These guys got a sense of pride and self respect working the fire crews. As well as better food and exercise. Plus it saved the state about 80 million a year.

Looks like they are going away now.

http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-san-bernardino-inmate-firecrew-20141112-story.html#page=1

I not usually big on the often failed concept of rehabilitation. But if some petty drug dealer in a dead end life was able to find some self respect and an appreciation for hard work. Then turned that into an actual job after his release? Thats a feel good story I can get behind.  Because thats actually pretty cool. Plus wilderness firefighters are badass.

Does sound like a good money saver; but I hope that the experience the cons get doesn't bump someone out of a job who has no criminal record.

If (and that is a big if) con crews are eliminated cities, counties and the state are going to be forced into a really bad position.  You think wildland fire suppression costs are high now?  





Con crews serve an extremely important function. Eliminate con crews and we will be forced to pay much more for someone else to perform the same vital function.  And expect fires to get much bigger before containment/control.





Those crews work their asses off.  There has to be a way to retain them, someone will come up with a plan.  I hope.  Maybe the private crews will get hired more often, but that won't be cheap.



eta It was always awkward when working with con crews.  Just about every single time at least one would tell me they were hoping to someday get hired at the fire dept. when they finished their sentences.  I never told them that AFAIK fire departments do not hire felons.

There is a Fire Camp up near Jamestown, CA.  An acquaintance of mine was a CO / Firefighter that worked and trained those inmate crews.  He really enjoyed the job and spoke highly of the inmates that earned their way into the program.  From what I remember, it is not an easy program to gain entry into.  It was mental, physical, plus the hardest part: no discipline issues.  Those inmate crews were tougher and more experienced than the seasonal "summertime" college crews Cal-Fire hires.

My buddy retired a few years ago just prior to the AB109 realignment.  Not sure how things are going at Jamestown currently.