Inmates helping in prison change

Thursday, June 24, 2004 | 11:06 a.m.

Sheila Green wants the public to attend an open house at her house, which in slang terms is also called the big house.

Green, 41, is serving five life terms at the Southern Nevada Women's Correctional Facility in North Las Vegas. And she figures inmates would have an easier time fitting in outside the bars if the general public had any idea of how hard they work while behind them.

"Society needs to not be afraid to come in and see us," Green said.

She was among 43 inmates who gathered Wednesday evening to talk with Nevada Department of Corrections Director Jackie Crawford and members of the news media about the changes they'd like to see when the state takes over the prison this fall.

Corrections Corporation of America's contract to run the women's facility off Lamb Boulevard ends Sept. 30. Problems have plagued the prison the past year. A May petition signed by inmates cited poor food quality and medical care, among other missteps. And DNA tests have shown that an inmate was impregnated by a guard.

Earlier this month, Crawford and other state corrections department officials said they could do a better job of running the prison and provide a better variety of programs, even though it will cost about $1 million more a year.

On Wednesday, Crawford named prison psychologist Jennifer Lozosky acting warden and outlined the department's plans to move the Southern Nevada operations from Jean to the North Las Vegas facility to help with the transition in leadership.

"We're not here to talk about what has happened. We're here to talk about where we're going," Crawford said. "We want you to have input and ownership so you can say, 'What can I do to make myself successful?' "

Input already has started. Lozosky said four 10-member inmate committees have been created to address transition issues, visitation, programs and prison industries and work-related issues.

A recent survey shows that gaining marketable work skills ranks highest on the inmates' priority lists, Crawford said.

Green, who was convicted for a litany of non-violent property crimes, said potential employers from the general public need to be encouraged to visit and talk with inmates so that jobs will be available when they get out.

"There's a big problem when people get out because they have no jobs. They have no home. They have nowhere to go," Green said. "We're ex-felons. They're afraid to hire us."

Crawford said better vocational training is on the horizon as are more jobs. Two companies have expressed an interest in locating job sites on the prison grounds, which would employ about 100 women. Crawford also intends to ask the state Legislature for money to build a re-entry center at the facility, similar to the one already being built for men.

Green says she hopes the inmates can work together to see some of the new programs take hold successfully.

"Hopefully, we won't give up," she said, "because a lot of people have already given up on us."