How PIE Turns Predators into Producers: The World of Private Prison Industries
by Ph. D. Kimberley A. Garth-James
Category: Education

As the various aspects of California's correctional system are failing- increased parole failure, high cost of prison construction and management, and expensive inmate healthcare-many argue that justice and public safety is best achieved by the "lock 'em up" approach and the adoption of the determinate sentencing law (DSL). Dr Garth-Lewis argues differently. She addresses the need for a return to the indeterminate sentencing policy and the parole plan for all convicted felons, as well as the ex-offender's responsibility as a contributor to his/her community. Unfortunately, the government-operated prison work programs do not always adequately prepare convicts for the demands of the job market once they leave prison. During the 1990s, guided by research, conversations with advocates for prison industries, victims, and inmates, Dr. Garth-Lewis explored the factors that make ex-felons' success on parole so difficult to achieve. Her work adds to the discourse about how to return producers rather than predators back to the community.