Between the Rock & the Hard Place

 Between the large Klieg lights and the surrounding electrically

wired fences, you knew the place had a need for security.

One Wednesday a month I came to talk to prerelease prisoners.

We six volunteers had signed the forms that made clear Donovan

State Prison would not negotiate our release, should a riot

break out. A session would run for about two hours. Our job was to

prepare the prisoners being released, for an employment interview.

Of the 15 or 20 guys who signed-up for the class

few would have been there if not for the days cut from their

sentence if they attended and respected our efforts.

Did we make a difference? I thought no, the prison staff thought

otherwise. Most of the guys gave the simulated interviews an

honest shot. What they couldn’t do was show a track record that

might include jobs held, past employer recommendations and

arguments that would persuade the guy on the other side of

the desk to give this ex-con a chance. Surprisingly, the guys

always seemed grateful at the end of the session. They

were probably just playing us, but it invariably felt real. 

At the second annual luncheon the prison staff gave us an award,

that I still keep on my desk. We all received a rock, about 8” long,

egg shaped, and weighting 8 pounds, inscribed   

“DONOVAN, Thanks.”