NO ONE SHOULD BE DENIED AN EDUCATION

To the Editor:

I'm appalled by the state phasing out subsidies for art supplies and
educational training behind bars.

I am currently in Oswego County Correctional Facility, awaiting my trip to
state prison to serve a four-and-a-half-to-nine-year sentence. My crime?
Selling drugs. I've been here at OCCF for five-and-a-half months and in
this short time, I have earned three BOCES certificates, two for food
services and one for plumbing maintenance.

After receiving these certificates, I thought to myself, wow! Imagine what
a better education I'll have after furthering my skills in prison. I was
feeling that my chances of making a legal and respectable living after my
prison term were really looking good - up until now.

What about the criminals who only know about selling drugs, theft or other
illegal ways to survive? A high school diploma should be available, but why
stop there? A money-making trade is not taught in high school. A person
needs further education. To further one's education should not be held back
from anyone, incarcerated or not.

I agree criminals should not receive the money for their art. A better idea
would be to pay restitution, surcharges, victims and/or families of victims.

However, I don't feel the art work should be anonymous. The prisoners and
the art program do deserve the recognition.

Genevieve Lugo, Oswego