Music Soothes the Savage Soul by Donna McCarthy

It was 1968, inside the walls of Folsom Prison, you could hear the raw voice of Johnny Cash singing his infamous lyrics  “I hear the train a comin', It's rolling round the bend, And I ain't seen the sunshine since I don't know when, I'm stuck in Folsom prison, and time keeps draggin' on…”.  That day, the Folsom prisoners had an hour or so to escape their monotonous lives and drift away into the powerful world of music.

Music is like a drug that can take you to different places and set your mind free.  If you’re behind prison bars, this is a great way to soften your heart and find redemption. Studies have shown that music can change one’s mood, stimulate brain function and lower stress. 

Jail Guitar Doors (JGD), a non-profit organization, out of Los Angeles, California, was born in 2009.  Founders, former prison music instructor Thomas Tedesco and prison arts rehabilitation advocate Wayne Kramer believe that music can change an inmate for the better.

“I saw inmates change as they learned how to play together,” said Tedesco in a Loyola Marymount University interview.  “They had to listen to one another; they had to work together to achieve a common goal.”

Jail Guitar Doors are in over 40 prisons in America.  Their mission is to provide instruments and assist with programs such as songwriting workshops. Kramer has worked endlessly to find funding and has looked for governmental support for arts-in-correction programs.   

Kramer said that change to improve the prison system will be slow, but there is hope for the future through increased awareness of the prison system’s problems and support for rehabilitation.

Inside and outside of the prison, Kramer has produced out-reach events and programs that bring in musical instruments and awareness for prison reform issues.  He would like everyone to understand that rehabilitation through music is a successful way for a prisoner to adapt back into society after imprisonment.

 

“The opportunity to be creative can completely change [prisoners’] lives. If we had more art in our society, our society would be less violent and oppressive,” said Tedesco in a Loyola Marymount University interview.

Once back into society, the ex-prisoner will have the ability to express himself/herself through music.  When overwhelmed with everyday life, they can pick up that guitar and take their minds to a better place.  Eddy Byrd, a retired factory worker and musician, has been playing guitar for the last 70 years.  “Playing guitar has been good company when I’m by myself.  I feel satisfied and comforted when playing.  It’s a way for me to express the way I feel”, he said.  Like Eddy, ex-prisoners can find the same comfort and keep their minds on the right path so they don’t turn back to crime. 

As of today, most prisons are overcrowded.  The L.A. Times predicts that prisons will only increase over time.  

Johnny Cash might not have started prison reform through music but for one 20 year old, San Quentin inmate, witnessing Cash’s concert made a big impact on him.  Not only was he rehabilitated, but went on to becoming one of country music’s greatest legends, Merle Haggard.  This is one inspirational example how music can soothe the savage soul!

Is Prison a Life Sentence? by Shale Gneiss

       At the beginning of 2014, the U. S. population stood at 317 million, about five percent of the 7.1 billion people of the world. One out of every 100 Americans is a prisoner--we imprison more people, more quickly, than anyone. Twenty five percent of the world’s prisoners are housed in our prisons. At last count (2009), Rwanda was coming in at a distant second.

       Opinions differ drastically on the purpose of prison. Theories aside, most prisoners end up coming back into a world they’ve been cut off from for years. Time has few markers in prison and without the support of society, family, friends there may be little incentive to change for the better while serving time.

       “It is hard to train for freedom in a cage” said Morris and Rothman in their 1995 historical book about prison. But where do you put a rapist who repeatedly rapes, even after spending time in prison? There is no one answer for fair and progressive treatment of prisoners. They are all people, therefore different. They need individual plans. Many have reached their destination because no one has wanted to deal with them.

       Recently the incoming head of Colorado’s corrections department, Rick Raemisch, subjected himself to a night in solitary (now called Ad Seg) to attempt to understand part of something he will inherit and control. During the 20 hours he spent in the cell he broke his one rule during the short stay. He asked what time it was. Not quite 17 hours and “I felt as if I’d been there for days”.

       Many states are beginning to examine and change their use/misuse of solitary confinement and the percentage of prisoners being released into society, directly from years in solitary. In 2001, of California’s 132,000 released prisoners, only 8,000 were involved in any type of reintegration program prior to “going home”. In 1998, it was reported that California released a minimum of 1,200 inmates from isolation units (level 4, violent and dangerous criminals) right back into society.

       Sung Yim, a student in Chicago, says, “The conditions only give “criminals” less to lose--we forget that these people, who are often impoverished and underprivileged minorities, embrace strife and acute suffering as a result of the lifelong hopelessness inflicted by the classic rock vs. hard place model: you starve or you go to jail.” She also thinks prisons should be run by psychologists and social workers.

       Exploitation is rampant within the business of prisons and supposed reforms are often a disguise for a business opportunity; such is the case for the innovation of video communication for prisoners and their families (at a cost of $1 a minute, or more). As a requirement for access to their services, companies like Securus are requiring an end to in-person visits. They are successful with their contracts since prison staff no longer need to screen visitors, saving money and headaches, and the kickbacks for the facility are lucrative.

       Illana Buck, a criminal justice major at Aurora University in Aurora, Illinois, says, “Prisons need to be a mix of rehabilitation and punishment but I think the punishment needs to fit the crime. Judges do not always follow guidelines and punish people much too harshly for “small” things, based on their race, sex, or something else not connected to the crime. Most places do not have enough rehabilitative programs for people to try to change. That’s something that needs improvement.”

       The civil disabilities of convicted felons include right to vote, parental rights, divorce, public employment, right to serve as a juror, right to hold public office, right to own a firearm, and criminal registration. Each state has different rules and regulations governing the forfeit of these rights.

       Susanne Glazbrook, a retired attorney, says, “Mandatory sentencing unilaterally discredits the argument that harsh jail terms deter criminal activity. The effect was simply to incarcerate more and more individuals. In those circumstances it’s simply a political panacea, not achieving the long-term goal of reducing crime. I'm not advocating against all jail sentences, but for the recognition that jail does not deter.”

       The irony of our justice system and it’s feeder role in the prison business cuts too close to be coincidental. The intentions of the “system” no longer matter if the outcome is worse that the input. A tiny picture of a massive broken system may be visible in most cities. The realization that all-around reform and the public’s involvement and backing will be necessary, cannot be understated.

Social and Environmental Situations Affecting Crime by Kiri Ann Fischer

On February 20, 5-year-old,Drake Whitker, was “abducted” when a car-jacker took off with the 2012 Audi that was left running in the driveway of his family’s Park Ridge home. Drake’s mother was bringing in groceries when she had left her young son alone, in the back seat of the car. When she came out, the car was driving away. The driver was a late teen or early 20s male. There was an amber alert sent out and later that day in a Skokie alley, the boy was found in the car, completely unharmed.  

Related to the topic, we have had a miserable winter in Northern Illinois so far. The weather is at record breaking lows, and the economy isn’t at all helping low-income people through it. Low-income people are worse off than in other seasons, and we are all seeing the effects this has on our community, as a whole. That being said, are there ever certain situations that you could see as perfect opportunities for shelter, safety, and warmth; instead of malicious crime? I’d say so.

Although it is not right to steal, I think we should figure out what is behind the choice of the car-jacker, before we assume what he did was malicious and deviant. The car-jacker reportedly only took the car to get home, prior to abandoning it. Therefore, it is safe to assume he did not want to fully steal it or even sell it.

Now, logically speaking, a new Audi is a pretty expensive vehicle, so it would not be a smart idea to leave it running, completely unattended. But that is the chance Drake’s mother took when she did just that. She also did not have her priorities straight when she decided that bringing in groceries was more important than bringing in her child to his warm home.

Anna, a mother of four, said “I first of all would say that the mother is absolutely wrong in this whole thing. Why you wouldn’t put your child before yourself, especially material items, is beyond selfish. I couldn’t imagine doing that to any of my children. They mean the world to me, and a big part of being a parent involves being responsible, protective, and always thinking ahead”.

Let’s also take a look at the other end of the situation. A young man who was walking by foot in the 35 degree weather, who was not oozing of finances, encounters a running car. To him, this probably appeared as an opportunity for shelter, warmth, security, and comfort from the cold and relief from the travels he had to do by foot. He did not want Drake, which is evident because Drake was left in the car, completely unharmed, and still placed in his car seat. I would not consider this a abduction, but rather a car-jacking by a low-income Chicagoland civilian.

A lot of Chicagoland low-income residents can understand why the car-jacker made the choice he did. Paul, a homeless man of the South Loop area, said “You can’t even blame that kid for what he did. You can see he didn’t want to hurt anybody; he didn’t hurt that little kid. All that guy did was look for some relief, or maybe a bit of an answer to his problems. You can’t knock that at all, cause if you were in his shoes, you’d do the same thing”.

With so many people shaming the car-jacker, why aren’t we seeing nearly any coverage that is shaming the poor parenting of Whitker’s mother? That is where this story got its opportunity to arise from in the first place. I think that before outsiders are so quick question the morality or intentions of the car-jacker, maybe they should walk a mile in his beat up shoes…in freezing Chicagoland weather. Most likely, your opinion would change.

How Rich and Powerful is ‘El Chapo’? By Kevin Tiongson

As we know notorious mexican drug lord “Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman has been arrested. Or if you didn’t know, now you do. He was recaptured on February 22, 2014 after his escape from prison 13 years prior.  How did he not get arrested sooner?

El Chapo; known for being the boss of the Sinaloa Cartel is a folk hero in the narcotics world. His cartel is dubbed as “Mexico's most powerful organized crime group” by the Los Angeles Times and “biggest drug lord of all time” by Forbes. Notorious for  trafficking drugs like Cocaine, Marijuana, Meth and Heroin. Forbes magazine said “The cartel is responsible for an estimated 25% of all illegal drugs that enter the U.S. via Mexico.”

Just to show you how rich El Chapo actually is; he has been featured in Forbes magazine’s list of most powerful people in the world every year since 2009. He was 41st in 2009 and is currently 67th. And how dangerous he is; about 70,000  people have been killed in the past six years alone due to the drug wars in Mexico.

Now what do we generally know about drug lords and different bosses? What we know from movies and television is that to be the leader of a Cartel, one must have brains, guts and a sense of authority and fear surrounding you.

How do these drug lords even make money and keep making money? They smuggle their product into countries where they are most expensive. For example an certain amount of coke will sell for $ 2,000 in Mexico, while it would sell $ 10,000 over here in the U.S. . The Sinaloa cartel have been reported in trafficking their product in 54 countries, not just the U.S.

Being a drug lord is hard work, you’ve got to stay hidden but also be able to enjoy your money. Said drug lord would need connections, loyal followers, trusted lieutenants and enforcers. Tony Montanas’ security wouldn't pass for todays technology and security measures. El Chapo would not only need trusted men but would need state of the arc anti surveillance technology to aid is anonymity.

He would need to spend a bulk of his hard earned cash to hide effectively and still live a lavish lifestyle one kingpin would. He’d need a secluded location where he could build and live in a comfortable home, even though he was arrested in a somewhat modest condo.

Some cartels have been known to dig underground tunnels, some tunnels connect from Mexico to the U.S. The condo and other stash houses used by the Sinaloan Cartel had entrances to the tunnels underneath the bathtubs leading to neighboring towns, used for escape, transport and whatnot. Tunnel networks have long been used by underground communities and such, and is a smart way of transporting their products and escaping.

Nick Herman, a college student said “I didn’t know about the tunnels but come to think of it its a genius way of evading the cops. Seems like something every crime group probably use. The government should look into those.”

On February 22, 2014 after his hideout in Sinaloa, El Chapo’s residence was seized and  El Chapo was found in one of the tunnels trying to escape after the authorities tried to and succeeded to knock down the steel reinforced doors of his condo. What will this arrest do for the drug war? Nothing; cut off the head and another will grow.

Mexico FTW! by Crystal Rohan

Law enforcement in Mexico has not always had the best reputation when it comes to ethics. Grisel Bahena, a native from Mexico said, “The police in Mexico love bribes. It’s sad, but it’s just the way it has always been.” With the recent capture of “El Chapo”, the citizens of Mexico have been given a glimpse of hope.

A group of elite Mexican marines were the ones who finally captured Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, the world’s most powerful drug lord. Of course, they had a little help from the U.S. government, but Mexico needs this win more than the U.S. at this point. The Mexican government is looking to redeem themselves after letting Guzman slip through their fingers the last time they caught him.

Gabe Garcia, a first-generation American, travels to Mexico every year to visit family and has seen the effects of corruption first-hand. “Mexico should hand [“El Chapo”] over to the U.S. government. Mexico already messed up once and knowing how corrupt the Mexican government is, he is bound to somehow escape once again," Garcia said.

Guzman was convicted on drug trafficking and murder charges in 1993, but then escaped a corrupt, Mexican prison in 2001 by bribing dozens of guards to smuggle him out. He had been on the run for almost 13 years before the Mexican government captured him once again.

Garcia also said, “The U.S. has some of the best security centers in the world and he should be kept there. This isn’t a small-time drug dealer we are talking about.”

Having to compete with the high technology of the U.S., the Mexican government has placed Guzman in Mexico’s highest security prison. The Mexican government now has a second chance to prove that they are able to function without corruption. 

While Mexico is trying to prove they can do this right, the U.S. government isn’t quite convinced. Mexico has not had the best track record, but they really could use this to help steer their country in the right direction. If they play their cards right, they could even help clean up the crime-filled streets of Mexico.

Mexico has no plans of handing “El Chapo” over to the U.S. government anytime soon. Guzman will face trial on drug trafficking, organized crime, and at least 6 more charges in Mexico before being handed over to the U.S. Guzman is one of the world’s biggest narcotics kingpins; he is obviously going to be in prison for a long time. The U.S. government should just be patient and wait their turn. Extradition is likely to take a long time anyways. 

Now that the relationship between the U.S. and Mexican government is stronger than it has been in years, the U.S. government should really be helping Mexico with more important issues like not letting Guzman escape again. To be honest, the most important thing the U.S. and Mexico should be concerned about is the chance that Guzman will try to escape prison again. Just because he is in custody does not mean he does not have connections on the outside or even inside the prison. If Guzman bribed several Federal prison guards before, what’s to stop him from doing it again?

Bahena recently traveled to Mexico to visit family over winter break. She usually would drive to Mexico with other family members, but stated that with the recent corruption in Mexico getting worse it is not safe to drive anymore. 

“I remember when it was safe to drive over the border, but now it is really risky to even try. There is a lot of violence in towns along the Mexican-U.S. border now," Bahena said.

The Mexican government should be focusing on important issues like cleaning up cartel related violence along their borders. Having Guzman in their custody is definitely beneficial to that process. The U.S. government should help Mexico use Guzman in a good way instead of fighting over who gets to extradite him and take all the credit. There are way more important things to be done if both countries can put their egos aside.