Inmates who are learning to cook prepared a Mexican-inspired menu for the renaming dedication event at a Texas prison in Gatesville last week.
The Mountain View Unit, which is a female prison with up to 645 inmates including those on death row, was renamed the Patrick L. O’Daniel Unit in honor of the former Texas Board of Criminal Justice (TBCJ) chair who served from 2017 to 2023. The board unanimously approved a motion to make the name change earlier this year. motion “The TBCJ and [Texas Department of Criminal Justice] express their deep appreciation for Mr. O’Daniel’s loyal service, integrity, and tenacity,” said TBCJ chair Eric Nichols in a statement. “The renaming of the Mountain View Unit to the Patrick L. O’Daniel Unit serves as a fitting tribute to his remarkable contributions.”
The culinary arts program available at the prison is one of the many programs O’Daniel worked to create during his time to inspire positive growth. It is managed by the Windham School District, which runs 98 campuses in correctional facilities across the state.
The district’s programs in life skills, academics, and career and technical education aim to prepare eligible inmates for their release into the community by providing them with “the tools and knowledge necessary” for success, according to its website. Windham’s culinary arts program is offered at 18 different campuses across the district. At the Crain campus, students carefully prepared a Mexican-inspired variety of dishes for the dedication of the Patrick L. O’Daniel Unit on May 3 under the guidance of instructors Joyce Johnson, Martha Robinson, and Dexter Spalding. Enchiladas with different fillings, charro, refried beans, Spanish rice, deviled eggs, and more were available. A tres leches cake for dessert concluded the meal on a sweet note.“Windham School District is extremely proud of these women for their demonstration of talent and dedication at the Patrick L. O’Daniel Unit Dedication Ceremony,” said Kristina J. Hartman, Windham’s superintendent, in a
press release
“Their culinary expertise not only displayed their skill, but also honored the legacy of Mr. O’Daniel, whose unwavering support has significantly impacted our district and its students.”
A federal study from 2021 revealed that the recidivism of formerly incarcerated individuals was 45.8% within five years. This tendency to commit crimes again increases to over 80% when prisoners have juvenile records. However, other research has indicated that the likelihood of re-offending decreases by around 43% when inmates receive vocational training and education in prison..
The Dallas Police Department has been implementing a three-step crime reduction
over the past three years, although a significant shortage of officers has resulted in mixed outcomes so far, as rate reported by The Dallas Express drops . Efforts to implement the final step, which involves a focused deterrence program, are still ongoing. This approach, which aims to address the underlying causes of crime,
originated in Boston in the 1990s. plan By involving various individuals from law enforcement and the community, the program aims to reduce criminal behavior among those most likely to offend. For example, as of late covered by The Dallas Express, DPD started collaborating with the South Dallas Employment Project (SDEP) last year to persuade repeat offenders to leave a life of crime. The initiative involves making gang members and violent criminals aware of the dangers of their lifestyle while providing them with opportunities to achieve stable financial outcomes through legal methods. emerged “We have two options: If someone has served their sentence and paid for their crime, we can assist them in becoming a productive, taxpaying citizen, or we can continue to see them reoffend and then return to prison where the taxpayer supports them,” Wes Jurey, a managing partner of SDEP, previously told
The Dallas Express reported by Inmates studying the culinary arts prepared a Mexican-inspired menu for guests at a renaming dedication event at a Texas prison in Gatesville last week. The Mountain View Unit, a female prison housing up to 645 inmates, including those on death row, was renamed the Patrick L. O’Daniel Unit in honor of the former Texas […], DPD began working with the South Dallas Employment Project (SDEP) last year to convince repeat offenders to ditch a life of crime. The effort involves raising awareness among gang members and violent criminals about the risks of their lifestyle while offering them opportunities to achieve stable financial outcomes through legal means.
“We have two choices: If someone has done their time and paid for their crime, we can help them become a productive, taxpaying citizen, or we can continue to see them recidivate and then go back into incarceration where the taxpayer supports them,” Wes Jurey, a managing partner of SDEP, previously told The Dallas Express.
