Distance Paralegal Training for Incarcerated

Very strangely the USDA (yes, the Department of Agriculture) offers a distance paralegal program.
http://grad.usda.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=100&Itemid=205

The son of a friend of mine is incarcerated for Murder 2 (ran over and killed a person when running from cops while DUI. Got 15 years to LIFE and the Governator isn't paroling murderers.) Taking this course saved his life multiple times in the can.

As you probably know, EVERY inmate files multiple appeals from prison since it's free and you have lots of time. Because Paul is paralegal, he's able to help everyone with their appeals, so nobody shanks him.

I suggested the USDA program to him because it's paper based (no internet for him - - in fact he's never SEEN a web page) and, unlike practically every piece of advice I've ever given, it was used.

So two pieces of advice: Don't drive drunk in California and especially don't run from the cops. And if you're incarcerated, become a paralegal; it might save your life.

 

Fifteen to life without parole means he is unlikely to see the outside again. At least he has found a productive use for his life through paralegal work inside the prison.

I have never understood why someone would try to flee from the police when their offense in DUI/DWI. Surely, the DUI/DWI would at least stand some chance of a reduced sentence, but fleeing rarely works out in the favour of the offender. Best advise: If you drink, don't drive. Ever.

 

Or do tax returns for the guards and hide illicit money for the warden, a la Andy Dufresne in Shawshank Redemption.

 

Nice! Excellent movie!

 

Previous governors would allow the parole convicted of Murder 2 but the current Governator will not. Possibly a future governor might.

Non-Californians might be surprised that one could be convicted of Murder 2 for an accidental motor vehicle homicide. In the Golden State, fleeing from the police or multiple DUI convictions can create the "malice aforethought" necessary for a murder conviction.

Unfortunately, alcohol reduces ones ability to think rationally and increases a belief in invulnerability. In Los Angeles, TV coverage of freeway car chases encourages media-hungry morons to flee so their family and fellow gang-members can be entertained.

I totally agree.

 

tax returns by the incarcerated

This is a strategy for getting in the favor of the staff, but one's real problem in prison comes from fellow inmates. Being a staff pet could well increase the danger to oneself in the can, unless the benefits can be shared with other prisoners.

 

Don't you remember the cold beers Andy managed to secure for his fellow inmates after doing the roofing job?

 

Penn Foster and Ashworth also have paper-based DL programs, and they are a bit cheaper than the USDA program.

 

From the new Prisoners Guerilla Handbook

Here is a list I am taking from the above. Adams State College - Legal Investigations Cert, Adams State College - Paralegal Certificate Course, Ashworth University - Associate degree for Paralegal Studies, American Center for Conflict Resolution Institute - Professional Business and Familty Mediator, Blackstone Career Institute- Legal Assistant, Paralegal Institute www.theparalegalinstitute.com - 4 options Stratford Career Institute - legal Assistant, Newport University _ Juris Doctor. I just received this today so this is just a ramble of options. Hille

 

This right here is enough for me to never want to go to prison.

 

Because they are drunk and it seemed like a good idea, just like it seemed like a good idea to drive drunk in the first place.

 

Absolutely. The first thing to go is good judgment. And it certainly happened in this case.

Sideman JD

 

1993

The kid went up in 1993. In them days you were lucky if you had BBS access and AOL or Prodigy (if you really geeky, you had CompuServe) and a 28.86K modem.

http://pages.prodigy.net/rdbrownmsb/pngs/p1990a.png

 

This is by no means a question to start a flame but simply an honest question. Did the state pay for his higher education or was this funded by friends, family, etc? Anyway I'm always happy to see people try and actually rehabilitate themselves while incarcerated. I commend him for that. It's a shame something in his life didn't take hold in a positive way until it was too late.

 

paying for inmate education

Family paid. So far as I am aware, extremely unlikely that California would pay for outside education for an inmate.

Note that inmates do earns some money while incarcerated, working in prison industries. 25 cents per hour last time I checked. Of course they have no access to the money but can use it in the canteen. Perhaps they could use it to purchase approved outside education as well.

Years ago, it was common for inmates to be able to attend community college or even earn a BA at State expense while incarcerated. No more.

 

Here is someone who killed another driver while drunk, fled the scene, then lied to police about who was driving.
http://prisonmovement.wordpress.com/2009/07/24/convicted-murderer-reaches-out-from-prison/
While in prison he earned a BS, MBA and PhD from California Coast University before they became accredited.
http://www.zoominfo.com/people/Perrotte_Jeff_887715117.aspx

 

Wow go to jail free education. I was always afraid of the sodomites, but if you are a paralegal seems to be able to get a pass.

All you need is congical visits and they'll be lining up