Hello Sports fans. I apologize for not writing my blog in many months. One reason I have been lax in writing is the fact that about one year ago, I was moved from the Eyman /Meadows Unit to the Florence/East Unit, away from my good friend and the man that encouraged me to write, Joe Chiappetta. I miss my good friend and I remain prayer filled that one day soon he and I will reconnect and begin our work together in assisting our communities in offering hope through vocational rehabilitation to released offenders. In the past year, I have been busy here at the Florence/East Unit working with men who have an interest and desire to change their lives and become responsible, productive and law abiding members of our community. Most of the work I do is Christ -centered as I have found that true deliverance, true victory, peace, and joy come from a personal relationship with one, Jesus Christ. Currently we have six men who faithfully attend a daily half hour bible study/fellowship. It is an awesome, true joy for me to be in a position of serving and leading these men to carry forward our mission to renew our minds and strengthen our spirits with the word of God.

I am continually amazed at how little there is in the way of effective substance abuse vocational training and education for incarcerated men. This system is failing miserably because all your tax dollars accomplish with the Arizona Department of Corrections is to warehouse mostly non- violent drug offenders. These men sit around and talk most of their time about non- productive, non-essential things and there is very little offered in the way of eradicating criminal mindset and behavior. So what happens at their exit from prison? These individuals, through varied conversations with their buddies now have formed new ideas and the mindset that crime can pay if done a “different” or “better” way. It’s frustrating, very sad to see, and most importantly is becoming a huge burden on citizens in the community.

Hey Arizona, have you learned anything from the state of California’s “lock em up and throw away the key”’ mentality? Sadly California spends about nine billion dollars a year in their corrections budget and 70% of that goes to the very politically powerful and influential California Peace Officers Union for the corrections officers’ pay in California. Some are said to make incomes larger than the governor.

What’s needed in the ADC are opportunities for professional substance abuse counseling, and an effective vocational education with an emphasis on building and developing spiritually- strong lives, using a system of rewards and consequences where long term good and changed behavior could benefit the incarcerated individual.

Recently I read an article where statistically it shows that the actual number of incarcerated individuals has declined for the first time since 1972. All apparently arising out of the significant downturn in economic conditions and severe budget woes most states face. The article mentioned Mississippi as one state that reduced its truth in sentencing guidelines for drug offenders from 85% to less than 25%. The state of Texas has identified low risk offenders and currently has 30% of its incarcerated persons on parole. One year ago that number was 15%. California, because of budget concerns along with the federal government determining that their prison overcrowding violated constitutional laws, anticipates releasing some 80,000 inmates within the next two years.

While these factors all indicate a significantly flawed system of justice and punishment, the good thing is that our law makers and leaders must identify more effective, cost saving methods in addressing these issues in the future. That excites me because I see a group of men (myself, Joe, Scrap, Troy, and others) who experientially know what it takes and what must happen for criminal mindset to change… I see us leading others in the journey towards living changed, improved, and productive lives.

Finally, my kids get upset with me when I write my blog and don’t mention them. So here goes. I am so very proud of my oldest daughter Rebekah. She is a graduating senior at the University Of Michigan with a 3.2 G.P.A. Her field of study is Mass Communications She has been blessed in that she has been interning for the PBS station in Michigan doing on air work along with production work. Sarah is a graduating senior at Mountain Pointe High School. She is currently applying to colleges in Michigan, and hopes to join her sister and other family in Michigan this summer. I am proud of Sarah. I am also proud of my twins, Hannah and Luis Jr. Hannah is doing well as a High School sophomore and is becoming an awesome basketball player. My son Luis of course, made it to the varsity football team in his sophomore year of high school and I believe in great things for him.

Those than read this recent blog entry please keep those I have mentioned in your prayers.

Luis