California clears way for inmate firefighters to enter profession upon release

[babylonsister]

California clears way for inmate firefighters to enter profession upon release
By DEBRA KAHN
09/11/2020 07:39 PM EDT


SAN FRANCISCO — Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday signed a bill allowing prisoners who fight fires while incarcerated to have their records expunged after serving time so they have an easier path to becoming regular firefighters upon release.

The bill addresses the emergence of an unexpected social justice issue this summer as massive wildfires during a pandemic exposed California's longtime reliance on inmates to suppress fires.

CA AB2147 (19R), by Assemblywoman Eloise Reyes (D-Grand Terrace), lets prisoners who served in a state firefighting camp or on a county fire hand crew apply to the court to dismiss their convictions so they can qualify as EMTs, a necessary step to becoming a firefighter.

The law "will give those prisoners hope of actually getting a job in the profession that they've been trained," Newsom said upon signing the bill Friday in Oroville, where the North Complex Fire has burned 250,000 acres and 10 people have died. The bill excludes those convicted of certain crimes, including murder, kidnapping, rape, arson or any felony punishable by death or life imprisonment.

more...

https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2020/09/11/california-clears-way-for-inmate-firefighters-to-enter-profession-upon-release-9424131

[WhiskeyGrinder]

1. This sounds really sweeping but it isn't so much.

It doesn't mean that people who are incarcerated who are on firefighting crews automatically have their records expunged upon release. They still have to go through a lengthy petition process (assuming they have the resources) and a judge has to approve it, leaving the decision up to a person. In addition, there's still a list of people who are automatically ineligible for this law, because of the crimes they were convicted of, even if they *were* eligible for firefighting.

In any case, it's window-dressing on state-sponsored slave labor.

[Luz]

2. Excellent program. Looks like a win/win.

[Aristus]

3. What an excellent idea!

Giving ex-cons a profession with dignity, honor, good pay, and benefits will help reduce recidivism.

For a guy getting out of prison, just getting any kind of job can be difficult. Entering public service like this is a great way to rejoin society.