ST. THOMAS \u2013 A Senate committee considered two bills at the same time \u2013 one that seeks to reduce the sentences of convicted criminals who complete academic, vocational and drug rehabilitation programs while in prison \u2013 the other dealing with removing a criminal conviction from a person\u2019s record. The hearing was held at the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall Thursday.<\/p>\n
Sen. Nereida Rivera-O\u2019Reilly, the prime sponsor of legislation, said the bills were important to reduce the number of inmates who return to a life of crime after being released from prison. Testifiers also commented on the bill that seeks to remove a person\u2019s criminal conviction for misdemeanor offenses two years after being released from prison.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we call ourselves a Christian community, we should spend less time judging and more time loving,\u201d Rivera-O\u2019Reilly said.<\/p>\n
Scott Bradley, the co-founder of My Brother\u2019s Workshop, a St. Thomas-based organization that works with at risk and high risk youth aged 16-24, stressed the importance of educating people in prison because \u201c85 percent of the offenders have trouble reading.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere have been several major studies that have shown that education programs alone can reduce recidivism 43 percent,\u201d Bradley said. Recidivism refers to the rate in which people return to criminal behavior.<\/p>\n
Dwayne Benjamin Sr., the acting director of the Bureau of Corrections, said \u201coverall the Bureau of Corrections endorses the bill,\u201d and added that educational programs in prisons not only improve the chances of inmates succeeding in civilian life, but also reduces the amount of \u201cidle time\u201d a prisoner has, thus reducing opportunities \u201cto engage in non-productive activities.\u201d<\/p>\n
Soraya Diase Coffelt, a former judge with the Superior Court, said \u201cbased on my extensive experience, I am of the firm opinion that our young men have been and continue to be in crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cResearch has linked crime to illiteracy,\u201d Diase Coffelt said. \u201cAnd we have a major issue with illiteracy in our islands.\u201d<\/p>\n
Attorney Samuel Joseph, the chief public defender in the office of the Territorial Public Defender, said a lack of education is a contributing factor to the high rate of crime in the Virgin Islands and applauded the bill and amendment Nereida-O\u2019Reilly put forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf an individual cannot get a job due to an arrest, conviction or incarceration, then he or she is forced to support themselves by any means necessary,\u201d Joseph said. \u201cIt is simple cause and effect. The proposed changes would allow people to move forward and shake off the stigma of the past.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ilene Garner, director of the University of the Virgin Islands\u2019 Community Engagement and Lifelong (CELL) program, said that \u201cit is well documented that inmates upon release who do not have requisite skills and training to secure employment are likely to return to the system.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is also documented in RAND studies concerning education attainment during incarceration and re-entry that inmates who achieve education and training that provides them with a credential enhances their opportunities for employment,\u201d Garner said.<\/p>\n
Sen. Kenneth Gittens, chairman of the Rules and Judiciary committee, said that studies \u00a0show that education programs are cost effective and that \u201cit costs more to incarcerate than educate.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy are we totally crucifying a person from being a productive tax-paying citizen,\u201d Gittens said.<\/p>\n
Rivera-O\u2019Reilly said that Scandavian countries like Norway and Sweden have prison guards that also act as guidance counselors to inmates and that this should be the example the territory follows when it comes to offering higher education to prisoners.<\/p>\n
Non-committee member Sen. Kurt Vialet and committee member Sen. Novelle Francis Jr. each said they campaigned in favor of legislation such as the measures currently before the committee and said they supported it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe create the environment that we live in,\u201d Francis said. \u201cI believe this bill will address some of the recidivism we\u2019ve seen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bill No. 31-0074 and Bill No. 31-0094 each passed through the committee by a vote of 6-1, with Gittens casting the no vote each time. The bills now go before the full Senate for approval.<\/p>\n
After the vote, Gittens, who chairs the Committee on Rules and the Judiciary, said he reserved the right to vote in favor of the measures in session if the cosmetic changes he suggested are made to them.<\/p>\n