Being labeled SRG level 3, it stops me from being able to get jobs that would give me the gain time I need to reach my minimum. I must receive pre-approvals from the Captain of SRG just to enter a vocational course or even a self-help class, some will not accept us at all. Now with us not being able to get jobs and go to school, how can the administration or better yet the NCDAC want rehabilitation for an individual such as myself when you won’t allow me to be apart of anything that will rehabilitate me or help me make progress in bettering my situation. I want to partake in all the education programs, particularly certain ones at certain prisons, but my case manager will tell me that I don’t meet the criteria of that prison because of my level three status and that just leaves me feeling defeated, when all I am trying to do is make progress to be a better man. Not only for myself but for my family, and society, because I now realize that my actions not only affect me but everyone from my loved ones to the citizens in society. Its hard for me to rehabilitate myself in a system such as this where the administration doesn’t have any concern for the betterment of human life and don’t think that we can do better or be better people. Change can be brought about within anyone because God gives us that chance to do so if we are still breathing, so who is to say that someone such as myself can not change. Well, I have changed, and it shows within the accomplishments I have achieved since being incarcerated. I am a better man today than I was when I came to prison, and it is because I made the decision to read, study, and better myself on my own time rather than waiting for a case manager to give me a guide to survival. Not being able to get jobs and attend schooling as I would like hinders me from being as successful as I could be if all these restrictions weren’t upon me. I would be a better man.
When you enter the SRG (Security Risk Group) program at Foothills Correctional and the RDU (Rehabilitation Diversion Unit) program at Marion Correctional they notify us that when the program is completed and you go to your assigned prison then you will have fist dibs at jobs and schooling, but that is not so, we’re last and never considered. When you can go four years infraction free, take a collegiate course, maintain job assignments, and be respectful to staff as you can be, you still not be rewarded but targeted due to your past alone. I was Southern Correctional, and this was my situation and the SRG Sargent and her staff had it out for me and didn’t even know me. I am being peaceful and respectful, yet they are coming at me as if I’m doing the worst things that can be done and I am not understanding that because I always thought that if you help yourself others will help you as well. That is not the case being SRG level three in NCDAC.