Prisoners take the stage at Hattieville

Every performer loves to play to a packed house and while the crowd assembled today on the football field at Hattieville Prison could only be called a captive audience, there is no denying that they got their money?s worth.

Janelle Chanona, Reporting

There are variety shows, and then there are variety shows. This latest version comes courtesy of the inmates of Hattieville Prison who have used their own life experiences as artistic inspiration.

Mark Godoy, Chief Officer, Prison

?We?re having singing, rapping, skits, dancing, and you name it.?

According to Chief Officer Mark Godoy, the event is a highlight for the prisoners.

Mark Godoy

? We got an overwhelming response because so far as the event is taking place, we have so many people who want to participate in this event. And I believe because of the time factor we will be unable to have everybody participating in this event.?

Godoy maintains that inmate participation in such events is crucial to their rehabilitation into constructive citizens.

Mark Godoy

?They have done, committed crimes against society yes, but that doesn?t mean that because they have committed against society, they will be placed in prison and be forgotten. We need to show them the Kolbe?s aim is about rehabilitation and I believe this is one of the best form of rehabilitation to let them know that they have talents and we could help them exercise their talents so that whenever they leave here, they know exactly what they need to do and what they can do out there in society.?

For Shane Espinoza, the variety show gives the men, women and youth of Hattieville Prison a rare opportunity to develop positive, and empowering, attributes.

Shane Espinoza, Inmate

?We have it very often because then we find out that there are people in here with a lot of talent and they are very talented. So we just came together with the staff of the department and we said let?s try and do something positive. We can?t just be sitting behind here wasting time and we have people here with talents. So, we try to educate these people to let them show their talents so that they might build up more courage so that when they get out here, that can also follow it up on the outside.?

?They are going to see people that can do thing and is around them and they won?t believe this person can rap; this person can sing. It?s just exciting and they love it.?

In all, one hundred and sixty inmates participated in this afternoon?s variety show, which was staged as part of Prison Week. The total prison population at Hattieville is one thousand, one hundred and thirty-seven.