Non Designated Programming Facilities...

     Many have asked me to explain the differences between GP, SNY, PC and NDPF yards, so I've decided to provide a little enlightenment. First of, all, let's explain the acronyms. In California, GP means General Population. It refers to somebody in prison who walks the "mainline," somebody who's not SNY or PC. SNY stands for Sensitive Needs Yard. It's very similar to PC, but generally not taken as seriously. This category typically includes anyone convicted of a sex offense, people who've dropped out of gangs, ex law enforcement, former prosecutors and judges, people who've testified at trial, rats and snitches who rat and snitch just for the thrill of it, and people who just wanted away from the violence associated with the mainline. PC stands for Protective Custody. It's much more exclusive, reserved for high notoriety cases like Charles Manson. They don't go ANYWHERE until the entire yard is placed on lockdown for their protection. Finally, there's the NDPF. It stands for Non-Designated Programming Facility. It refers to all Level I and II Facilities. Before, such a facility was either for GP or SNY, they were NEVER housed together, now, however, they're being integrated on the same yard.

     So, what does this mean? Let's begin by examining prison politics, which is just a fancy way of referring to the rules and regulations set in place by the men and women serving time. You may not like these rules, and that's fine, you don't have to (I certainly don't), but like them or not, they're there for a reason, and there are plenty of people there to enforce the rules.

     One of the rules is that you NEVER pass up an opportunity to beat down somebody from SNY or PC. If you do, your shotcallers will order you to be dealt with. If you're lucky, it's a beatdown, followed by orders to do sonething, usually a stabbing. Personally, I've never played prison politics, but I have a very...unique way of doing my time.

     Another rule pertains to what's called 50/50, or "soft yards." Places that aren't technically SNY yards, but only because CDCR hasn't given them the official designation. These are places that, for whatever reason, are filled with the kind of people who fit the criteria for SNY, but somehow managed to get sent to a soft yard instead. If somebody from the mainline gets sent there, their rules of conduct allow them only3 days to assault somebody who's already there. They're "supposed" to take out "one of their own." If they're a gang member, they're supposed to take out somebody who dropped out of their gang, but it's not like the paperwork will reflect this, so they usually just target.the weak. I seen a 60 year old man get a serious beatdown one day. The new arrival asked for a target, and the cop pointed him out, informing him the guy was a pedofile. He was, but the real reason was because this guy was constantly filing paperwork against the prison.

     So, the CDCR got the bright idea to integrate GP and SNY together on the Level I and II yards. Naturally, this is something we're ALL opposed to. GP guys don't want to go to a former SNY yard because it means they have to assault somebody and blow their chances at parole, and SNY guys don't want to be transferred someplace where they'll face a certain beatdown by overwhelming numbers, followed by a Rules Violation Report (RVR, or 115). Despite the fact that all are in agreement, including CDCR officers, management continues to integrate these yards. Active gang members are suddenly confronted with the very people who turned in evidence to the CDCR to complete the debriefing process and escape the SHU (another story in and of itself), and I don't need to explain what happens then. I've seen guys get off the bus, and within seconds, attack the person closest to them. I was in transit when one guy was taken out of restraints and began beating the guy next to  for being gay, while that guy was shackled and handcuffed, with his arms chained to his waist. The guards just stood there laughing. Naturally, the attacker received a writeup, but somehow, I doubt that knowledge made the victim's pain and suffering go away.

     This is the harsh reality of the prison system, but what you don't know, what you couldn't possibly know unless you've lived it, is that these rules evolved for a reason. Initially, it was for protection, but as with anything in CDCR, it became corrupted over time. Again, I don't agree with these rules, and by sharing them, I may have just signed my own death warrant, but I started this for a reason, to change the system, and that includes the way we operate just as much as CDCR.

Note: the following was taken directly from the CDCR website.

Non-Designated Programming Facility Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Introduction The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has undergone historic changes in recent years, and the department is placing a greater emphasis on rehabilitation and successful reintegration of offenders back into the community. In the past, CDCR was faced with escalating violence in prisons, and there was concern over housing certain inmates in General Population. As a result, Sensitive Needs Yards (SNY) were created back in the 1990s.

Currently, about one-third of our over 129,000 inmates are housed in a Sensitive Needs Yard, which means California prisons have the largest protective-custody population in the nation. It also means new SNY gangs have emerged, while violence in prisons continues to be a challenge. This well-intended policy simply has not worked.

In this period of significant criminal justice reform, CDCR is creating a system where inmates are responsible for their own conduct. It is our belief that inmates should live up to behavioral standards in prison, just like they will out in communities once they are released. That is the reason for the creation and phasing-in of the Non-Designated Programming Facilities.

What are Non-Designated Programming Facilities? Non-Designated Programming Facilities are facilities that house inmates together regardless of their designation (Sensitive Needs Yard (SNY) or General Population (GP)) in order to provide greater access to self-help, educational, vocational and rehabilitative programs. The department is doing this as one of the efforts to focus on an inmate’s rehabilitation, while safely housing them in the least-restrictive facilities possible. These facilities are intended to provide an environment focused on positive rehabilitative programming for inmates who abstain from violence.

No program shall segregate inmates based on prior SNY or GP housing status, and inmates are expected to participate in the recreation yard, job assignments, education/vocation assignments, inmate activity groups, religious services, and other programs and activities.

When is this transition happening? As of May 2018, multiple facilities and health care programs have already converted to NonDesignated Programming Facilities status. CDCR’s Level I and Level II housing facilities, as well as some higher-level facilities with primarily health care or mental health missions, will be slowly transitioned. All firehouses, Minimum-Support Facilities, and Camps will transition by October 2018.

Why did CDCR implement Non-Designated Programming? Because CDCR is committed to expanding rehabilitative opportunities for inmates in order to prepare returning citizens for greater personal success once they are released. Many of these opportunities are more accessible in lower level facilities. The focus of Non-Designated Programming Facilities is to provide an environment for inmates demonstrating positive programming and a desire to not get involved in the destructive cycles of violence and criminal activity/thinking.

Can an inmate volunteer for transfer and placement at a higher security level because they do not want to house in an NDFP? Pursuant to state law, CDCR places inmates in the least-restrictive security level appropriate based on their individual case factors. Allowing inmates to transfer to more restrictive, highersecurity levels based solely on the inmate volunteering for such placement is not appropriate.

How will the inmate population be advised of this change? The administration at each transitioning prison has developed a multidisciplinary team to oversee the transition to a Non-Designated Programming Facility, including conducting rounds and town halls to meet with staff, inmates, Inmate Advisory Councils and Inmate Family Councils in order to accommodate questions and support the transition. Institutions will also closely coordinate with Health Care staff relative to these efforts. Additionally, Non-Designated Programming Facilities shall be discussed with the inmate during classification committee reviews.

How will institutions handle inmates who engage in violent or threatening behavior towards other inmates in a Non-Designated Programming Facility? The safety and security of the inmates in our custody is our first priority, and our staff is well trained to ensure that continues to be the priority. Furthermore, any inmate who engages in violent or threatening behavior toward other inmates housed in a Non-Designated Programming Facility shall be subject to disciplinary sanctions. Potential transfer of inmates due to enemy concerns, or transfer to a higher security level based on classification committee review, continue to be appropriate per current policy.

Ralph Diaz announces "retirement."

SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) Secretary Ralph Diaz will be retiring effective October 1, 2020 following almost three decades of service to the people of California.

“I am grateful for Ralph’s dedication and commitment to public service, safety, and rehabilitation in our state’s prisons. He has overseen incredible transformation as well as unparalleled challenges at CDCR during his time there and has truly met the moment with leadership and humility,” said Governor Newsom. “I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”

“For the past 29 years, I have worked at CDCR alongside a team of thousands of men and women who work hard every day to serve our great state. Having served as Secretary has been an incredible honor, and I want to thank Governor Newsom for his leadership, support, and resolve,” said Secretary Diaz. “I am confident that our Department’s transformative focus on rehabilitation will continue to result in safer prisons, healthier communities, and lower recidivism.”

Diaz has been instrumental in the state prison system’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, mobilizing many resources and staff to ensure the health and safety of staff and incarcerated people alike. He led the decompression of the state’s prisons, which has resulted in the release of over 19,000 people, resulting in the lowest prison population since the 1990s. Additionally, he has worked tirelessly with public health and law enforcement partners to ensure collaboration and cooperation during these unprecedented times. Response and mitigation efforts have been encouraging so far, as of yesterday, the number of COVID-19 cases in CDCR was the lowest recorded since late May.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Diaz led the Department through historic opportunities and a focus on restorative justice. Under his leadership, the Department implemented innovative programs and credit-earning opportunities; improved the reentry process through strengthened collaboration with numerous community partners; and placed emphasis on treating all staff, volunteers, incarcerated people and their loved ones with humanity and respect.

Secretary Diaz has led CDCR since September 2018 and has served in a variety of roles at the Department since 1991. 

Governor Newsom has also announced Kathleen Allison will be named Secretary of CDCR effective October 1.

“This is a critical time for our state’s prisons, and I am very pleased Kathy has agreed to take on this important challenge. She embodies the leadership and experience that she has learned through more than 30 years of experience at CDCR, including her experience as a health care professional. I am confident she will continue to lead CDCR through innovative transformation, including focusing on rehabilitative opportunities for individuals both inside and outside of prison, and continuing the path for restorative justice,” added Governor Newsom.

“This has been a year of great challenge for our entire state, and I am so proud of the work our men and women have done, and continue to do, on a daily basis,” said Allison. “I want to thank the Governor for this opportunity to serve the people of California.”

Allison has served in a variety of management positions at CDCR headquarters, including Undersecretary of Operations and Director of the Division of Adult Institutions. She was Warden at the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison, Corcoran. Allison began her career at CDCR as a medical technical assistant in 1987. She is a licensed registered nurse.

#CDCR #corrections #news #ralphdiaz #kathleenallison #secretary #leadership California Governor

Long Distance Date Night

     So, your loved one is in prison and you want to enjoy a little bit if romance with him? Well, check out this creative idea from one of my followers. Her lover decided to create a "date night." He cut out pictures of various items, what they'd eat, what they'd wear,  etc. Naturally, he doesn't have much if a selection, but this is one of those times where it's truly the thought that counts.

     So Lily, we'll call her that to protect her identity, and she'll understand why I chose that name, Lily's loved one is serving a life sentence in the feds. Unless the law changes, seriously, she'll never have the pleasure of living with him, unless, of course, she undergoes a sex change operation and commits a federal offense, but even true love has limitations. Still, despite knowing this, Lily, who met him in prison, has made the decision that she wants to be his, forever. She's willing to make any and all sacrifices necessary, and she's willing to endure the long distance relationship through the mail. It's not easy, but the mail does allow people to get to really know each other, so she's chosen to focus on what she has, as opposed to what she's missing put on.

     Let's be no honest with each other, shall we? A long distance relationship isn't for everyone. Some of us need that physical closeness, but for those willing to give it a shot, those willing to experiment, they quickly discover that the love is no less true. Distance does not, and cannot, change true love. This isn't to say it's not difficult, because, clearly it is, but what relationship isn't? But if you're willing to invest a little time and effort, if you're willing to think outside the box, you just might find yourself in one of the most rewarding relationships of your life.

     A lot of people mistakenly believe those of us in prison have nothing to offer, that were too broken and twisted to bother with, but nothing, and I mean NOTHING, could be further from the truth. Most of us want desperately to be loved, and even more desperately to love in return. We live in extreme loneliness and isolation, some if us actually crying ourselves to sleep at the realization of just how lonely we truly are. We're not perfect, far from it, but the overwhelming majority of us are more than willing to put the work in to make a relationship work from in here, and hopefully in preparation for our release because, after all, isn't this the ultimate goal?

     My first thought at hearing about this was that it was sweet, but it would never work. It's just pictures cut out, mostly from a Walkenhorst's catalog, but the more I thought about it, the more I began to understand. This guy spent hours in his cell, finding the perfect pictures to craft a story behind, and Lily, bless her heart, recognized his efforts, and attempts, to be romantic. So, they now have a special routine. They send each other letters like this, and on a predetermined day and at a predetermined time, they'll open that letter, and read what their loved one has to say. It's by no means a substitute, but it does allow for a certain level of intimacy not otherwise experienced.

     And if you notice, there's room for a bit of humor, too. Even through the mail, he's trying to practice social distancing by sendung her the picture of the hand sanitizer. 😆 Oh yeah, let's not forget the sexual aspect, either because, well, a woman has needs, right? He might not be there in person, but a well written sex story can steam things up in a pinch!

Tonight's dinner...

     Have you ever wondered what we eat in prison? Below is a picture of one of the "better" meals. That thing that looks like a meat patty? It's not. It's 7% beef, 7% turkey, 7% chicken and the rest is a vegetable protein, whatever the Hell that is (if you're a vegetarian or vegan, please save your comments, as this is disgusting). The Apple (missing) was rotten. On hindsight, I should have photographed it, but I turned it down.

     The rice is overcooked, as is the vegetables. Oh, and in case you're wondering, one of those square things is a piece of cornbread and one is a piece of cake, although I gave up years ago trying to figure out which was which. The truly sad thing is that this is actually one of the better meals.

     I almost forgot. Tonight's drink was warm, spoiled milk. Absolutely disgusting. 😥

The BOP screws the pooch again...

The following is an email sent to me by a follower. For obvious reasons, I've had to redact the names. It was sent because the Federal BOP is once again, screwing the pooch on their #COVID19 response.

Hello this id REDACTED, I wanted to give you an update on something that I just found out on Friday, the 14th of August. It was brought to my attention that someone in C building has tested positive for Covid-19.  I know that doesn't sound like anything of importance but let me share with you the relevance of this information.  The only reason this person was tested was because he was scheduled to go home so they placed him in E unit for quarantine before he left.  When he was tested they found out he was positive, and knowing that he had came from unit C which is and has been considered recovered for over 3 months now they, meaning the administration  has NOT tested anyone else in unit C.  Now the tests that the institution gave was done approximately on April 27th.  Now based on every scienticfic data that has been collected Covid-19 or the remnents of it will only last up to 8 weeks.  This individual tested positive on the testing that was done in April, so now after 100 days he tests positive again.  It was also told to me that this gentlemen isn't the only person who tested positve for the second time.  Meaning the accuracy of the test can't be the issue because from what I have heard it has been 3 positive tests in E unit.  And from having my wife check the BOP website no new cases have been reported here at FCI Terminal Island.  This directly contradicts the testimony that the director said to Congress in his debreifing hearing.  He said that all new cases are posted on the website daily at 3PM.  It also leads me to belive that the reason the prison is keeping the information secret is so that can continue to proceed with their plans to open the compound up.  It also leads me to believe with good reason that if they share these new positive tests about inmates that have recovered now testing positive again would contridict their own arguements they have been using saying that inmates can't catch Covid-19 again.  There is a potential new outbreak of Covid-19 on the compound.  I say this because it was also brought to my attention that on Wednesday the 12th a correctional officer was on duty and had Covid 19.  They had to close commissary do to what happened and the inmates working in the commissary with her was NOT tested to see if they had contracted it.  Now we find that C building has inmates that have tested positive, these inmates all were considered recovered.  In my unit B, an inmate by the name of REDACTED asked to be tested because he is displaying the exact same symptoms as he did when he caught Covid 19 in March.  That time they prescribed him with an antibiotic for his sore throat and symptoms, and they just did the same thing.  But what they didn't do was test him to see if he in fact has caught Covid-19 for a second time.  I seriously believe that the virus has hit the institution for a second time and many of the inmates' antibodies have worn off, and they are catching the virus again.  This could potentially lead to another bad outbreak and more loss of life.  This prison is purposely not testing so they do not have to report new cases, and when they do test and get positive tests they are now keeping those positive tests hidden.  They are trying to keep that the prison is having another outbreak secret.  It obviously would contradict their claims in court about how they are keeping inmates seperate, and that they are providing inmates with a safe enviroment.  As I told REDACTED over the phone, they have filled the units back up to roughly 90% capacity, they are mixing inmates from different housing units, and they are talking about transfering inmates.  But if they know inmates can potentially be sick again, they would be knowingly transfering and mixing inmates who can be infected.   The prison knows if their numbers of cases go up again it will look really bad and show that inmates can get infected twice, and that the prison is unable to stop the spread of this virus, so their only means to show that they are keeping us safe is to hide the data.  I will do my best to provide you with the names of the inmates who have tested positive so that you can look into this matter, but as I said I found this out from people who would know this to be 100% true.  Terminal Island has inmates who are contracting the virus twice, and it is spreading again and they are not being honest with disclosure.  Thank you, this is REDACTED

They couldn't take it anymore...

Attack on Correctional Officers at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility Under Investigation

AUGUST 16, 2020

SAN DIEGO –Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility (RJD) authorities are investigating an inmate attack on six correctional officers and those involved could face charges of attempted murder of a peace officer.

At 3:55 p.m. approximately 20 inmates were on a facility recreation yard when some began an attack on six correctional officers.

The inmates involved ignored commands to stop the violence and less-lethal measures used. A warning shot was issued and quelled the attack. Additional officers immediately responded to the scene. It is currently unknown how many inmates participated in the attack and is part of the ongoing investigation.

Medical staff responded and began treating officers and inmates. Six officers, with injuries including stab wounds, lacerations and possible broken bones were transported to an area hospital for a higher level of care. Two inmates were also transported to outside hospitals for treatment. Other inmates involved were taken to the prison’s medical facility for care.

Several weapons were recovered at the scene.

The names of those suspected to be involved in the attack are not being released due to the ongoing investigation.

The incident is being investigated by the Investigative Services Unit at the prison. Inmates involved will be rehoused as appropriate, including being placed in the Administrative Segregation Unit. Movement will be limited at the prison to aid the investigation, and the Office of the Inspector General has been notified.

RJD opened in 1987 and houses approximately 3,624 minimum-, medium-, and maximum-security inmates. RJD’s primary mission is to provide long-term housing and professional rehabilitative services for inmates of all custody levels.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

     Don't let the narrative shift. This didn't happen because we're violent monsters in need of incarceration, it happened because they've had their knees in our necks for years. An already tense situation was exacerbated by the #COVID19 lockdown, the loss of visiting, the inability to receive our mail, the officers refusing to wear their masks, the continued cell searches during a pandemic (which spreads #COVID19), the half rations and lack of hot meals, the refusal to give us clean sheets, the refusal to launder our clothes, our inability to receive additional soap or hand sanitizer, the failure to give us tablets to use during our inability to receive mail or visits, and so much more. Officers weren't assaulted because we're monsters, they were assaulted because we snapped. Trust me, the consequences of something like this are incredibly severe, so whatever set it off was serious.

Assistance Needed...

I don't know the individual situations of your loved ones, so I can't sit here and say it is or isn't possible to get them out early. What I can do us use my considerable knowledge of the system and networking skills to put together a template for a petition for a writ of habeas corpus. So, as you were all out there protesting (thank you again), I was reaching out to various contacts in an attempt to obtain what I needed. At long last, I've finished what I could do and am ready to move to that final step. What I need from you ladies is access to somebody with experience in creating fillable .pdf forms. My plan is to take an existing .pdf and add several pages to the center and at the end. I also need this person to type up a page or two of footnotes, and then renumber them upon completion. Finally, after we've completed this, I'll either remove the sections pertaining to San Quentin, or make a few blank spots for the viewer to complete (ie, name of prison, number of infections, etc.). Don't be fooled. If you don't possess the skills and experience needed,.this will frustrate you to no end, but if you do have the skills, it should only take you 2 sessions of an hour or 2 each to complete everything. If you think you can help, not for me, please contact me and we'll go from there. Once finished, we'll have two templates to choose from. One specifically for San Quentin, and one for everywhere else. I should point out that I will need to send it back to you to make a few necessary revisions, but this will be along the lines of removing a word or phrase and turning it a fillable section.

On behalf of everyone, thank you. If you'd like to get an idea of what I'm looking to do, check out the following links.

Blank habeas corpus petition

https://drive.google.com/file/d/10crMW2B9ogBxBV-JtkIGPomDEekeLRJY/view?usp=drivesdk

Attorney's petition

https://drive.google.com/file/d/10fHNJVDfqZuMDziu7PGZW139NWwf7nym/view?usp=drivesdk

Extrapolated section

https://drive.google.com/file/d/10b_IuKKDPZEr6ZOOZiMBrA4d4dlGBQUn/view?usp=drivesdk

Losing My Go Fund Me Account?

This is the email I just received from.Go Fund Me regarding my fundraiser. Clearly, somebody has complained about my campaign in an attempt to shut me down, and I can think of only 1 entity whose employees are that evil. Can we say #CDCR, boys and girls? You've definitely pissed off the wrong person...

Thank you for choosing GoFundMe. Our Trust & Safety team has received questions about the authenticity of your campaign.

To help our team address these concerns and clear up any confusion, please make sure the following information is clear on your campaign and in your reply to this message:

Your plan for how all the donations will be spent or handled

Your connection to the intended recipient(s) of your campaign’s donations

Anything else that might help your community better understand the purpose of your campaign

As a helpful note, the quickest way for our team to disregard these reports and help you move forward is to review any available supporting documentation. Please attach to your response invoices, receipts, bank statements, or related documentation for the expenses listed on your campaign.

If for any reason GoFundMe is contacted by law enforcement, your response could be shared as a part of an investigation. All future withdrawals will remain paused until we receive a response from you and this review is complete. Please reply directly to this email, and a member of our Trust & Safety team will get back to you within one business day.

Failure to respond to this email within 48 hours will result in the removal of your account and a potential refund of donations made to your campaign.

Thank you,

The GoFundMe Team

UPDATE:

Thank you for clarifying that.

I’ve reviewed your campaign and have lifted the precautionary hold on the withdrawals.

If you have any questions regarding your funds, we recommend reviewing these Help Center articles:

• Important Verification and Withdrawal Deadlines
• How to Withdraw Money
• Documents needed for Withdrawing

For any other further assistance, please visit our Help Center.

Best regards,

Nate

GoFundMe Trust & Safety team

60 Day Victim Notification Notice UPDATED 8-7-2020

Included below is a copy of an email I sent to CDCR regarding the 60 day victim notification rule, and their response. As you can see, the 60 rule has been temporarily waived, which means I am now being held against my will.

The law requires 60 days notice to victims of violent crimes, such as rape, to be given 60 days notice if any changes to the offenfer's release date. Does this apply to release date changes given as a result off the 12 weeks credit issued under Gov. C. §8658? Or is this requirement waived in light of the imminent threat to life? I'm not opposed if the 12 weeks means I'm not given 60 days notice. I've known for years that he was getting out this year. The difference is only 12 weeks, I was just curious.

Thank you.

Hello,

You are correct. Normally, we would we notify registered victims, 60 days before the offender release date. However, unfortunately, during these unprecedented times, as soon as we know an offender is being released due to COVID-19, we make every attempt notify to victim’s and victim’s next of kin.

Robert Love

Staff Services Analyst

Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services

(OVSRS)

Robert.Love@cdcr.ca.gov

A Bad Case of PTSD...

     Going to prison for years, or even decades, after our crimes means we don't get an opportunity to see the impacts of our actions on our victims. Tonight, I had a conversation with a victim of domestic violence, and I got to see first hand the impacts of domestic violence on somebody up close and personal. I've never been so happy that I've never put my hands on a woman as I was then.

     As we had our 2nd marathon phone call in just as many days, I heard a piercing beep coming through the phone. I recognized it instantly for what it was, a smoke detector, and it didn't faze me a bit, but it terrified her to her core. She froze and you could hear the panic in her voice. Even when she finally realized it was the smoke detector, she couldn't overcome her fear. A single sound in the middle of the night had completely transformed a strong woman into a bundle of exposed nerves, terrified and on the verge of tears. It sent out its piercing wail several more times, not the single chirp it takes hours to track down, but the wail of an active fire, only to stop as soon as I finally convinced her to take a look.

     It must have taken a full 20 minutes to talk her into climbing up on a chair to take a closer look, and even then, I couldn't convince her to unplug the smoke detector from the house's wiring, because she was afraid of being electrocuted, but I was able to get her to clear the cobwebs out if it. Apparently that did the trick, because it stopped, and didn't repeat, but I could still hear the panic in her voice.

     It's difficult to fault her for feeling the way she did. We talked until 6 am, and she explained what happened to her. Turns out that she'd been horribly abused by her ex, a man who'd returned to sexually assault her daughter. Het daughter, bless her heart, had the foresight to strategically place a hidden camera to catch him in the act, after which time she showed it to her mother.

     Like most victims of domestic violence, finding out about her daughter's violation was enough to send her into action, and she called the police. Unfortunately, despite photographic evidence, he was not arrested, and he came over seeking to silence her and her daughter. Out of respect for her pending criminal trial, I'll simply say this woman is an inspiration to women everywhere, but instead if giving her a medal, they arrested her and confiscated her guns. Out on bail now, living alone with her children and terrified out of her mind. Every sound terrifies her into thinking he's going to rise from the grave to seek his revenge, and sight of a police car has her convinced she's about to return to jail.for protecting herself, and her young daughter, from what's been described to me as the ultimate predator.

     We never see the effects our actions have on our victims, which is a shame because, if we could see them as if seen her, we'd never commit a violent crime again.

Helping a Loved One in Prison Deal with Depression

     If you've got a loved one in prison, then chances are they're suffering from depression. Tonight's entry is meant to provide my readers with ideas of what kinds of things you, the person in the free world, can do to make things easier for your incarcerated loved one.

     First of all, the power of the written word is often underestimated. Letters not only communicate your thoughts and feelings right then and there, it also provides your loved one with moments he can read and reread anytime the mood strikes him. And trust me when I tell you, there's nothing quite like the joy of receiving something in the mail frim somebody you love.

     Being in prison gives you a lot of time to think, and while that might seem like a good idea, it's not. Too much time to think gives us more time to realize just how depressing our lives are, so try to provide us with things to occupy our minds. When you write, include puzzles, riddles, word searched, jokes, anything to occupy our minds, and more importantly, to provide us with an education. If it were me, I'd search the Internet for new case law to send. It accomplishes several things. First, it provides him with a way to stay up to date on what's going on with the law, while at the same time teaching him, both of which not only occupy his mind, but also give him something to engage with others about. If you really want to make a difference, retain a copy of what you send and read it so you can engage in a meaningful communication with him. It really does make a difference.

     Another suggestion is providing him with an education in something he might actually be interested in, and able to use. My personal recommendation would be a paralegal correspondence course, for obvious reasons, but not everybody is cut out for a career in the law, so print out an aptitude test and mail it to him to complete and return. When he does, enter the information online and see what types of courses are recommended.

     Hobbies are important, but many of us can't afford to get started. Find out what opportunities his prison offers (drawing, painting, beading, models, etc.), and what he'd like to try.

     Books and magazines are also popular, but before sending anything, find out your particular facility's rules and regulations. If your loved one suffers from addiction or depression issues, I'd suggest visiting SAMHSA for resources, which are provided, free of charge, when available.

     Beyond that, it's important to make your loved one feel useful, so when you call, when you write, be sure to ask us for advice on your problems. Later, make sure you let us know how things went, and thank us for the advice. As silly as it sounds, it will make us feel as if we've contributed something, and may be the boost we needed.

     Finally, don't be afraid to reach out for help. Form a support group compromised with people who are experiencing the same thing. Chances are they'll have advice you can use, and remember, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Recidivism

Recidivism
Note: The term "sexual assault offender" was used as a direct quote, not because somebody who committed such a crime should be called a "sexual assault offender" or sex offender." 

     There's been a lot of talk lately about releasing people from prison before they complete their full prison sentence. Most of that conversation has centralized around the types of criminal convictions that should be excluded, out of fear the person releases would repeat the crime. It's a valid concern, considering just how many if us return to prison, so let's take an in-depth look at the figures, shall we?

     First if all, it's important to note that the statistics given to you are intentionally skewed. It's all in the wording. For example, take a look at the highlights of a report on the website for the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). If you pay close attention to the actual wording, you'll see that what it actually says is that "rape and sexual assault offenders were less likely than other prisoners to be arrested..." Instead of stopping there, which would have sent a clear message rearrest for a sex offense wasn't in fact imminent, they continued on, saying that they were m"mote likely than other prisoners to be arrested for rape or sexual assault" or "three times as likely as other released prisoners to be arrested for rape or sexual assault (7.7% versus 2.3%)." This irrelevant and unnecessary information, particularly as worded, completely changes the narrative. It falsely implies that somebody with a sexual conviction is more likely to be rearrested, and for a sexual conviction, than any other category, when in fact, the exact opposite is true. People convicted of sex offenses are the least likely to return to prison, for any crime. The fact that somebody with a prior sex offense being 3 times more likely to return to prison for a sex offense than somebody with no previous sexual conviction means nothing. It should come as no surprise that people who return to prison do so because they stuck to committing the crimes they knew. What is surprising is the fact that 2.3% of the people returning to prison, people with no convictions for sexual offenses, returned as a result of having committed a sex offense.

     So, at the end of the day, when you're sitting there pondering who to release and who to keep in prison, perhaps the question you should be asking yourself isn't how to keep people convicted of murder and sex offenses in prison, but what your ultimate goal happens to be. If your goal is a safer community, then there's no justification for going out of your way to extend the sentences of those convicted if murder and sex offenses, people who have the lowest recidivism rates.

     Incidentally, it's important to note that the term recidivism includes not only committing new crimes, but also parole violations, and I've seen some of the terms. It's impossible to make it through a term of parole without violating a rule. For instance, my neighbor's terms don't allow him to enter any residence without his parole officer's prior approval. How exactly does that work? "Hi Mr. P.O. I want to go to Bob's house for a BBQ this weekend." "Sorry, parolee, but i'm busy for the next few weeks, you'll have to pass."

     Sadly, they make no mention of these facts when talking about recidivism. Just food for thought..

     

Within 9 years of their release from prison in 2005—

• Rape and sexual assault offenders were less likely than other released prisoners to be arrested, but they were more likely than other released prisoners to be arrested for rape or sexual assault.
• Released sex offenders were more than three times as likely as other released prisoners to be arrested for rape or sexual assault (7.7% versus 2.3%).
• About two-thirds (67%) of released sex offenders were arrested for any crime, compared to about five-sixths (84%) of other released prisoners.
• Half of released sex offenders had a subsequent arrest that led to a conviction.
• Released sex offenders accounted for 5% of releases in 2005 and 16% of arrests for rape or sexual assault during the 9-year follow-up period.

Outbreak Yakima County Jail

This letter was reposted with permission. It describes conditions taking place right now all over the United States...


To Whom This May Concern..........

I am reaching out to you today as a concerned inmate here of the Yakima County Jail.  On, or about June 26, 2020, the Corona Virus hit two tanks in the annex. One of those tanks housed the trustee workers who handle the food for this jail.  I was in the annex, and everything seemed fine until June 29, 2020, the day our tank was called one by one to be tested for the COVID 19 virus.  Minimal precautions were taken to protect us inmates, "considering the seriousness of this virus and the pandemic that it's causing.”
Issues of sanitation, being, thirty-four inmates were tested and only one glove was changed after each testing, by the nurse. Although our results of that day all came back "NOT DETECTED", the next day half the tank either had symptoms, or was bedridden and sick. No one got up for days unless it was for med-line, to express their symptoms, or to get their meals. Within days, SO many people were sick, you could just SMELL the sickness from the sweat on their clothing, sheets and blankets, by just a couple feet away from them.
We were restricted from movement once the Corona Virus hit the annex, " no inmate leaves or enters”, so we won't bring the virus back to our tank. But somehow the COVID 19 was brought to the US.  On July 7, 2020, we were tested again, and over two-thirds of the thirty four inmates TESTED POSITIVE for the COVID 19 virus. The night the results came back I saw a grown man cry when he thought no one was looking. "THE FEAR IS REAL IN HERE."
It is unknown how long we've been exposed, but those of us who didn't test positive were moved to a different floor. Nine of us to be exact, and one more the next day. TEN OUT OF THIRTY-FOUR.  In the annex, every bunk surrounding mine tested positive for the CoronaVirus. Our bunks are roughly two feet apart, and unfortunately "more people than NOT" coughed openly without covering their mouths, LET-ALONE, wear their masks.
I figured, to ensure we didn't carry the virus with us, I requested a change of clothing, sheets and blanket - but was denied by the classification officer, reason being, " WE'VE ALREADY BEEN EXPOSED ANYWAYS, SO THE CHANGE WON'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE."
Also, upon intake of our new tank, no one was screened, being asked if they either HAD, or WERE experiencing any symptoms.  Just days before, two out of us ten that got moved were sick in bed and explained more than once in med-line, while in the annex.  It is my belief, the lack of screening only spread the virus even more. Along with having no spray bottles to sanitize our surroundings or clean, until the next day. The ten of us were tested on July 13, 2020. I sent a kite to medical on July 15th voicing my concerns about those who DO happen to come back with positive results, If any moves will  be made to protect the ones who aren't positive for the COVID 19 virus. The response to my kite is quoted: " WE HAVE PROTOCOLS IN PLACE TO ADDRESS THE ABOVE ISSUES".
The results came back on July 16th, 2020. Seven out of ten came back positive for the CoronaVirus.  I am one of the last three inmates to NOT test positive for the COVID 19 virus, and where a protocol was supposedly in place to address this issue, nothing has been done, and no move has been made.
THREE OF US LEFT, OUT OF THIRTY-FOUR. Those odds weigh heavily on my mind, week after week.  Not only am I witnessing first hand what the CoronaVirus is doing to my fellow inmates here at the Yakima County Jail, I also see what it's doing to the WORLD, every night when I watch the NEWS.  I have lost all faith in the protocols the Yakima County Jail has in place to ensure my safety while I am in their care.  It is my opinion that we are ALL being treated with DELIBERATE INDIFFERENCE for the lack of precautions taken, and lack of protocols to ensure our safety and Constitutional Rights.
I am a federal inmate with just two months left on my sentence. Tomorrow brings a new week, and probably another test. I can only pray that I don't get those NEW results.  There are those of us who are paying our debt to society, and BESIDE us, are those who are INNOCENT until proven guilty.
I believe we have EVERY right to leave this jail in the same healthy manner as we came in.  On a final note, My fellow inmates and I, "along with my wife, family, friends and loved ones", FIRMLY BELIEVES, that inmates' lives matter too......
                                  Respectfully,
         
                                 Roger Benson