The former prisoner in San Francisco finds dignity in Alcatraz

By Stanford Chatfield, special for Calmatters

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At the age of 69, I wake up every morning, excited to go to work as a historic translator in Alcatraz. I leave home every day with a huge smile on my face, knowing that I will meet people from all over the world and share the complex story of this island.

This is a meaningful job that appreciates my perspective – including the 35 years, which I spent behind bars in a state penitentiary.

Although I made progress from leaving last year from the Monterey Correctional Correctional establishment, I was far behind others at my age. My peers have built retirement savings and social security loans during my first -class winning years while I was in prison, making 28 cents an hour.

While serving time, I worked as a college enrollment officer, coordinating and organizing training materials for students and employees of prisoners. I loved work. Pay? Not so much. When I was released, I was broken and confused.

The California system of re -introduction, similar to the imprisonment system, is interrupted. The state invests too little in prisoners – paying them pennies for their work – and not enough in effective programs that help them enter society.

For one year the state spent shocking $ 133,000 on a person’s prison – More than twice the education of the University of South California. Though around 40,000 people get home from prison Every year, Almost half in the end Back behind bars within three years.

This endless cycle depletes taxpayers’ resources without improving public safety.

While in freedom, I was one of the best income; Many boys there only made 8 cents per hour. They need to be paid at least a minimum wage and give them opportunities for progress.

When I came out, I could easily fall through the cracks. For the longest time, I didn’t know what my purpose was, but I made a commitment to honesty and integrity in all my affairs.

I started at the beginning with decades of criminal record. The odds were not in my favor – until they created recovery capabilities and programs, or the harvest, they did not accept me in Ready 4 LifeAnnual scholarship. He offered me training and dignity. I have developed technical skills and positive thinking.

About 95% of the participants in the harvest did not re -re -have. Yet the future of culture is uncertain. Given the ups and downs of the state budget, programs such as CROP do not always receive stable investments.

I chose to train in the UX (user experience) design for developing websites and computer applications because the technology has gone through my deprivation years. Only studying these digital foundations opened the doors that I never imagined, even for my work in Alcatraz.

The real value of the program comes from the relationships I have made, including some ex -persons who have succeeded and some business leaders.

When Crop Employment Specialist found a job to post an assistant guide at Alcatraz, I made a leap of faith. In my cover letter, I wrote: “I am a former imprisonment and I believe that I can bring a unique and valuable perspective to this position.”

Works. During my interview on a rainy day, I was told to explore the island until they decided. My phone rang an hour later. “Are you still here? We want you,” they said.

I knew my life really changed. What started as seasonal work has become constantly. I now interpret the story of Alcatraz and support myself at about $ 25 an hour and my experience gives me a credibility that cannot be learned.

Thanks to the harvest and employers who wish to see beyond my record, I do a meaningful job that appreciates my whole story. Here’s what the dignity of work should look like for everyone who comes home.

This article was Originally Published on CalMatters and was reissued under Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Noderivatives License.