Folsom Prison inmates graduate from trade schools

Sawing lumber instead of prison bars will occupy parolee graduates of a local pre-apprenticeship program in carpentry.Welders, too, are graduating from a California Prison Industries Authority program run locally, and an ironworker's union in October contracted with the agency to take in future prison-trained apprentices."I've been training seven hours a day, five days a week - unless there was overtime," said welding graduate Alex Olmedo, 27, of Camarillo. "We're building modular buildings, to be shipped around the state, to California Youth Authority and other places. Hopefully, I will get a job."The program serves inmates at Folsom State Prison and California State Prison, Sacramento - Folsom's two neighboring state penal institutions. It is aimed at rehabilitation, with an eye to reducing a disturbing 70-percent rate of inmate return to prison in the state. "We have one goal in mind - we never want to see you again," agency general manager Charles Patillo told members of a graduating class Nov. 28. "Of the 70 men who have graduated from the carpenter's pre-apprenticeship program and had been paroled, only three have returned to prison."Welding graduate Nicholas Vasquez, 28, of Fairfield, said he thinks the time devoted to training will pay off."I've got about nine months in the program," Vasquez said. "I enjoy doing it. I will go join the union."Leonard Greenstone, CalPIA board vice president, said the former state Department of Corrections "failed their part of the bargain" in preparing parolees for the straight life. It is now the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, The department has called on help from labor unions in placing graduates who will have a leg up in ability over the typical new apprentice worker."We want to give these guys a skill that will give them a career," said Bill Sessa, CalPIA spokesman.The Telegraph's Roger Phelps can be reached at rogerp@goldcountrymedia.com, or post a comment at folsomtelegraph.com