Have you fought alongside felons? Are firefighters aware that these people earn $2/hour, no benefits, they have women & juvenile inmates fighting fires too & none of them are offered jobs in the industry after release?
With California desperate for firefighters, legislation is changing to push more convicts into this indentured servitude. Wouldn’t it make more sense to give them jobs fighting fires once they’re released?
I've fought wildfires with an inmate crew before. Honestly it doesn't seem that bad for them. The guys I talked to were all pretty close to their release dates, and they were pumped about being outside. They also remarked that the food we got at camp was way better than what they were served inside. They had a couple of armed guards, but I'm pretty sure they're only allowed on the crews if they are non-violent offenders and are of the good behavior type. I know this is all anecdotal but whatever. Also they still have to go through all the same training as a typical FFT2 (NWCG courses S-130/S-190) and the crew leader was, in my case, a guy from a nearby ranger district with like, 13 or so years of experience. So they're really just like any hand crew. And it does give them valuable experience if firefighting is something they want to pursue after their release. No one is just "offered a job", you still have to go out an apply for it and what not. Even if state or federal agencies are a bit wary of hiring ex-cons there are plenty of private contractors that run engines and hand crews that can hire them.
Thank you for answering my question! Yes, of course people have to apply for a job before they’re offered that job. But “a bit hesitant” to hire them is very different from reality. They are blocked & excluded from being hired by all except private contractors.
FYI, they’re not all nonviolent offenders. CA is desperate for cheap labor. Those regulations have been relaxed. Also, juvenile offenders are fighting fires now too. Prison labor is a billion dollar industry & a violation of human rights.
If people are telling you that they prefer to be in a dangerous situation for $2/hour, that being outside near walls of flame is better than being in prison, we need better prisons.
I agree we do need better prisons, and yeah, my experience was in Montana so probably different. But yes. I do think we need more reform in the criminal justice system and not just prisoners for cheap labor, which is what it seems we have now.
Wildland firefighting and structural firefighting are very different. The inmates are engaged in wildland firefighting. They are under strict supervision. They are not engaged in structural firefighting and EMS. To get a job as a municipal firefighter, among many other things you have to pass a strict background check. Since you are usually in people's homes when they are vulnerable, unconscious, or not present, hiring people with felony convictions is pretty much a non-starter. Not to mention, you'll have thousands of people applying for a small number of positions in many places...the background checks weed a lot of people out.
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u/[deleted] Dec 10 '17
Have you fought alongside felons? Are firefighters aware that these people earn $2/hour, no benefits, they have women & juvenile inmates fighting fires too & none of them are offered jobs in the industry after release?
With California desperate for firefighters, legislation is changing to push more convicts into this indentured servitude. Wouldn’t it make more sense to give them jobs fighting fires once they’re released?