FF Parole Crews

CalFire has been using "con crews" for years now. They are house in a camp type area (so outside the normal jail). They are utilized for wild land fires and ground keeping/maintenance/painting of fire stations when not in use.

I know after they get released some are hired by the fire department (not sure what their cut off as far as charges go).
 
I found out that one of my ex-girlfriends ended up in state prison and joined an inmate camp crew and was fighting wildfires while I'm still chasing being picked up by a career department lol
 
Jim37F said:
I found out that one of my ex-girlfriends ended up in state prison and joined an inmate camp crew and was fighting wildfires while I'm still chasing being picked up by a career department lol
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Well you could commit an appropriate offense and follow her route ;)
 
I am 100% all for it. As a parole officer you try and rehabilitate people to go from burden-> productive(on society). Now with that being said certain things need to be understood. All parolees are 100% convicted felons which obviously disqualifies them from certain jobs(Leo ect). Currently, literally earlier this morning, I'm working with one of my parolees on becoming an emt-B and asking around who will employ him(with references and what not in line). Everywhere that I know, parolees or even folks that have maxed out, cannot become paramedics(due to narcotics handeling). In my professional experience people will work harder and more effective at something they like. What I mean by that is if an individual says they want to be an emt, why should I say no, force him to work at a job he won't like and will probably skip. If it keeps those folks out of trouble, and gives them a way to make money while not harming anybody. Why not let them? There are also programs in most states called "work release" meaning they go out to state buildings/municipalities and paint/clean or file papers ect all while supervised. These offenders are LOW RISK offenders, meaning they come out of a risk assessment and are classified as low.
 
All I know is they did the work that us engine slugs hated. So that was nice.
 
I have worked with prisoner crews from Utah State Prisons; both on wild fire lines and on sandbagging lines. They work their butts off. Eating sandwiches while filling sandbags or digging lines.
Odd thing is when they are doing anything but Wildland fires they are supposed to go back to the prison at night. One crew left sandbag area at midnight and was back at 0400. Different guards but same prisoners.
 
Fido198674 said:
http://www.abc15.com/news/region-ph...-firefighter-tj-oneill-takes-unlikely-journey

Hmm, what does everyone think about programs like this one? I think while it does alot of good im sure, that extra 1.5 million could really help other departments trying to hire NON-Convicts...
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1.5 million for a crew, not a single individual. That doesn't sound all that unreasonable. I'd rather spend money on that and 1. Not spend money on their incarceration and 2. See some kind of positive return on that investment. Sounds like a win win.
 
Tigger said:
I imagine that the cost of funding hand crews is considerably less when prisoners are used. Sounds like a win.
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Interestingly enough inmate crews are typically the second most expensive thing on campaign fires (large extended fires) behind air aviation.

The reason is due to the COs (correctional officer's salaries). On a large fire lasting a couple weeks COs can earn upwards of $50k. And their job is relatively easy when compared to the other assignments on a large fire.

As CALEMT stated they do a lot of the dirty work that other engine crews don't typically want to do. The majority of the inmates work much harder and longer than other crews without issues as well.

So they may be worth the investment. I know I'd rather low level offenders be out working and learning a skill than sitting a jail cell learning how to become a better criminal.
 
terrible one said:
Interestingly enough inmate crews are typically the second most expensive thing on campaign fires (large extended fires) behind air aviation.

The reason is due to the COs (correctional officer's salaries). On a large fire lasting a couple weeks COs can earn upwards of $50k. And their job is relatively easy when compared to the other assignments on a large fire.

As CALEMT stated they do a lot of the dirty work that other engine crews don't typically want to do. The majority of the inmates work much harder and longer than other crews without issues as well.

So they may be worth the investment. I know I'd rather low level offenders be out working and learning a skill than sitting a jail cell learning how to become a better criminal.
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Hmm no kidding. How many COs do they bring?
 
Tigger said:
Hmm no kidding. How many COs do they bring?
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Work release crews in NYS are between a 1:8 - a 1:15 ratio, depending on the risk level of the group(charges, recidivism, violence, all that fun criminal justice stuff)
However coincidentally they usually end up being a 2:8 ratio because you need 2 C.O's operating any kind of offender transport vehicle. Good thing NY planned it out huh!
 
Tigger said:
Hmm no kidding. How many COs do they bring?
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I don't know off the top of my head, but when I was a seasonal we were jealous. They literally just hang out in base camp, they don't go out on the fire because... training... Nys's sounds right but I want to say they bring more than 1... if I had to guess around 4 sounds about right.
 
Tigger said:
Hmm no kidding. How many COs do they bring?
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I believe it's 2 COs for one inmate bus. The inmate crew is comprised of one captain for 17 inmates for cal fire. They are also paid portal to portal, so as soon as they are dispatched until they return. Inmate crews are usually they're the longest as well.
 
Methinks why not? Just as long as the candidates don't preempt guys on existing list I'm all for positive rehab, not just rehab for rehabs sake like the mooks who sit around halfway houses all day playing video games for the rest of their miserable existences on the hard working taxpayers dime. Besides couldn't be any worst then the crooks EMS already employs stealing anything they can get their paws on be it from the bus, the ER supply room or even hot ticket items like the surgical scrubs off the racks on the surgical floors. 90% of the wares in the average EMS/vollie jump kits are EMS stuff. We won't talk about their ever loving buff mobiles, unauthorized radios, lights & sirens with the missing serial number plates.
 
EMS HOT BOX said:
Methinks why not? Just as long as the candidates don't preempt guys on existing list I'm all for positive rehab, not just rehab for rehabs sake like the mooks who sit around halfway houses all day playing video games for the rest of their miserable existences on the hard working taxpayers dime. Besides couldn't be any worst then the crooks EMS already employs stealing anything they can get their paws on be it from the bus, the ER supply room or even hot ticket items like the surgical scrubs off the racks on the surgical floors. 90% of the wares in the average EMS/vollie jump kits are EMS stuff. We won't talk about their ever loving buff mobiles, unauthorized radios, lights & sirens with the missing serial number plates.
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You have literally no idea what you are typing, do you?
 
I believe this article is talking about funding a crew staffed by Parolees, which means they're no longer in custody this don't require COs.

RocketMedic said:
You have literally no idea what you are typing, do you?
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Absolutely none.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Handsome Robb said:
I believe this article is talking about funding a crew staffed by Parolees, which means they're no longer in custody this don't require COs
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No, they are still prisoners, and after they are done, they go back to the prison, under the the custody of the COs
 
I don't see a problem. I think rehab is one of the most important (and often ignored) parts of the system. If they're putting in good work, and maybe getting future job skills then I'm all for it. I'm not a FF so I'm not familar, can you get hired anywhere as a convict?
 
SunshineCamo said:
I don't see a problem. I think rehab is one of the most important (and often ignored) parts of the system. If they're putting in good work, and maybe getting future job skills then I'm all for it. I'm not a FF so I'm not familar, can you get hired anywhere as a convict?
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No. Our city fire departments are very strict on who they will hire and any sort of criminal offense especially one where you received jail/prison time is an automatic disqualification.
 
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