. The only reason such a venture is a good idea is to give staff a place where they can get coffee. Keep in mind there are no stores on the island, and the boat only leaves once an hour at a minimum. It sure would be nice if I had something to make my day go a little smoother.(We dont work with the friendliest clientele) Thank you for letting an Officer speak his/her piece.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with providing it for the officers, but when it comes to the inmates, they’re there for a reason and that reason isn’t to live more luxuriously than home. If they were to install an espresso machine in the officer’s lounge I think we could all care less. Good luck to you.
My daugher’s boyfriend made meth in the barn at my house in Gig Harbor. I lost my house because of that jerk and now he is getting all of this? He is in Shelton right now and even likes that place. What ever happened to these losers being punished. He is living better than a lot of good young people struggling in life. He has no worries, just no freedom , and doesn’t seem to mind that and has left my daughter and their 2 kids in a mess. I say NO, NO, NO!!! Don’t give them anything but enough to survive.