do prisons put newly-released prisoners on Amtrak trains?

[DanaE]

I recently had the good fortune of riding Greyhound. Apparently the one of the things that some prisons give newly-release prisoners Geryhound tickets so they can get to wherever they are going....

I'm just wondering if they also buy Amtrak tickets? (assuming Amtrak trains are more convenient?)

 

[The Davy Crockett]

I've only encountered 'fresh from the big house' folks, while riding Amtrak, on a ThruWay Bus between Las Vegas, NV and Bakersfield, CA.

I'm not sure where they went from the Bakersfield station, but I didn't see them on the San Joaquin (train) I caught to EMY.

That said, I've sure encountered some interesting characters while riding Amtrak - some who sure seemed like they had spent some time 'reflecting' on their behavior - but they've always either been fun to chat to - or avoid. :giggle:

 

[amtrakwolverine]

I remember a guy back in 2007 or 8 on Wolverine 354. He had just gotten out of jail for child support and the judge gave him a train ticket and said get out of my town.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I've only encountered 'fresh from the big house' folks, while riding Amtrak, on a ThruWay Bus between Las Vegas, NV and Bakersfield, CA.
I'm not sure where they went from the Bakersfield station, but I didn't see them on the San Joaquin (train) I caught to EMY.

That said, I've sure encountered some interesting characters while riding Amtrak - some who sure seemed like they had spent some time 'reflecting' on their behavior - but they've always either been fun to chat to - or avoid. :giggle:

Which AUers are you referring to? :giggle:

 

[TinCan782]

Don't airlines put passengers on planes as prisoners? :giggle:

 

[the_traveler]

Just remember that a released prisoner is just like any other citizen. Once they are released, they have to get somewhere somehow. It may be by bus, it may be by Amtrak, it may be by plane, it may be by walking, it may be by being driven! Just think, that car next to you at the stoplight may actually contain someone who was once in prison! (The horrors! )

And not every "released prisoner" is not a murderer, rapist, bank robber, etc... Believe it or not, someone may been in prison for having 3 beers, or not paying a $100 debt, or may have even been innocent! (I've heard of people who were on death row for 20-30 years - and then were found to be innocent after another person confessed to "their crime"!)

You may even find released prisoners at stores shopping, at restaurants eating, at the movie theater, on the ferry or even at the company you work for! Unless they're wearing a striped jumpsuit, how do you know the person is a released prisoner? :huh:

As an AU member, I'm getting sick of this subject that keeps coming up! :angry:

 

[JayPea]

The town I live in is the county seat and thus is the home to the county jail as well. It is also home to a Thruway bus stop, right by my front door. Our county's police chaplain's account provides for bus tickets for newly released prisoners.

 

[zepherdude]

Thank You for saying that, Traveler.

 

[amtkstn]

A few years ago I was riding the Chief home, a recently released person become my seat mate at one first station of of Chicago.

 

[SarahZ]

I agree with Traveler. Thank you.

 

[AKA]

I've only encountered 'fresh from the big house' folks, while riding Amtrak, on a ThruWay Bus between Las Vegas, NV and Bakersfield, CA.
I'm not sure where they went from the Bakersfield station, but I didn't see them on the San Joaquin (train) I caught to EMY.

That said, I've sure encountered some interesting characters while riding Amtrak - some who sure seemed like they had spent some time 'reflecting' on their behavior - but they've always either been fun to chat to - or avoid. :giggle:

Which AUers are you referring to? :giggle:

GOOD ONE

 

[calwatch]

Corcoran station gets released prisoners. You can tell because they carry their possessions in plastic bags and pay cash for tickets. No, they don't get tickets purchased for them but they do pay cash, and their release papers serve as ID.

 

[The Davy Crockett]

I've only encountered 'fresh from the big house' folks, while riding Amtrak, on a ThruWay Bus between Las Vegas, NV and Bakersfield, CA.
I'm not sure where they went from the Bakersfield station, but I didn't see them on the San Joaquin (train) I caught to EMY.

That said, I've sure encountered some interesting characters while riding Amtrak - some who sure seemed like they had spent some time 'reflecting' on their behavior - but they've always either been fun to chat to - or avoid. :giggle:

Which AUers are you referring to? :giggle:

Well obviously I'm talking about...

Um,

You know...

What's their name...

Oh, come on, you were at the last gathering, wasn't it obvious? :lol:

When it comes down to it, we ALL are a little crazy...

I mean, we actually like Amtrak, afterall!

 

[benjibear]

When it comes down to it, we ALL are a little crazy...

You have to watch out for the people that say they are not crazy.

 

[guest in the west]

Corcoran station gets released prisoners. You can tell because they carry their possessions in plastic bags and pay cash for tickets. No, they don't get tickets purchased for them but they do pay cash, and their release papers serve as ID.

Yes, many prisoners once freed or let out on parole board the San Joaquins in Corcoran because large medium-security California State prison is nearby. The conductors sometimes refer to the plastic bags that the prisoners carry as "Valley Samsonite."

An interesting note about this state prison is that a number of its prisoners have over the past few years have developed "Valley fever' which is caused by a fungus in the soil and inhaled during dust storms or while working in the fields. An estimated 200 prisoners annually in the eight state prisons within a 75-mile radius of Corcoran of come down the disease, which can be very costly to treat.

 

[Guest]

I've never asked another passenger if they were just released from prison, so I can not answer this question accurately based on my experiences on my many Amtrak trips.

 

[Just-Thinking-51]

Yes from Effingham to Chicago, a group of men in grey work out / sweat suits. Half the group was up front getting loud, the other half in back, quiet as mice. No issues just though the dozen guy wear the same outfit carry sealed boxes, was not the best way of sending people home.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Well, you have to get released prisoners back to society somehow. So you have to buy a ticket for them. Most prisoners are not that dangerous, and they probably wouldn't cherish an immeidate return to jail.

Don't look too weak or special, and no one will attack you. T-shirts, jeans, sneakers. Preferably dirty sneaker. You want to look poor yet pack a punch, because poor people usually don't get attacked.

 

[June the Coach Rider]

Corcoran station gets released prisoners. You can tell because they carry their possessions in plastic bags and pay cash for tickets. No, they don't get tickets purchased for them but they do pay cash, and their release papers serve as ID.

I know of many people that I have traveled with that carry their possessions in plastic bags and pay cash for their tickets and they are NOT released prisoners. I have to agree with The_Traveler, there is nothing different from a released prisoner than anyone else. This is a strange question, I am not liking the fact that some people are profiling people just because of how they carry their goods.

 

[MikefromCrete]

Well, you have to get released prisoners back to society somehow. So you have to buy a ticket for them. Most prisoners are not that dangerous, and they probably wouldn't cherish an immeidate return to jail.
Don't look too weak or special, and no one will attack you. T-shirts, jeans, sneakers. Preferably dirty sneaker. You want to look poor yet pack a punch, because poor people usually don't get attacked.

That's some pretty weird advice, Swadian, but you do travel by bus a lot.

 

[momof5]

We had a released gentleman on the TE a couple years back. He was very quiet and I only knew he was out because I heard him mention it to his seat mate. I had noticed that he never ate and only drank the water from the dispenser. We had brought a lot of food with us so I just casually asked if he would take some off our hands in a joking manner so as not to offend. He was very gracious and very appreciative. I would take a dozen of him to some of the others we have had on the trains.

 

[rrdude]

[quote name=Swadian Hardcore" http://nbliberal.ca/blog/post-news/rail-service-essential-to-the-north/post="464879" timestamp="1377477583]Well, you have to get released prisoners back to society somehow. So you have to buy a ticket for them. Most prisoners are not that dangerous, and they probably wouldn't cherish an immeidate return to jail.

Don't look too weak or special, and no one will attack you. T-shirts, jeans, sneakers. Preferably dirty sneaker. You want to look poor yet pack a punch, because poor people usually don't get attacked.

***? Dude, I just don't even have a comeback for that.......

 

[Alexandria Nick]

Corcoran station gets released prisoners. You can tell because they carry their possessions in plastic bags and pay cash for tickets. No, they don't get tickets purchased for them but they do pay cash, and their release papers serve as ID.

I know of many people that I have traveled with that carry their possessions in plastic bags and pay cash for their tickets and they are NOT released prisoners. I have to agree with The_Traveler, there is nothing different from a released prisoner than anyone else. This is a strange question, I am not liking the fact that some people are profiling people just because of how they carry their goods.

For instance, me in college!

Once I even fashioned a golf umbrella and a cloth sack into some sort of slightly upper scale hobo bindle.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

We had a released gentleman on the TE a couple years back. He was very quiet and I only knew he was out because I heard him mention it to his seat mate. I had noticed that he never ate and only drank the water from the dispenser. We had brought a lot of food with us so I just casually asked if he would take some off our hands in a joking manner so as not to offend. He was very gracious and very appreciative. I would take a dozen of him to some of the others we have had on the trains.

He's probably not a violent criminal and really got some good lessons from a stay in Corrections. Too many arrogant passengers on Amtrak these days, I'm happy that this man is respectful and nice. Maybe he got so tired of the prison food that he cherishes everything in freedom.

Again proving that ex-felons aren't always bad, but repeat offenders happen too.

Well, you have to get released prisoners back to society somehow. So you have to buy a ticket for them. Most prisoners are not that dangerous, and they probably wouldn't cherish an immeidate return to jail.

Don't look too weak or special, and no one will attack you. T-shirts, jeans, sneakers. Preferably dirty sneaker. You want to look poor yet pack a punch, because poor people usually don't get attacked.

***? Dude, I just don't even have a comeback for that.......

What's wrong? I understand that people who work for Amtrak, like you, probably won't like this to worsen the company's reputation, but the poorer you seem, the less trouble you have, as long as you don't act suspicously.

Well, you have to get released prisoners back to society somehow. So you have to buy a ticket for them. Most prisoners are not that dangerous, and they probably wouldn't cherish an immeidate return to jail.
Don't look too weak or special, and no one will attack you. T-shirts, jeans, sneakers. Preferably dirty sneakers. You want to look poor yet pack a punch, because poor people usually don't get attacked.

That's some pretty weird advice, Swadian, but you do travel by bus a lot.

Weird advice, possibly, but you have to fit it with the stereotypical "crowd" to avoid problems. You have to disguise yourself as another "poor wanderer" or a "long-distance runaway" so that others won't attack you. That dosen't mean you're actually what the others think you are.

OK, maybe not that "weird", but at least sociaty's normal outfit. I'm not saying to look suspicous, but merely to look obviously poor.

Hey guys, we all don't want to get attacked and end up like the poor guy on GCTC that got murdered.

 

[rickycourtney]

Corcoran station gets released prisoners. You can tell because they carry their possessions in plastic bags and pay cash for tickets. No, they don't get tickets purchased for them but they do pay cash, and their release papers serve as ID.

The next station south on the San Joaquin route, Wasco also has a prison nearby. You'll occasionally see released prisoners getting on there too.

I know of many people that I have traveled with that carry their possessions in plastic bags and pay cash for their tickets and they are NOT released prisoners. I have to agree with The_Traveler, there is nothing different from a released prisoner than anyone else. This is a strange question, I am not liking the fact that some people are profiling people just because of how they carry their goods.

It's not really profiling. It's the truth.

I'm a frequent rider of the first southbound San Joaquin train on Saturdays... it seems to be a popular one for the prison guards.

I've seen them drop the guys off in a plain white van a few times. The released prisoners all wear the same outfit (plain white T-shirts) and they have all their cash in a small manilla envelope instead of a wallet. With the advent of eTicketing, the conductors usually sit them in the same area of a car as they go grab a paper ticket book and a ton of change from the cafe.

That being said, I've had a few of the guys speak to me. They've been very polite to everyone (saying yes sir and yes ma'am) and they frequently have lots of questions about the train (most have probably never taken the San Joaquin).