California's program is not without controversy, as the inmates are paid little for dangerous and difficult work. Many participants, however, say they appreciated the opportunity.
“We had a service the day after the shooting at Second Presbyterian when this room was still a crime scene, and people of all faiths came to us, prayed with us and gave us love. That’s what I ...
"No one treated us like inmates; we were firefighters," Desmond wrote in the 2023 article ... "But for me, it exposed me to a career I now love." California's Conservation (Fire) Camp Program ...