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"Thank You Ladies"
The following letter was written by a long-termer at Valley State Prison for Women to the judge that is in charge of Federal review of the California prison system. She brings up several issues that are relevant to incarceration and rehabilitiation in our prison system.
September 20, 2007
The Honorable Judge Reinhardt
Your Honor,
This letter concerns your position on the panel regulating the conditions of state prisons due to overcrowding. I would greatly appreciate your time to reflect upon my observations of the lifer population here at Valley State Prison in the fervent hope that you, Judge Henderson, and Judge Karlton will seriously consider the release of a number of the suitable lifers.
My name is Cheri Mathews. I was convicted of 2nd degree murder in the winter of ’98. In the 8 years I have been a resident here, I spent 5 as a mentor in the Substance Abuse Program, and am now working as a teacher’s aide in Vocational Automotive. I’ve been involved with other lifers but more so with the “short” termers. I have observed a vast difference between these populations.
There is an unfortunate but understandable stigma placed on convicted murderers and related offenses which carry mandatory life terms. The consensus is if someone killed once, they may kill again. This may be true with a small percentage of lifers and the fear of releasing someone that falls in this percentage is the change the parole board and governor take. A mistake may cost them their position and the fear of that has kept many lifers in way over their eligibility dates. It is highly unlikely that a woman would recommit a violent offence upon release. I believe the recidivism rate for women lifers is 1–2 %. Compare that to 80-85% of the general population.
Convicted murderers have already committed the greatest potential for violence. That crime will never be changed. If this man or woman has shown their remorse for their actions by a complete change in their attitudes and behaviors, evident by their prison records, then it is reasonable to assume that their potential for violence has decreased or ceases to exist. I have observed the lifer population here. I watch women lifers every day excelling in college, in self-help and support groups. They are the population that is in a constant process of growth and change. Many extend themselves out to the general population to be of service as tutors, facilitators, and mentors to encourage the short-termers to make the changes necessary for a productive life. These women are more mature, honest, and compassionate then a lot of women I know in the “free” world.
On the other hand, there is a large population who are not expected to do anything more than their time. I see them in the substance abuse program, in education and vocation, and in various jobs every day. Most of them are disrespectful and disruptive. They waste the precious resources given to them. Why? Because they have no motivation or desire to change, the ones that do are ridiculed or bullied. It takes courage to do the right thing and not many have the fortitude to swim against the current. Most continue with their criminal activities without blinking their eyes. The youngsters and new commitments quickly become acclimated into this sick and perverted lifestyle and leave worse than how they came in. They go back out into the real world and have no skills to cope with responsibilities of job, family, housing, etc. They end up back in here and this becomes their new home.
Many of the women serving determinate sentences have expressed to me their greatest fear is paroling rather than coming here. This has become their comfort zone. They have their basic needs met and have no demands put upon them. It’s very heartbreaking. These women’s potential for violence and other crimes against society increase. When I see the news and there are ex-offenders that have committed new crimes, the crimes are more serious than the ones they started with. These ex-offenders are not ex-lifers.
Lifers that have reached their minimum eligibility dates and have met all the criteria placed upon them by the parole board including a violence-free behavior record should be released. May I suggest a mandatory half-way house for a 1-2 year period during which the parolee wears an ankle bracelet and is responsible for 24/7 accountability to staff and the other residents? In this period of time parolees are expected to become fully acclimated into society. Employment, housing, community service, reunification with family and children, goal-setting, therapy sessions and groups, involved in AA/NA, church, etc. Upon completing all criteria set by your panel, the parolee can then begin life outside the house. I believe the success rate will be phenomenal. This population is literally dying for a second change to live life the right way.
The parole board and governor are dictated by the political climate. They live in fear of the vote. You do not live under the same pressures. Because of this, you are free to follow the law as it is written. This is a parole state. We are not sub-human. We are men and women who made a grave and tragic mistake. Paradoxically, it is this very tragedy that has motivated us to become much more human than we would have been had the tragedy not occurred. The initial loss of life is horrible and senseless. It is equally senseless to waste the potential good of another life.
Allow us to make the best possible amends we can make for our crimes – to become part of the solution instead of part of the problem.
Thank you so much for your time and may God richly bless in all you do.
Sincerely,
Cheri Mathews, W78136
The Honorable Judge Reinhardt
Your Honor,
This letter concerns your position on the panel regulating the conditions of state prisons due to overcrowding. I would greatly appreciate your time to reflect upon my observations of the lifer population here at Valley State Prison in the fervent hope that you, Judge Henderson, and Judge Karlton will seriously consider the release of a number of the suitable lifers.
My name is Cheri Mathews. I was convicted of 2nd degree murder in the winter of ’98. In the 8 years I have been a resident here, I spent 5 as a mentor in the Substance Abuse Program, and am now working as a teacher’s aide in Vocational Automotive. I’ve been involved with other lifers but more so with the “short” termers. I have observed a vast difference between these populations.
There is an unfortunate but understandable stigma placed on convicted murderers and related offenses which carry mandatory life terms. The consensus is if someone killed once, they may kill again. This may be true with a small percentage of lifers and the fear of releasing someone that falls in this percentage is the change the parole board and governor take. A mistake may cost them their position and the fear of that has kept many lifers in way over their eligibility dates. It is highly unlikely that a woman would recommit a violent offence upon release. I believe the recidivism rate for women lifers is 1–2 %. Compare that to 80-85% of the general population.
Convicted murderers have already committed the greatest potential for violence. That crime will never be changed. If this man or woman has shown their remorse for their actions by a complete change in their attitudes and behaviors, evident by their prison records, then it is reasonable to assume that their potential for violence has decreased or ceases to exist. I have observed the lifer population here. I watch women lifers every day excelling in college, in self-help and support groups. They are the population that is in a constant process of growth and change. Many extend themselves out to the general population to be of service as tutors, facilitators, and mentors to encourage the short-termers to make the changes necessary for a productive life. These women are more mature, honest, and compassionate then a lot of women I know in the “free” world.
On the other hand, there is a large population who are not expected to do anything more than their time. I see them in the substance abuse program, in education and vocation, and in various jobs every day. Most of them are disrespectful and disruptive. They waste the precious resources given to them. Why? Because they have no motivation or desire to change, the ones that do are ridiculed or bullied. It takes courage to do the right thing and not many have the fortitude to swim against the current. Most continue with their criminal activities without blinking their eyes. The youngsters and new commitments quickly become acclimated into this sick and perverted lifestyle and leave worse than how they came in. They go back out into the real world and have no skills to cope with responsibilities of job, family, housing, etc. They end up back in here and this becomes their new home.
Many of the women serving determinate sentences have expressed to me their greatest fear is paroling rather than coming here. This has become their comfort zone. They have their basic needs met and have no demands put upon them. It’s very heartbreaking. These women’s potential for violence and other crimes against society increase. When I see the news and there are ex-offenders that have committed new crimes, the crimes are more serious than the ones they started with. These ex-offenders are not ex-lifers.
Lifers that have reached their minimum eligibility dates and have met all the criteria placed upon them by the parole board including a violence-free behavior record should be released. May I suggest a mandatory half-way house for a 1-2 year period during which the parolee wears an ankle bracelet and is responsible for 24/7 accountability to staff and the other residents? In this period of time parolees are expected to become fully acclimated into society. Employment, housing, community service, reunification with family and children, goal-setting, therapy sessions and groups, involved in AA/NA, church, etc. Upon completing all criteria set by your panel, the parolee can then begin life outside the house. I believe the success rate will be phenomenal. This population is literally dying for a second change to live life the right way.
The parole board and governor are dictated by the political climate. They live in fear of the vote. You do not live under the same pressures. Because of this, you are free to follow the law as it is written. This is a parole state. We are not sub-human. We are men and women who made a grave and tragic mistake. Paradoxically, it is this very tragedy that has motivated us to become much more human than we would have been had the tragedy not occurred. The initial loss of life is horrible and senseless. It is equally senseless to waste the potential good of another life.
Allow us to make the best possible amends we can make for our crimes – to become part of the solution instead of part of the problem.
Thank you so much for your time and may God richly bless in all you do.
Sincerely,
Cheri Mathews, W78136