xt76ww76x22g https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt76ww76x22g/data/mets.xml  Kentucky  1972 newsletters  English Eddyville, Ky.: Kentucky State Penitentiary  This digital resource may be freely searched and displayed. Permission must be received for subsequent distribution in print or electronically. Physical rights are retained by the owning repository. Copyright is retained in accordance with U. S. copyright laws. Please go to https://exploreuk.uky.edu for more information. Castle on the Cumberland Kentucky State Penitentiary -- Periodicals Journalism, Prison -- Kentucky Castle on the Cumberland, August/September 1972 text Kentucky State Penitentiary v.: ill. 28 cm. Call Numbers HV8301 .C37 and 17-C817 20:C279 Castle on the Cumberland, August/September 1972 1972 1972 2021 true xt76ww76x22g section xt76ww76x22g  

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THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY

Honorable Wendell H. Ford Honorable Julian Carroll
Governor ‘ Lieutenant Governor

THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Charles J. Holmes Commissioner

Luther Luckett Deputy Commissioner

KENTUCKY STATE PENITENTIARY

Henry E. Cowan Superintendent

Jerry Wilson Assoc. Super./ Admin.
W.G. Herndon Assoc. Super./ Custody
William Lasley Assoc. Super./ Treatment
Duke Curnutte Chief Counselor

W.D. Johnson Senior Captain

P.R. Walker Educational Director

CASTLE STAFF

Bob Redmon ' Editor
Chas DuRain Illustrator
Ronald Watson Press Operator

CASTLE is published under the supervision of Mr. James R. Hubbard
and is a member of the American Penal Press Association.

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To think negatively as most of us
do, we automatically accept things as
they are, "whether good or bad." Every
inmate, in my opinion, sees too much
hopelessness, stagnation and frustration
to have hope and faith in a better life
and a richer future when their time is
up.

Prisons aren't necessarily like
that. Prison can in many ways be the
complete salvation of one too lonely and
destitute to gain a full and happy life whether singularly or
with another. Many an individual, such as myself, will not stop
when on the streets to evaluate his own stature and accept him—
self for what he is.‘ Until this experience I'm going through now
it was extremely difficult, it not impossible,, to think that I
could possibly be wrong. That I thought myself infallible was my
biggest deficit.

Prison has changed all of that for me. Not the walls around
the prison, not the inescapable fact of being a convict, but the
every day environment of prison life; Being told when to get up
and when to go to bed; The never ending light that burns on and
on, day and night. These are only a part and can be tolerated
without much thought. But the hundreds of starved eyes, the emp—
ty souls, the hardened hearts, and the forever worried minds that
I have to look at every day of my present life is what has chang-
ed me. I can admit to myself I was wrong in what I done to get
here. I knew it was wrong when I did it, so why did I do it?
That's what I have been able to analyze and understand since I've
been here. To know yourself and why you thought the way you
did in the past and the way you do now is a great achievement and
every man can accomplish it. .

Prison is a refuse. Its a lace where anyone who wants help
can achieve help if he will first do his own soul searching. All
the counseling you can receive and all the trades you can learn
can't help you if you don't first find yourself. Then and only
then can you put what you have learned to work for you to accom-
plish the life you really want to live.

In prison, you find people from all walks of life. we each
have our own particular problems. Many perhaps do not belong in
prison, yet many do. Regardless of this, the one thing we all do
need is "recovery." Recovery is accepting what we really are
and doing something about it. If you aren't prepared to accept
this then your time spent in prison hasn't done anything for you
and you'll go out thinking and feeling as you come in and almost
surely will return.

I don't suppose there is any way we can tell just what is
best for each individual problem. Penologists all over the wor-
ld are daily looking for the "ways and means" of curing crime,
thus relieving the necessity of more and larger prisons. Until
these answers are found, prisons are going to be necessary. There
is positively no one in the world who hates confinement of prison
more than I do. However, I feel that I have found myself while
here, therefore I have to say, I'm thankful that I can see pri—
son objectively.

 

CASTLE AUGUST—SEPTEMBER PAGE 2

   

Everyone, I believe, would give everything they have to not
have the need of prisons, if such a thing were possible. Unfort—
unately, this thought is only a dream, because there will always
be a need for prisons. If not for you and me, then for someone
else. Still we can make it what we want of it. As I said before
"either good or bad." Its really up to us. ********

In this issue we have all the information available: at this
time on the proposed work—release program and the pre-~release
program. This information has been furnished by Mr. Glenn Hodges
Public Information Officer for the Department of Corrections.
This information tells who will be eligible and who will not, and
the guidelines by which the prOgrams will be run. SEE PAGE353611

We also have in this issue an interview of 60mmissi0ner
Charles Holmes. Commissioner Holmes states his views on communi-
‘ty based corrections and how he believes they would benefit both
the inmate and society. SEE PAGE

And, in this issue we are featuring ’for the first time, an
article submitted by the legal office here at KSP. In the future
we will have a regular manthly report from the legal department
keeping us up to date on the new laws affecting inmates and a run
down on some of the cases they handle daily. SEE PAGE

And, Low "n" behold, for all you fun loving fans of mirth
and merriment may now consider yourselves doublely blessedtr
DuRain finally took enough time away from his drawing board to
write another of those fabulous fables of his. SEE PAGE 32'33

The inmates of this institution are greatly confused as to
the exact duties of.the caseworkers. This matter should be clari—
fied so that there are not so many different ideas as to what to
expect and what not to expect. ' ‘

Supposedly, their primary function is' to prepare a report
for parole consideration for the inmates on etheir caseloads.
, Other than this they *make "additionse and deletions: concerning

mail and visitation for inmates. As we understand it, they are
Inot here for counseling purposes. Many inmates are led to be-
lieve that this is a part of their job.

There is no counseling force at this institution. With all
the problems present in our society today as a result of drugs,
public unrest, and other social happenings, combined with the
ever present tensions so common in prison, there is a.dire need
for this service. ,

If the caseworkers are, as a matter of duty, supposed to al—
50 serve as counselors, then they should make themselves avail-
able to the inmates.

_ Small matters become big matters if they do not receive im-
mediate attention. Presently, the caseworker is the only outlet
the inmates have. It is virtually impossible to find any of
these people in their offices. They should be accessible. age

Finally, here's one for you! Just out of law
school and seeking a suitable location to begin
practice, the young attorney was making a tour of
all the state's county seats.

Pausing at one courthouse that perched in the
very center of a small town, he approached a white~
bearded old codger who sat drowsily on the steps. ‘

"Do you have a criminal lawyer here?" he asked. ~ "‘

The old man squinted at him, then replied, "We "
think so, young feller, but so far we ain't been
able to prove it.”

CASTLE AUGUST-SEPTEMBER ' PAG

      
  
 

 COMMISSIONER HOLMES AND STAFF STEP INTO OUR WORLD

For the first time in the kistory of KSP, the Commissioner
of Corrections and his complete staff came inside the walls and
held meetings which lasted for two days.

On July 24 and 25, Commissioner Charles J. Holmes,along with
23 members of his staff, gathered behind the 86 years old, cold
gray walls of Kentucky State Pententiary, and held meetings with
the officials heading the prison.

According to Deputy Commissioner Luther Luckett, the meet-
ings were designed to review departmental objectives and plans as
well as to coordinate ideas between the Department and the prison
staff.

Another key purpose for the meetings, Mr. Luckett said, was
to aquaint the 17 new members of Commissioner Holmes' staff with
prison operation through onmthe—spot observation.

A major portion of the meetings were given over to work on
the formulation of a philosophy of prison operation and prisoner
rehabilitation. The philosophy is being developed and when comm
pleted, will be made available to the public, Mr. Luckett said.

Mr. Luckett also stated that the main purpose of the philoso—
phy will be to help develop programs to assist prisoners in ads
justing to the world outside the prison walls when their senten~
ces are completed. These programs will include work habits and
other areas which would help prevent an offender from becoming a
repeat offender and being returned to prison. '

A study of the various workshops inside the prison was also
conducted with the main purpose being focused on the ways and
means of upgrading them, thus,enabling an inmate to receive bet-
ter on the job training.

 

And now, Captain, would either you or the officer care to reply to
this criticism?

CASTLE AUGUSTwSEPTEMBER PAGE 1,

 PROPOSED WORK RELEASE PROGRAM NOW BEING TESTED IN COURTS

Guidelines of the work release program, whose enabling leg-
islation is now undergoing a constitutional test in the State
Courts, would permit a Kentucky prison inmate to apply for parti-
cipation in the program three months prior to his first or any
subsequent parole hearing.

A resident participating in the work release program, who
receives a deferment or is denied parole prior to a hearing could
have his case reviewed by the work release program committee.
Such an inmate could remain in the work release program if the
committee "deemed (it) appropriate."

Also, institution residents who have been denied parole and
will be discharged by minimum expiration of their sentences could
be placed in the work release program during the final 12 months
of their prison terms.

Inmates "ineligible" for the work release program are those
who have been convicted of rape, attempted rape, detaining a wo-
man against her will, escape or attempted escape from an adult
correctional institution within the past five years, armed rob-
bery and armed assault with intent to rob.

Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment would be eligible
for the work release program after serving at least one year of
their prison term.

The prison committee_will select the men for "work release
status" on the basis of their conduct record, work performance
and attendance record, and attitude.

The guidelines call for the residents of the work release
program to be placed "in or as near as possible" to the community
to which they will return after release by parole or expiration
of sentence. They can be placed in locations outside their home
communities if the placement "contributes materially to the suc—
cessful reintegration of the resident into society."

Also, an investigative report on the suitability of prospec-
tive employment opportunities for the inmate must be completed
before he is given "work release status."

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COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS IS MORE HUMANE

Experience has shown that, opposed to isolation and punish—
ment, community-based corrections which permits a person to live
in his own community and maintain normal social relationships,
while providing control, guidance, and access to rehabilitative
resources and services, is a more efficient, economic, and more
humane approach to the treatment of the offender. A considerable
and impressive body of evidence has been accumulated indicating
that corrections in the community is more effective~ in reducing
recidivism than severe forms of punishment.

Because the community-oriented approach is almost always
more economical, it enjoys a substantial cost/benefit advantage.
Experience has revealed that if one~third of the offenders cur-
rently held in institutions were transferred to probation along
with their share of the correctional budget, they could be placed
in caseloads of 10 or less. This would provide the opportunity
for more individual attention and enhance chances for probation

to succeed.
Chamber of Commerce of the United States

CASTLE AUGUST-SEPTEMBER PAGE 5

 60639 @Dfi‘zPQIIéAE, @PHMON

THE HUMAN DEBRIS OF CIVILIZATION

What is your conception of a. criminal? According to the
'most popular definition in society, a man is a criminal when he
passes thnaugh the legal process of being judged guilty in court
and sentenced. While he is in prison he is a convict and when he
leaves prison he is an ex~con.

Since early childhood we have been brought up on the “Pain-
Pleasure" principle. We reward what is good and punish what is
bad. This principle is the basis for the attitude that fear of
punishment deters crime. The truth of the matter is that, pun-
ishment is seldom looked upon realistically. Most everyone has
been faced with the painful dilema of when to punish and when to
forgive those they love; their children, their friends. The de—
cision becomes rather difficult when dealing with total strangers
(or it should any way.) We waver between "He deserves it" and It
will do him good." The administration of criminal justice and
the extent of individual moral responsibility are among the cru-
cial problems of civilized society. They are dissolubly linked
together and they involve the deepest personal emotions. When the
people of society feel that a person deserves punishment,they are
reacting emotionally and impulsively and whether it can do him
good can be proven and disproved. Society's feelings toward pun-

ishment are governed by many influences; Tradition, ~Religion,
Education, Vengeance, personal guilt feelings and conformist th-
inking.

No where is the social attitude toward individual responsi-
bility more sharply focused and more dramatic, than in a court—
room. The full weight of society's official force, moral and
physically, which is symbolized by the trial, is arrayed against
a single human being. More often than not, this defendant is one
of life's failures—wPART OF THE HUMAN DEBRIS OF CIVILIZATION-thus
the considerations which govern the determination of his respon-
sibility are a measure of man's humanity to man, or the lack of
it.

Legal definitions of right and wrong have always been seri-
ously questioned. Insanity definitions are in much need of being
rewritten. Basic research is needed desperately. The lack of it
is due to a disinterested public, insufficient funds, and the
lack of experts in penology. There is also a lack of comprehen-
sion of people in authority to question the consequences of their
decisions; a lack of guts to admit the growing pain of doubt a-
bout existing conditions and the lack of knowledge; guilt feel—
ings of the people who could do something and donYt do it, pass—
ing the buck back and forth, causing them to reap their vengeance
upon the hapless DEBRIS OF CIVILIZATION.

Criminal responsibility, which represents old beliefs going
back to the 19th century, totally ignore modern diagnostics as to
a criminal's mental status; the failure on the criminal's part to
reason, or use his apparent capacity .to reason and to subdue his
passions, results in subsequent physical action. The failure on
the accused's part constitutes choice and results in conviction.

(CONTINUED NEXT PAGE)

CASTLE AUGUST-SEPTEMBER PAGE 6

  

 

 

 What happens next? The individual is confined to an institu
tion for arbitrary periods of time. Here he stays until time has
ground out so many monthsmand years, and then he is thrown back
to society. Actually is dfimped with the assurance that certain
changes have taken place. Most of the time the changes are for
the worse. The ex-con is expected to gain acceptance, make a
living on a new job and survive without any further help. The
public continues to punish the individual who commits unlawful
acts against society on the basis of what he did and persistently
fails to determine why he did it. Evil of course must be punished
or forgiven, but illness is supposed to be treated and cured.
Grave questions should arise when persons are sent to prison‘with
birth defects and diseases such as alcoholism and mental illness,
personality disorders and anti-social behavior because of chronic
frustration, and the lack of diagnosis and testimony involved in
their cases. 3

All this may sound to severe, and therefore, unrealistic,but
the truth must be faced regardless of haw hard it may be. Much
of society still places a1taboo on mental hospitals. They still
look upon convicts, prisoners,‘ inmates, or whatever you would
like to call them, as being unemployables and untouchables.

Bob Redmon

*_*—*_*-*-*_*_*_*—*_*_*_*-*-*_*_*_*_*-*_*—*_*_$_*_*_*_*-*_*-*—*-*

Truth is truth regardless of a closed mind, ignorance, or refusal
to believe.
Mr. W. Clement Stone

*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*-*_*_*_*_*_*-*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*-*_*_*_*_*

THE HARDER THE BITE

For all the claims made for it, toothpaste hasn't kept pace
with the progress of mankind. The ancient Romans concocted a
toothpowder of barley flour, ,honey, salt, ‘vinegar and perfume
that probably had as much sex appeal, cavity prevention power
and cleaning'qualities as any of the stuff you get today.

The Romans realized the need for strong teeth in those days
when back-biting was the country's chief past-time.

The uermans once believed that long, sharp teeth indicated
a jealous and treacherous nature. The English applauded broad
front teeth as signs fif generosity. And the French admired
7 straight teeth, for they invariably belonged to orderly people;

Mine would have blown their minds! ,

vTelevision is glutted with doctor shows, but you don't find
any featuring dentists, unless they want to hide some microfilm
in a bicuspid that's going behind the Iron Curtain.

It is ironic that American fun and games hinges around peo-
ple with their mouths glued together, but cringe at the mention
of the guy who makes it all possible.

That may be because dentists are a closed—mouth lot. There
isn't one in 1,000 these days who will even tell you the best
thing with which to brush your teeth is azslippery Elm switch.

Bob Redmon

CASTLE AUGUST-SEPTEMBER PAGE 7

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CASTLE AUGUST-SEPTEMBER PAGE 8

 PUBLIC UNCERTAINTY

The average citizen does not know what is to be expected of
correctional services. This attitude has created a paradox in
handling offenders.

Confusion over whether corrections should be punishment—ori-
ented, rehabilitation-oriented, or both, brings public accusation
that the system brutalizes offenders, on the one hand, or coddles
' them on the other. Manifestation of this confusion is the exist—
ence, side—by—side, of correctional facilities intended primarily
for punishment and detention, and others designed to help rehab-
ilitate offenders.

.The conditions in many prisons achieve nothing but an in-
crease in the number of recidivists (those released from institu-
tions who commit additional crimes.) 80% of all felonies are
committed by repeaters. These conditions may result also in the
loss of self~respect and human dignity and lead to increased so-
phistication in criminal behavior through contact with hardened
offenders.

The negative impact of imprisonment, coupled with the lack
of acceptance by the community following release, often creates
more bitterness and a desire to get back at society.

Chief Justice Warren Burger, speaking before the National
Conference on Corrections, stated: "It is my deep conviction
that when society places a person behind walls, we assume a col—
lective moral responsibility to try to change and help that per—
son. The law will define legal duties but I confess I have more
faith in what a moral commitment of the American people can ac-
complish than I have in what can be done by the compulsion of jug
dicial decrees."

Concerned citizens can do much to promote and support cor-
rectional programs that really correct. On the other hand, pub-
lic uncertainty and lack of consensuyron what constitutes an ef-
fective approach will result in weak and inconsistent legislative
support for correctional programs. Citizen opposition through
lack of understanding can also block implementation of desirable
programs even with strong legislative backing.

Meaningful jobs must be available to the ex-offender to as-
sure his rehabilitation, or the correctional system will fail.
Equal employment opportunities should be extended to all citizens.

Crime prevention and criminal rehabilitation are economical?

1y advantageous to the businessman whq hires an ex—offender, as
well as to the public, which does not have to pay the high cost
of building and operating more prisons, and which benefits from
a reduction in recidivism.
‘ Business and community leaders have a responsibility to
learn about new correctional methods and to endorse and actively
support correctional reform at all levels, state and federal, as
well as in their own community.

All citizens, and particularly business leaders, should work
toward a correctional system that really corrects. Such an ef—
fort can only serve to help make communities safer and\better
places in which to live and work.

Bob Redmon

*_*-*_*_*_*_*_*_*-*_*_$_*_#-*~*_*_*_$_*-*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_$_*_4

The average citizen takes a small measure of information about
covicts, adds a large quanity of imagination, a hysterical a-
mount of prejudice and shakes well with emotions.

' CDR

CASTLE AUGUST-SEPTEMBER PAGE 9

 THE SPORT OF IT ALL

Every He-man with a drop of sport-
ing blood in him dreams of breaking a
record of some kind. It's iinevitable.
That fire kindled by the natural animal
instinct to do something bigger and bet-
ter than the next guy is perhaps to gain
some bit of recognition or self-satis-
faction.

Most accomplishments of physical
nature take practice and some natural aa
bility. And a lot of us have neither in
sufficient quanties to become a champion
of sorts. All of which makes us ill—
equipped to try for the four-minute mile
or the flangle sitting title.

There is one thing we could all compete

for, one of which we have plenty of
JJW practice and ought to know something as
E i bout. That is the manly art of shaving—
' and the 10 second shave.

Over in Italy a barber plopped a gob of
lather. on a.customer's face, honed his
razor, and whisked off his whiskers (and
probably a couple acres of profile) in
16 seconds flat. The tonsorial artist
immediately became a national hero for
this throat—slashing record. Actually,
the real hero of this little blood-let-
ing was the poor customer. He.didn't e-
ven make the obituary page.

Some of us have tried for the 10— .
second shave one time or the other. With
a dull blade, cold lather and foggy eye—
balls, that is. And we have the scars
to show for it. Not many of ,us have
made it, according to the clock on the
wall and the piercing glances of our co—
workers.

There is a wide open field in this
competition for some iron nerved, thick-
skinned American to become a champion.
And we'll crown him with a wreath of"”",
band—aids as the free style, barefaced,
cut-as-cut champion of the; U.S. 'We
might even buy the razor and lather he
tries to peddle on television.

I'd enter the race myself, but fellows with handsome faces
simply can't afford to take any chances.

   

     
 

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Bob Redmon
it it it 4% 6% ae at a? 4&4 4% 4* at 4% 4% a: a? as as ea 9% 4% 49 a? as as as as a: a? a& a: s? 4*

Actually, the only thing holding some convicts back are prison
officials who wont let them put their best foot forward until they
get the other one out of hot water. cdr

§§§§***********fifi%%*%*%s‘$***%*****
CASTLE AUGUST-SEPTEMBER PAGE 10

 BLUEGRASS!
Kentucky's Initial Step Toward Progressive Penology

Although bogged down by a test action in the State's Court
of Appeals, the old Kentucky Village at Greendale may soon make
the first step on the road to up—dating Kentucky's penal system.
Labeled "Bluegrass", the new instellation will be used primarily
as a Pre~Release Program Complex. But it will also house the
Capitol Maintenance Crew and be a First Offenders unit.

Bluegrass is being based on the most successful pre—release
programs across the country. In fact, besides a great deal of
reading, the program manager, Mr. Landrum Haddix, and his assist-
ant, Mr. Eric Cullen have been doing, they plan a trip to Texas
, soon to see first hand how the Texas program works and learn what
they can do to make Kentucky's program top notch. They have
written and re—written the plans to keep abreast of the latest

developments.
Mr. Haddix had previous experience with Child Welfare3as a
cottage parent and as a Juvenile Counselor. He received his

Masters degree in Social Work this spring. Mr. Eric Cullen has
recently received his Masters in Psychometry. Both have worked
diligently to get the program off the ground by August first,
only to be tied up by the Attorney General.

Bluegrass is being made possible with funds from the Federal
and State Governments.

Who will be in the program? Here are some of the answers to
that question:

Expirationers only! .

Men will be transferred to Bluegrass in groups around the
first of each month. They will include men with 90 to 120 days
left to serve. They will be.men ’from the Bluegrass area primar
ily. This includes Fayette and surrounding counties. A list of
the actual counties to be served will soon be available.

Participation in the Bluegrass program will probably be on
a strictly voluntary basis. No man will be sent to Bluegrass who
does not wish to participate. In fact, each participant will be
expected to sign an agreement stating that he desires to be in
the program and pledging himself to serious participation. Only
those who really intend to work at preparing themselves to make
it on the outside will be included. There will be no offering of
goodies, nor is there any advertisement that it is some sort of
luxury resort. All the state if offering is some real help to
men who really want to make it when they get out. Mr. Haddix
advises any one interested in the program to start now getting
his mental attitude and frame of mind ready.

Some ideas about the program content. There are two key
words to keep in mind when thinking about the Blugrass unit.
One, graduated release, the other is therapeutic community. The
first gives a good indication of the goals and objectives. The
second tells what the atmosphere and methods are to be.

The idea of graduated release is to gradually expose the man
to the conditions he is actually going to face and be required to
deal with on the outside. The idea is to take some of the shock
out of re-entry, or to keep the man from having to "hit the
bricks" cold.

(Continued next page)

CASTLE AUGUST-SEPTEMBER PAGE 11

  

 The "Therapeutic Community" means that every staff member
is a treatment person and that everything that takes place at the
Complex is intended to help the individual make the necessary
adjustments. That is, there will be a twenty-four hour a day
program Everybody at the Bluegrass Complex will be working 'to-
gether on the problems and needs of release and readjustment.
A sort of "Helping Community."

While some details are subject to change, the following
items will be emphasized;

There will be employment placement counselors whose job will
be to line up employment for releasees. This is a tough job
since Bluegrass people will have some strikes against them, and
the job market has a great margin for improvement. 30 along with
finding jobs, there will be an orientation to prepare men to get
jobs and hold them. Some of this will include some plain infor-
mation on how to look for a job, how to talk to a prospective
employer and the like. Some of it will be getting the individual
to look at himself and see what his strengths and weaknesses are.
The pre-release counselors will be conducting groups and other
activities designed to build a man's self-image and skills in
relating to others. This will require honesty and a readiness to
change for the better. It will be work of the toughest kind be-
cause it will be working on yourself. Success depends upon both
the man and the community doing their part.

There will be counseling for those with marriage and family
problems.

There will be a driver education program designed to help
a man obtain a drivers license. ‘

These are just some of the things which will be involved in
the pre-release program. The big thing to keep in mind is that
cooperation and real work on real problems is what its all about.
Bluegrass guarantees that any man who has the right attitude will
leave the program with a great deal more going for him than he
had before he entered. It would probably be safe to say that not
everybody will like everything in the program, but once each man
has committed himself to it he will be expected to take the bit
ter with the sweet. Each man will have some say in what his pro-
gram will include but it will be ai full time program for each
individual. The last 90 days before going out will be a time of
getting ready and.just sliding by won't get it.

This doesn't mean that there won't be any time for relaxa-
tion and recreation, there will be. The program itself is design
ed to be satisfying and rewarding. Especially as:a man begins to
see that he is really getting new insights, information, and per-
sonal strengths will he feel better about himself and his chances
for making a future for himself. Nothing makes you feel better
than having confidence in yourself and this program is being
designed to build self-confidence.

Bluegrass is probably the first progressive step Kentucky
has taken. Mr. Haddix would appreciate hearing from inmates here
and to get their reaction. His interest can be sumed up in the
.following questions:

1. The things that concern me most about getting out are:

 

 

Tell him what really worries you.

2. Things which I think would help me to make it outside are:

 

Tell him what you think ought to go into a pre-release program.

CASTLE PAGE 12

 COMMISSIONER HOLMES FAVORS "MINI" PRISONS

Small community penal institutions should replace the big
prisons, Commissioner of Corrections Charles J. Holmes -told the
Kentucky Post recently.

”I don't buy big institutions. We need small community fac-
ilities, A man won't get lost in those. We need a series of
them. And for those guys who can't make it that way, we always
have the reformatory or the prnitentiary as an alternative."

Commissioner Holmes has a concern for taking.part "in the
field" away from the office, and feels his workers can do better
mixing with the inmates and prison personnel than at their desks
in Frankfort. He energentically talks about "open communications"
among the prisoners in institutions, of upgrading prison person-
nel and salaries, and of providing a "motivation” for inmates to
help them help themselves.

é Commissioner Holmes advocates bills which were pushed thru

4 the regular session of the Legislature this year providing for

1 some alternatives to institutionalization of priscners. One of

g! the alternatives is a work—release program, allowing an inmate

? proven trustworthy to leave the prison and work under supervision

. during the day.

i There is also the furlough program, giving a prisoner up to
"V.seven days in which to leave prison to look for a job shortly
, before his parole is due, and there is the study-release program,
& allowing an inmate to go to a vocational school.

' ,. Attorney General Edward Hancock believes the constitution
; only allows a prisoner to be placed at hard labor within prison
lwalls ~~ not in an opencommunity.

3. Commissioner Holmes believes that that is to restrictive and

{Eis apposing Hancock.

7\ The Commissioner also scoffs at some peoples' notions that

1 pr