This is Dortell Williams with a prisoner’s perspective called “The Politics of Rehab.” Here we go again with the politics of rehabilitation and fear. It’s Willie Horton all over again. Willie Horton was a life prisoner, serving time in Massachusetts in the late 80s. Michael Dukakis was governor. Like thousands of other prisoners, Horton earned a weekend furlough pass for reprieve into the free world. These programs maintain prisoner morale, decrease stress-related and other violence, and help prisoners retain some modicum of social interaction without succumbing wholly to the prison culture. Tragically, Horton killed someone while out. One prisoner messed up and the entire program, with thousands of others successfully participating, was nixed.
In addition to being a life prisoner, Horton had another mark against him. He was Black. In a rather reprehensible move, presidential candidate and Dukakis opponent, George Herbert Walker Bush, exploited these factors. Not only did he politicize the tragedy, but he also racialized it. Recently, Republican presidential aspirant Mike Huckabee of Arkansas was blasted for supporting the release of Wayne DuMond in 1999. DuMond was convicted in the late 80s of raping a young cheerleader. Persistent questions lingered about his guilt after trial. Still, other women came forward, claiming he victimized them. One woman said DuMond held a butcher knife to her and raped her in front of her child. Another woman said he broke into her home, armed with a butcher knife, but the crime was interrupted by her arriving boyfriend. After 12 years of a 20 to life sentence, DuMond was released, allegedly with Huckabee’s support. Shortly thereafter, DuMond raped and murdered Carol Sue Shields.
One of the foremost considerations in determining the release of a life prisoner is future dangerousness. In light of the intimate details and familiar patterns involving the accusations against DuMond, it’s obvious he should have been retained. Still, should one high-profile failure make for the castigation of thousands of other deserving prisoners? Of course not. To put it in perspective, Huckabee commuted or pardoned over 1000 lifer sentences during his two terms. Nationally, paroled lifers have the lowest recidivism rate of all, 1%, and are the least likely to commit new crimes. Besides, in no other facet of human fallibility do we castigate all for the actions of one.
Remember when Republican front man Tom Delay was arrested for money laundering and a slew of other financial and political crimes? Responding to such incidents, Republicans are quick to point out that the miscreant is an individual. The public was reminded the same when NASCAR driver Scott Wimmer was arrested for a DUI in 2004 or when Ralph’s grocery chain was indicted in 2003 for fraud and other financial crimes concerning the workers’ strike of that year. It’s never right or fair to paint everyone with a blanket brush. Everyone must stand or fall by his own action. It’s just that simple. As prison policies continue to bleed into the mainstream, it is imperative that people tune in. Learn more at prisonradio.org.
These commentaries are produced by Noel Henrihan and Mary Bishop.
