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 HelloReturn to index of stories... |
Hello. I'm Allison McNair. Welcome to NH Outlook. |
| Intro Prison Furniture Return to index of stories... |
Our program tonight is about transformation. We begin with wood planks being transformed into fine furnishings. Producer Richard Ager tells us of wasted lives being changed through new-found skills and success. |
| Prison Furniture Return to index of stories... |
exterior Video: pan down from rotunda "Brings out the contemporary flair." Track: At the annual exhibit of the NH Furniture Masters Association, visitors look over these handcrafted pieces and some ponder whether to bid on them. Soundup: slide drawer closed and shut door Track: Each piece is unique and all will be up for auction at the end of the exhibit. ** standup: At events like these, artisans mix with patrons discussing the finer points of making fine furniture. It's a social occasion on which master craftsmen are recognized for their work. But for the creators of three of these pieces, such recognition must remain at a distance. Track: That's because the artisans who built this Federal Bow Front Bureau, this Chippendale Slant-top Desk, and this Shaker Tall Clock are all serving time in the New Hampshire state prison. Soundup: Al Eason sawing piece of wood Track: Al Eason has served 16 years of a life sentence without parole for first degree murder. Eric Grant is serving a 27 year sentence for causing the death of his wife. Track: Tim Eldridge was convicted of 2nd degree murder in 1989 and sentenced to 25 years to life. All three have found a new direction through woodworking. Bite: When I come to prison, I had no marketable job skills at all, and I knew that getting out at the age of 46, I would need something to rely on. So I looked around the vocational here and woodworking seemed to suit me the best. Track: But the prison woodworking program only offered limited training, and the inmates could not advance their skills. Soundup: Tom enters through barred gate - it clangs shut. Track: That changed with the arrival of volunteer mentors like furniture master Tom McLaughlin. Soundup: What you want to do is create a nice book-matched edge here. Bite: We used to pull from each other as far as knowledge of woodworking but when they came in, it took our woodworking skills to a higher level. We were able to learn the finer stuff of woodworking - the hand tools and hand-cut dovetails and just has brought my woodworking to a greater level. Video: wide shot of exterior of McLaughlin woods Soundup: Tom planing some wood - Track: Tom McLaughlin opened his shop in Canterbury after years of working under his own mentor, a master craftsman in North Carolina. He has been a mentor at the state prison for three years now, but it was not an easy choice. Bite: I'd driven by that prison many times and gotten that creepy feeling of what's in there - just felt like it was something to fear - and fear because it's dark in there - there's a lot of things to be frightened of. But after going in and meeting the inmates and sharing the craft, now I drive by the prison and it's a whole different feeling. I think of them, of their excitement for the work, and what they're working on. And what humble impact I might have had in making that happen. Bite: It's given me a focus, given me a goal, it's given me a lot more respect for myself. I've been in here a long time not doing anything. And just being involved - people seeing my work, people liking - having good comments about it. Bite: SO WHAT'S THE PIECE YOU'RE PROUDEST OF? I'd say this year - the bow-front bureau. That was a challenge - to say the least. A lot of work. WHAT WAS MOST CHALLENGING? Probably the veneering - I didn't do a lot of veneering before. Bite: My grandfather always wanted a grandfather clock so earlier on in my woodworking, I made him one - and it reduced him to tears. He just loved it - and the love of my grandfather and the love of woodworking has brought me back to grandfather clocks. Soundup: * nice tight on Tim sanding Bite: Woodworking has taught me a lot of patience. Because the wood has a mind of its own and you have to work with it and not against it and - just gives me confidence in myself. Gives me the ability - I have the ability now to know that when I leave here someday, I won't have any problem getting a job. Which is very important. SO CLEARLY THIS IS A MAJOR PART OF YOUR FUTURE PLANS? Oh absolutely. I want to continue making fine furniture on the outside. soundup: * And when you're using the veneer saw, you always make light cuts at the bottom." Track: The inmates in the furniture masters program say they, in turn, want to contribute. Bite: The first year I entered into this, I sold a cabinet. Thai cabinet - for double what the patron had sponsored me to build it. And half of it went to the furniture masters and half went to a charity to help a little girl have a brain tumor operation. To get a card from her father was just unbelieveable - what a feeling. IT MUST CHANGE THE WAY YOU SEE YOURSELF. Yes - because I'm able to give something back. I'm not taking. I'm not just a dormant throwaway of society, but I'm able to help society and the community - at the very least the prison population. Track: Prisoners pay for the wood they use, which means the furniture masters program runs at no cost to the state. The shop foreman says it also makes his job easier. I believe the program as a whole is making it easier because there's a real incentive for the inmates here to stay here and learn a trade. They stay out of trouble by being in here, because if they're not, then they're not allowed to be in the hobbycraft shops. So they have to show good behavior to stay in this shop. Track: The prison break in June forced the closure of recreation areas including the woodworking shops. So for now, these honorary furniture masters must focus on their reviews. Video: Al Eason - Federal Bow Front Bureau exhibit card Bite: He's done a pretty good job - the veneering work is really good on the drawer fronts - and if you look at the drawers, you can see that the dovetails are very nicely cut. All the joinery - all the interior - it's very clean. I do notice there's a little question with drawer fit which I might have a little question about - but in general, that's something that can easily be fixed. So as far as the overall construction, it's very nice - well finished on the top and the fronts. Everything flows together very nicely. It - the design is well-proportioned. It's a very successful piece, I think. Video: Timothy Eldridge - Shaker Tall Clock exhibit card Bite: This is the second clock that he's made and it's really a gorgeous clock. Again, it's nicely proportioned and all the joinery is clean and all the miters are crisp - all these corners are really clear. And I like this little detail here with the black ring. Same at the top - the turnings are really clean too. Nice and narrow. All the joints are tight. Nice subtle - it's the sort of thing where - sometimes when you work from photographs, you don't realize just how thin this lip is on the door here. You might see it where it's too heavy, where this is very fine and nice. It's well done. Good finish. Nice clock - very nice clock. Video: Eric Grant - Chippendale cherry Slant-top Desk exhibit card Desk closed desk support arms out top down on desk drawers open Bite: This is a fabulous piece. He's gone all out with even the little secret compartments over the cubbyholes and all the joinery is fabulous. And every drawer in these compartments. Eric has come so far in what he's done. Everything is so clean. I was looking at this desk the other day and there's so many good things about this. The only possible criticism I could tell you is - he's starting to get into some nice decorative carving and they might be a little crisper. But that's so minor compared to the number of good things about it. All his work is so carefully done and clean - the backs of the drawers - nicely done on the inside. Track: How about an overall review? Bite: If they were out, we'd accept them as members because they're doing such good work. They've got potential to have a career as a furniture maker and be successful. Track: And all of this grew from an invitation to the furniture masters by Superior Court Justice Kathleen McGuire. This is a huge success story, not only because of the products that the prisoners are making, but in addition what it does for them personally. You can't put a price tag on just the fact that these inmates are having the opportunity to have close, one-on-one relationship with these woodworkers - who are very good men. Who are very strong family men - and just what they learn from them on a personal level in addition to what they learn about woodworking is tremendous. Bite: WHAT DO YOU GET OUT OF THIS? I just get the satisfaction or joy of being an instrument - of not just teaching but redemption into that dark place because it surprises me that the place I once feared now - there's something that's growing and alive that is bigger than me. I really feel that God uses people when they go into the lowest places and there's something that happens that's explainable only in those terms. Bite: ** I think of the redemptive aspect of doing beautiful work inside the walls of a prison. It's almost like the flower that grows in the crack in the pavement. I think that's the motivation - to make their family members proud of them - because I think they've been a deep disappointment at some level - and to turn that around. Bite: DO YOU EAT, SLEEP AND DREAM THIS STUFF? Oh, absolutely, absolutely. This is my life now - ever since I got into grandfather clocks, it's all I think about. I just want to build clocks. Track: For NH Outlook, I'm Richard Ager Soundup: * tom with three "the first thing I did here was veneer the top and bottom with mahogany. |
| Prison tag Return to index of stories... |
The New Hampshire Furniture Masters Exhibit is at the Tuck Library in Concord until this Saturday. Then it moves on to the NH Institute of Art in Manchester. All of the pieces will be auctioned in October at the Wentworth by the Sea. |
| Intro Discussion Return to index of stories... |
Joining us to further discuss the impact of the furniture mentoring program, are Jeff Lyons from the New Hampshire Department of Corrections, and Buzz Scherr, a law professor at Franklin Pierce Law Center. Thank you both for being here. |
| Discussion Return to index of stories... |
Allison: JOINING US TO FURTHER DISCUSS THE IMPACT OF THE FURNITURE MENTORING PROGRAM, ARE JEFF LYONS FROM THE NEW HAMPSHIRE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, AND BUZZ SCHERR, A LAW PROFESSOR AT FRANKLIN PIERCE LAW CENTER. THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE. IT SEEMS THIS JOB TO THE MEN ARE VERY IMPORTANT BUT HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO THE PRISON SYSTEM ITSELF, THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION. IT DOESN'T COST THE TAXPAYERS ANY MONEY TO RUN THE PROGRAM. BUT IN REFERENCE TO PROVIDINGING THE INMATES WITH A SKILL, IT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT. THEY COME INTO THE PRISON. MANY OF THEM HAVE NO SKILLS THAT THEY CAN USE WHEN THEY'RE RELEASED. REMEMBER ABOUT 98% OF THE INMATE WHO ARE CURRENTLY INCARCERATED ARE GOING TO BE COMING BACK INTO SOCIETY SOME DAY. WHEN THEY COME OUT, THEY'RE GOING TO NEED A SKILL THEY CAN USE TO BETTER THEMSELVES AND NOT MAKE THE CHOICES THAT BROUGHT THEM TO PRISON THE FIRST TIME. Allison: IT'S GOT TO BE ROUGH DON'T YOU THINK, BUZZ, ON SOME OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE VICTIMS WHO WERE MAYBE LOST DUE TO SOMEONE WHO IS IN THERE, TO SEE THAT A PERSON IS GETTING AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS? ON ONE LEVEL, I THINK IT HAS TO BE HARD. ON THE OTHER HAND, I THINK WHATEVER A SERIOUS CRIME LIKE A HOMICIDE IS COMMITTED BY LACK OR ANY OTHER CHOICE, IT FORCES EVERYBODY TO GROW AND TO DEAL WITH A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION AND HOPEFULLY IN AN ODD WAY, IT MIGHT EVEN BE INSPIRING FOR THEM THESE PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN BEYOND WHAT CAUSED THEM TO DO SUCH DAMAGE TO THEIR RELATIVES LIVES AND THEIR LIVES. IT COULD BE AN INSPIRATION FOR THEM. AS WELL AS BEING REMARKABLY DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH. Allison: DO YOU HEAR FROM FAMILY MEMBERS OF VICTIMS WHO ARE NOT HAPPY BA ABOUT THE PROGRAMS IN PLACE? WE HEAR ALL KINDS. WE HEAR YOU HAVE TO PUT YOURSELF IN THE SHOES OF A VICTIM. ALL INMATES WHO ARE INCARCERATE VERNON JORDAN A VICTIM WHETHER A DIRECT OR INDIRECTLY, EVEN THEIR OWN FAMILIES TO SOME DEGREE ARE VICTIMS. AND YOU REALLY HAVE TO CONSIDER THOSE. IT'S A FINE LINE. OUR JOB IS TO REHABILITATE THEM AND GIVE THE INMATES A SKILL SO WHEN THEY COME OUT, THEY CAN BE A PRODUCTIVE MEMBER OF SOCIETY AND POSSIBLY USE THOSE SKILLS TO BETTER THEMSELVES AND TO BETTER THE FAMILY WHO HAVE ALSO BEEN VICTIMIZED BY THE INDIVIDUAL'S INCARCERATION. Allison: IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE SOMEWHAT TRICK TOE BALANCE, AS FAR AS RETRIBUTION GOES OR PAYING YOUR DEBTS TO SOCIETY VERSES, YOU KNOW, GETTING SOME KIND OF OPPORTUNITY OR REHABILITATION. I THINK PHILOSOPHY, ONE'S PHILOSOPHY AND ECONOMICS REALLY MAKES IT EASIER TO NEGOTIATE THAT BALANCE THAN WE INITIALLY THINK. UNLESS YOU WANT TO JUST WAREHOUSE PEOPLE FOR AS LONG AS YOU CAN TO EXACT REVENGE, TO JUST PUNISH THEM PURELY AND DO NOTHING ELSE WITH THEM. YOU HAVE TO LET THEM OUT OF JAIL AT SOME POINT, AND IF THEY GET OUT OF JAIL, IF WE JUST WAREHOUSE THEM, WE DO MORE DAMAGE. IT IS CHEAPER FOR SOCIETY IN THE SPIRITUAL SENSE AND IN THE ECONOMIC SENSE TO REHABILITATE THOSE THAT THEY CHOOSE TO PUT IN PRISON RATHER THAN JUST TO WAREHOUSE THEM. Allison: HOW DO WE COMPARE TO OTHER STATES, AS FAR AS HAVING THIS KIND OF PROGRAM IN PLACE, JEFF? MOST DEPARTMENTS OF CORRECTION NATIONWIDE HAVE SOME ELEMENT OF PROGRAMMING OR INDUSTRIES AVAILABLE. IT'S. YOU REALLY HAVE TO KEEP THE INMATES BUSY. YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE THEM WITH A SKILL. TO SORT OF BUILD UPON WHAT HE SAID, YOU CAN'T JUST WAREHOUSE THEM BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE THEM WITH A SKILL, NOT ONLY BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO USE THE SKILL WHEN THEY RETURN BACK INTO SOCIETY, BUT ALSO BECAUSE IF YOU KEEP AN INMATE ACTIVE, THEY'RE LESS INCLINED TO POSSIBLY BE A SAFETY CONCERN TO US WHILE THEY'RE INCARCERATED, SAFETY TO OTHER INMATES, SAFETY TO STAFF AND SAFETY TO THE PUBLIC. Allison: YOU MENTIONED SAFETY ISSUES AND WE HEARD IN THE PIECE THE REFERRAL TO BREAK OUT AT THE MEN'S STATE PRISON IN CONCORD. LOOKING AT THE GUYS WORKING ON THE FURNITURE, SOME PEOPLE MIGHT SAY OH, MY GOSH, LOOK AT THE TOOLS THEY HAVE ACCESS TO AND THEY MIGHT BE CONCERNED. IS THAT AN ISSUE THAT HAS COME UP SINCE THE BREAKOUT. SINCE THE ESCAPES ON JUNE 4, WE HAVE DONE A COMPLETE THOROUGH TOOL INVENTORY. WE HAVE DETERMINED EXACTLY WHICH TOOLS CAN BE USED FOR PROJECTS SUCH AS THIS AND PROGRAMS SUCH AS THIS, AND DETERMINE WHICH TOOLS MAY NOT BE NECESSARY; TOOLS THAT THEY MAY NOT NEED TO POSSIBLY DO THE SAME THING. WE REALLY HAVE TO PROVIDE THEM WITH TOOLS BECAUSE TOOLS ARE ALL PART OF THE TRADE. WE DO HAVE A TOOL MARKING SYSTEM IN WHICH INMATES CHECK OUT A TOOL PER SE. THIS PROGRAM IS RUN UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF STAFF AS WELL AS THE VOLUNTEERS WHO SHOW THEM THE PROPER USE OF THE TOOLS. HAVE YOU TO BE ON YOUR BEST BEHAVIOR TO BE IN A PROGRAM SUCH AS THIS ANYWAY. Allison: DO YOU DO BACKGROUND CHECKS OR ANYTHING ALONG THE LINES BEFORE SOMEONE IS ALLOWED TO START IN A PROGRAM? HOW IS IT ALLOWED TO WORK. WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING A THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE WORK ASSIGNMENTS AND HOBBY CRAFT AND OTHER MOBYS OF THE INMATES IN THE INSTITUTIONS. WE BASE OUR DECISION WHERE TO HOUSE THEM BASED ON THEIR BEHAVIOR, THE WAY THEY BEHAVE IN PRISON. IF THEY'RE DISCIPLINE-FREE, THEY'RE MORE INCLINED TO BE PUT IN A PROGRAM THAT WILL PROVIDE THEM WITH A BETTER SKILL. THEY'LL BE LESS INCLINED TO GIVE US SOME SAFETY CONCERNS. AN INMATE WHO IS DISCIPLINE PRONE, WHO GETS INTO TROUBLE A LOT IS SOMEONE WHO WE WOULD HAVE TO KEEP LOCKED UP IN THE MAXIMUM SECURITY UNIT OR ANOTHER UNIT WHERE THEY HAVE LIMITED AVAILABILITY TO THE PROGRAMS. Allison: WHAT OTHER KINDS OF PROGRAMS ARE OUT THERE THAT YOU HAVE? WE HAVE A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS. OF COURSE WE MAKE THE STATE'S LICENSE PLATES THERE. BUT WE ALSO HAVE AN AUTOMOBILE BODY SHOP. WE HAVE AN AUTOMOBILE REPAIR, ENGINE REPAIR SHOP AVAILABLE. WE HAVE A PRINT SHOP. WE ALSO HAVE AN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM. INMATES LEARN HOW TO BUILD COMPUTERS AND REPAIR COMPUTERS AND EVEN TO BUILD WEB PAGES, ALTHOUGH WE DON'T ALLOW THEM TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET BUT WE ALLOW THEM TO HAVE THE SKILLS IN THE AREA. WE ALLOW THEM TO HAVE CLERICAL PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO THEM. MAINTENANCE POSITIONS THEY CAN WORK WITHIN. A WIDE VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AS WELL AS AN EDUCATION PROGRAM TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE G.E.D. OR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA WE RECENTLY HAD A GRADUATION OF 11 INMATES WHO RECEIVED THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA IN PRISON. Allison: WHAT DO YOU SAY, BUZZ, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THOUGH, THAT ARE INCARCERATED HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. IF WE LOOK AT THE NEW HAMPSHIRE NUMBERS. 20 YEARS AGO THERE WERE 445 PRISONERS. NOW WE'RE UP TO LAST YEAR 2,433. COMES UP TO MORE THAN A 500% INCREASE. WHAT ARE WE DOING WRONG HERE? OR WHAT'S HAPPENING? I THINK A COUPLE THINGS ARE GOING ON. FIRST, LEGISLATORS HAVE CHANGED THE LAWS SO THAT THERE'S MORE MANDATORY SENTENCING. THE SENTENCING TENDS TO BE LONGER. JUDGES HAVE INCREASINGLY SENTENCED PEOPLE TO LONGER SENTENCES; CERTAINLY IN DRUG CASES, AND SEXUAL OFFENSE CASES. AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF A SOCIETAL ATTITUDE, BOTH ON THE PART OF LEGISLATORS AND JUDGES THAT WE NEED TO PUT PEOPLE IN JAIL LONGER. I THINK THERE'S, UNFORTUNATELY THERE'S A DISCONNECT THERE. WHILE SOCIETY, EVERYONE, SO TO SPEAK, IS WILLING TO SAY THERE SHOULD BE LONGER, HARSHER SENTENCING, WE SHOULD PUNISH THESE PEOPLE MORE. NO ONE IS WILLING TO RAISE THEIR TAXES TO PAY FOR THIS. AND IT IS NEVER PUT IN FRONT OF THE GENERAL CITIZENRY. YOU KNOW, WE CAN HAVE HARSHER SENTENCING IF WE RAISE YOUR TAXES 10%. IF THAT WAS PUT IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC, THAT'S THE REAL CHOICE. AND THAT'S THE COST OF A 500% INCREASE. WE HAVE TO BUILD A NEW PRISON IN BERLIN. WE HAVE TO EXPAND THE PROGRAMS IN CONCORD BECAUSE IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY TO HOUSE AN INMATE IN THE STATE PRISON FOR ONE YEAR. Allison: WHAT ABOUT THE RECIDIVISM RATES OR THE FACT THAT HALF OF THE PRISONERS ARE ARE THERE BECAUSE OF PAROLE VIOLATIONS. ARE YOU SEEING PROGRAMS TO HELP MAKE THAT NOT HAPPEN AS OFTEN? WOULD I THINK SO. TO THE EXTENT THAT YOUR PRISON SYSTEM IS OVERCROWDED, THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE THERE IS THE EXTENT TO WHICH YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS REACH AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU WANT. AND THAT MEANS YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE BEING RELEASED WITHOUT HAVING A SET OF SKILLS TO, SO THAT THEY AREN'T PRONE TO FALL BACK ON WHAT GOT THEM IN TROUBLE BEFORE. SO I THINK THESE PROGRAMS CAN HELP, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE THOUGHT ABOUT IN COMBINATION WITH WHAT ARE WE REALLY DOING BY INCREASING SENTENCES? Allison: JEFF, OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE IN PLACE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT, YOU MENTION THIS IS ALL DONE BY VOLUNTEER, SO IT'S AT NO COST TO THE STATE. RIGHT. Allison: WHAT ABOUT THE ACADEMY? CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS? I WAS GOING TO COMMENT WHEN HE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THAT. THE ACADEMY PROGRAM IS A PROGRAM FOR NON-VIOLENT FIRST TIME OFFENDERS WHO HAVE BEEN SENTENCED TO PROBATION. IT IS AN INTENSIVE ONE YEAR PROGRAM IN WHICH THEY ARE TAUGHT LIFE SKILLS, SKILLS THEY CAN USE ON THE OUTSIDE, JOB SEEKING SKILLS. THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH A STRENUOUS SUBSTANCE ABUSE TESTING ON A REGULAR BASIS. IT IS A FORM OF ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING, WHICH IS PROVIDED IN EACH OF THE COUNTIES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE BY VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE THE RESOURCES TO PROVIDE THESE SKILLS. IT'S A VERY POSITIVE PROGRAM. RECENTLY THE GOVERNING COUNCIL APPROVED THE NEW CONTRACTS FOR ACADEMY PROGRAM FOR PROVIDERS. THE NEW CONTRACTS WILL ALLOW FOR TO US PROVIDE THESE SERVICES TO MORE OFFENDERS THAN WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE TO BEFORE. AND ALSO THE NEW PROVIDERS IN SOME CASE, WILL ALLOW TO US WORK WITH SOME PAROLEES. PREVIOUSLY THIS HAS BEEN FOR PROBATIONERS ONLY BUT WILL ALLOW US TO BRING SOME PAROLEES INTO THE PROGRAM. Allison: VOLUNTEERS, WHEN WE HEAR VOLUNTEERS WE THINK OF VOLUNTEERS AT SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS BUT HAVE YOU QUITE A FEW VOLUNTEERS THAT WORK AT THE STATE PRISON, DO YOU NOT? WE HAVE ARE CLOSE TO A THOUSAND INDIVIDUALS WHO COME WITH A VARIETY OF SKILLS THAT COME AND PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE INMATES, SERVICES THEY WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE INMATES. WE WELCOME VOLUNTEERS. SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE US WITH THE VOLUNTEERS THIS. FURNITURE MASTERS IS A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE. WE HAVE A WOOD WORKING PROGRAM IN THE PRISON, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ARE. WE HAVE NEVER HAD A PROGRAM THAT TAUGHT THEM THE SORT OF DETAILED SKILLS THAT THEY'RE PROVIDED IN THE FURNITURE MASTERS PROGRAM. Allison: I'M GOING TO ASK TO YOU REACT TO THIS. AL EASON IN THE PIECE SAID TOO MANY PEOPLE COME OUT OF PRISON AS WHEN THEY COME IN. DO YOU WILL SEE A PROGRAM LIKE THIS WILL CHANGE THAT, OR WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THAT? I THINK HE'S RIGHT; WITHOUT QUESTION. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO COME OUT OF PRISON ANGRY BECAUSE THEY. THEY'VE BEEN WAREHOUSED. NOT BY THE CHOICE OF THE PEOPLE AT THE PRISON WHO DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN, BUT IT'S JUST A NUMBERS THING. AND IT'S NOT GOOD FOR SOCIETY TO TRY AND REINTEGRATE ANGRY PEOPLE INTO. AND IT'S NOT GOOD FOR SOCIETY TO END ANGRY PEOPLE. TO SEND ANGRY PEOPLE INTO THE PRISON. IT MAKES IT HARDER. ONE CAN MAKE A GOOD ARGUMENT THAT THE EXTENT THAT WE TAKE MONEY AWAY FROM OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN THIS STATE IS AT THE FRONT END IS THE EXTENT TO WHICH WE INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE WEAKER MEMBERS OF ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT ARE GOING TO END UP SEEING TIME IN THE STATE PRISON. SO WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT IT IN A COMPREHENSIVE WAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE WAY WE FUND SCHOOLS, THE WAY WE FUND THE PRISON SYSTEM, ARE INTERRELATED. AND WE PAY SOMEWHERE IF WE CHEAT THOSE SYSTEMS. Allison: JEFF, I WANT TO ASK YOU. AFTER THAT BREAKOUT IN JUNE, WASN'T THAT PROGRAM PUT ON THE SHELF FOR A WHILE, SO TO SPEAK? WE HAVE DECIDED WE ARE GOING TO DISMANTLE THE BUILDING TRADES AREA. ANY PROJECTS LEFT UNFINISHED WILL BE FINISHED BY MINIMUM SECURITY INMATES. THE ENTIRE FENCING PERIMETER WHERE THE ESCAPE OCCURRED IS GOING TO BE TORN DOWN. WE ARE ASSESSING HOW WE MAY OFFER THAT PROGRAM AGAIN, WHETHER WE OFFER IT ON THE INSIDE, MAYBE OFFER IT AT ONE OF OUR OTHER INSTITUTIONS. WE ARE ASSESSING THAT. THAT'S ONE OF THE MANY CHANGES WE'VE ENACTED OR IMPLEMENTED, I SHOULD SAY, SINCE THE JUNE 4 ESCAPE. WE HAVE STEPPED UP SEARCHES OF INMATES AS THEY MOVE ABOUT THE FACILITY. WE'VE ALWAYS DONE THAT, BUT WE ARE DOING IT MORE EXTENSIVELY. WE ARE DOING MORE EXTENSIVE ROOM SEARCHES FOR THE ROOMMATES. A THOROUGH ANATIONAL TOO SOON WHICH PROGRAMS THE INMATES ARE IN, WHETHER THEY BELONG IN THOSE PROGRAMS. WHETHER THE PROPER CUSTODY LEVELS AND PROPER HOUSING LEVELS. THAT'S PART OF THE REASON, AS I MENTIONED THAT THIS PROGRAM IS SORT OF ON HOLD FOR NOW. Allison: YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY'LL BE STARTING UP AGAIN? THE GOAL IS TO HAVE THE HOBBY CRAFT PROGRAM WORKING BY THE END OF THE WEEK, POSSIBLY NEXT WEEK, WE HOPE TO GET IT GOING AGAIN. Allison: I WANT TO THANK BOTH OF YOU FOR JOINING US ON OUTLOOK. GREAT TO SEE YOU BOTH. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF PRISON REFORM EFFORTS? CONNECT WITH US ON-LINE AT NHPTV.ORG AND TELL US WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND. YOU CAN ALSO FIND LINKS TO NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK RESOURCES USED IN THIS BROADCAST. ON THE NEXT "NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK:" AS MANY AS HALF OF ALL DOGS AND CATS ARE OVERWEIGHT AND MOST PET OWNERS DON'T PERCEIVE ANY PROBLEM. WE'LL GIVE YOU SOME TIPS ON CARING FOR YOUR OVERWEIGHT PET. WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME THANKS FOR WATCHING. |
| Web Pointer Return to index of stories... |
What do you think of prison reform efforts? Connect with us on-line at nhptv.org and tell us what's on your mind. You can also find links to New Hampshire Outlook resources used in this broadcast. |
| Tomorrow Return to index of stories... |
On the next New Hampshire Outlook. as many as half of all dogs and cats are overweight and most pet owners don't perceive any problem. We'll give you some tips on caring for your overweight pet. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
We'll see you next time Thanks for watching. |
| founders Return to index of stories... |
Thanks to our founding sponsors who have provided major funding for the production of New Hampshire Outlook: New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Public Service of New Hampshire Stratford Foundation |
| Tonight 10:00 Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. as many as half of all dogs and cats are overweight and most pet owners don't perceive any problem. We'll give you some tips on caring for your overweight pet. Join us tonight at 10:00. |
| key: Crime / Legal Issues/ Law Enforcement Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 7/21/03 22:00 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 26:46 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, our program tonight is about transformation. We begin with wood planks being transformed into fine furnishings. Producer Richard Ager tells us of wasted lives being changed through new-found skills and success. Joining us to further discuss the impact of the furniture mentoring program, are Jeff Lyons from the New Hampshire Department of Corrections, and Buzz Scherr, a law professor at Franklin Pierce Law Center. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Ricahrd Ager, Allison McNair NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Tim Eldridge\NH Prison Inmate, Prison Outreach Furniture Maker, Tom McLaughlin\NH Furniture Master, Al Eason\NH Prison Inmate, Prison Outreach Furniture Maker, Eric Grant\NH Prison Inmate, Eric Grant\Prison Outreach Furniture Maker, John Limoge\Shop Foreman, William Thomas\Chair, NH Furniture Masters Association, Kathleen McGuire\Judge, NH Superior Court, Jeff Lyons\Public Information Officer, NH Dept of Corrections, Buzz Scherr\Law Professor, Franklin Pierce Law Center |
| key: Culture / Arts Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 7/21/03 22:00 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 26:46 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, our program tonight is about transformation. We begin with wood planks being transformed into fine furnishings. Producer Richard Ager tells us of wasted lives being changed through new-found skills and success. Joining us to further discuss the impact of the furniture mentoring program, are Jeff Lyons from the New Hampshire Department of Corrections, and Buzz Scherr, a law professor at Franklin Pierce Law Center. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Ricahrd Ager, Allison McNair NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Tim Eldridge\NH Prison Inmate, Prison Outreach Furniture Maker, Tom McLaughlin\NH Furniture Master, Al Eason\NH Prison Inmate, Prison Outreach Furniture Maker, Eric Grant\NH Prison Inmate, Eric Grant\Prison Outreach Furniture Maker, John Limoge\Shop Foreman, William Thomas\Chair, NH Furniture Masters Association, Kathleen McGuire\Judge, NH Superior Court, Jeff Lyons\Public Information Officer, NH Dept of Corrections, Buzz Scherr\Law Professor, Franklin Pierce Law Center |
| WEB PROMO Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. . Tonight at 10pm on New Hampshire Public Television. |