The San Quentin inmate job shortage may soon be eased, a prison official reports.
The information came from Lt. D. Graham, the inmate assignment officer. He discussed the problem in a speech at Making Good, a prison self-help group designed to make offenders aware of the harm victimization causes.
Graham said a near doubling of the San Quentin general population created the jobs shortage, but new vocational classes are scheduled to start soon and are predicted to open up 75 positions.
A new fiber optic class is slated to begin, possibly soon. Computer literacy will commence once San Quentin finds and hires a qualified instructor, according to Graham.
He said he believes overcrowding will be affected by the federal court’s order to cap the prison population at 110,000. Currently the state prison population stands at about 119,500. If the court order is met by Dec. 31, Graham expects the San Quentin general population to fall by a third, thus decreasing the job shortage, because the number of applicants seeking jobs will be fewer.
In the meantime, Graham recommends that prisoners remain proactive.
Often Graham doesn’t assign jobs directly. Instead, he submits names of eligible inmates from a waiting list to prospective employers. The employers then conduct interviews and hire whomever they feel is the best fit.
To get ahead of the pack in the kitchen, Graham advised prisoners to volunteer to work there. For skilled positions, he suggests submitting a resume.
