The Cool Jail Perspective Part 1

Our conversations are short, they only last 15 minutes. The cost is exorbitant: $50 per hour. Imagine that, I pay $50 for 4 phone calls that last a total of 60 minutes. He's in jail facing some tough decisions. During one of our conversations he complained that some of his friends; "get to be in a cool jail." I was stunned, what the heck is a cool jail?

A cool jail is a place where you get more privileges, he explained. You can stay up later, leave your TV on all night and make phone calls at later hours. The guards aren't as strict with their rules. It's sad that some young people have had their life vision reduced to a world of cool jails. Most of these young people have done something to land themselves in jail. Society has not done enough to create opportunities for these young people to stay out of jail. Our cities are being emptied of young men as they are being poured into jails across our country. The cool jail is a matter of perspective and is brought about by a style of brain washing.

This young man feels a cool breeze on a mountain top. He is free and doesn't relate to a cool jail.

When someone is first accused of a crime, they generally go through stages similar to the phases of the grieving process:

1. Denial – This really didn't happen.
2. Anger – Blaming others (like God), focusing on unfairness, harboring unforgiveness.
3. Bargaining – offering a deal to God to change the situation.
4. Depression – resignation, giving up, thinking of suicide literally, emotionally, financially.
5. Acceptance – Somehow I’ll survive.

A prisoner goes through a heart grieving process:

1.  Denial: I did not do what they accused me of.
2.  Anger:  It's not my fault. I live in a bad hood. Nobody cares about me. I had to survive. It's kill or be kill. It's a game. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.
3.  Plea Deals:  I'll say what you want me to say to get less time.
4. Resignation: If I have to do life I wish they would just tell me so I can get on with it.
5. Acceptance and Grafting: The prisoner begins to act like his surroundings.

It does not matter whether a prisoner is guilty or not, the stages are still the same. Very seldom does somebody admit to a crime and accept full responsibility. Once somebody is in jail and the charges are stacked against them, they become resigned to their fate and their life view begins to shrink. That's the basics of how the Cool Jail Perspective is created.

The Cool Jail Perspective can begin at birth. If you are born into a family with a history of criminal behavior and prison time, you already have a strike against you. Acceptance of a life that includes jail time is normal. Acceptance of a life that includes illegal activity is normal. If society does not create enough opportunities to counter the acceptance of illegal activity, you end up with a city in poverty that sends many young people to jail.

These young men will sleep in a cool tent. We believe that teaching wilderness survival skills will teach them how to stay out of cool jails.

Part 2 of the Cool Jail Perspective will deal with the foundational structure of the Cool Jail. It does not begin behind bars, the jail cell is constructed in the homes and neighborhoods of America.

Thanks for your time. Go do something nice for somebody.

"Find new ways, 

  in as many ways, 

    in more excellent ways, 

      on all of your days, 

        to show love." 

Bob Kuebler
YWAP Director

Youth With A Purpose

In School & After School
In The Mountains & In The Hood

157 Locust Street

Buffalo, New York 14204

716-830-8240

"All Children Are Gifted" 

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