Zach Bowers is an inmate in the Missouri Department of Corrections. He appreciates the outlet that real-voices.com provides him for the expression of his views. Next week, we will have an interview with his daughter in the blog.

Broken Industry

This industry of “correction,” that feeds its bottom line by the amount of bodies it pulls into its iron grasp, snared me at the age of 15. On May 11, 1997 I was charged as an adult in the Missouri courts. I was numbered and sent off to prison to fuel a broken industry.

What do I mean by “broken”? When an industry is built on the backs of suffering men and women who are in bondage, it is doomed to failure. Look at slavery! Missouri’s Department of Corrections is doing just that and is failing as an “industry.” More importantly, it is failing to fulfill its sworn service to correct and rehabilitate those who are housed in these stagnant prisons.

Evidence of its failure can be seen in the astronomically high recidivism rates Missouri DOC produces. Admittedly, the DOC has been tasked with a difficult job of persuading inmates to take up wholesome lives, as opposed to the drugs and gangs that are prevalent in prison.

However, it can be done. Continue reading “The Corrections Industry: Zach Bowers” →

Headlines from the New York Times for Friday, June 16, 2017

Russian Military Says It Might Have Killed ISIS Leader

Russia’s military said on Friday that it was looking into whether a Russian airstrike in the Syrian desert killed Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the self-declared caliph of the Islamic State, in what would be a major military achievement. Continue reading “Newspaper Prayer: Friday, June 16th” →

Headlines from the New York Times for Thursday, June 15, 2017

Steve Scalise Among 4 Shot at Baseball Field; Suspect Is Dead

A lone gunman who was said to be distraught over President Trump’s election opened fire on members of the Republican congressional baseball team at a practice field in this Washington suburb on Wednesday, using a rifle to shower the field with bullets that struck four people, including Steve Scalise, the majority whip of the House of Representatives. Continue reading “Newspaper Prayers: Thursday, June 15th” →

Headlines from the New York Times for Friday, June 2, 2017

Maine’s Governor Wants Inmates to Fill Jobs, Not Prison Beds

Paul R. LePage, the brash and deeply conservative governor of Maine, has never been seen as an advocate of loosening punishments for criminals. He once joked that drug dealers should be publicly executed. He has seemed, at times, to support racial profiling in the pursuit of drug traffickers. And he has suggested that suspected domestic abusers wear ankle monitors, even if they have not been charged with crimes.

But last week, Mr. LePage conditionally commuted the state prison sentences of 17 male inmates, and is soon expected to commute the sentences of some female inmates as well. At the same time, his administration is reviewing whether he is legally allowed to commute the sentences of county inmates.

The commutations have flipped the political script in Maine. Mr. LePage is drawing cautious praise from advocates of civil liberties and supporters of shorter prison sentences for some crimes — groups that more often vehemently disagree with the governor. He is drawing anger from some of his fellow Republicans, who see the commutations as part of a political fight over a prison that Mr. LePage wants to close.

Readings from Isaiah 61.1-2 for Friday, June 2, 2017

Isaiah 61.1-2 – The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn.

Prayers for Friday, June 2, 2017

Dear God, please help us to be those who bring good news to the oppressed and release to the prisoners.

Bob Spradling