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Poll: Do you think Timothy Joe Souders death was an accident? (3 comments) — Below is how the autopsy report reads except for the medication I did not reveal the name of the medication. Name of deceased: Timothy Joe Souders Case Number: Jackson county 2006-39 Gender: male     &...  more

I would like to know how anyone could possibly assume that Timmy's death was an accident. He was (as I have heard it said before) the property of the state and with that comes a responsibilty of the state to treat an inmate with dignity and compassion. The persons responsible for Timmy's death should be held accountable for and charged with murder. There is no other choice. A person once incarcerated has no apparent rights and has no options available to them to resist the torture imposed by the staff. The staff many times it seems are capable of much more heinous acts than the very inmates they are in charge of. A crime like this would never be accepted outside the walls, so how can it be dismissed so lightly when occurring within the system. I believe one reason is that for the most part investigations are handled internally. Would you want your doctor's office staff to be the sole investigator if you thought you had suffered at your doctor's hands. I do not think so. Please consider this. No family sets out in life thinking "my kid is going to prison someday". But it does happen to families all across our country. You can not wait until that day comes to take action and help our inmates survive their sentence. If that day comes you will find your hands tied behind your back. You will have no correspondence with your loved one unless they are well and capable of reaching you. If they are not, you will have no idea what is happening to them....they will just disappear for awhile and hopefully call some day or send a letter. This young man was in no position to notify his mother of what was happening to him and she was in no position to stop it. We need a cleansing of the justice system. Our American citizens for whatever reason end up behind walls, need our protection. At this time we can not trust the system to do that, nor can you trust any employee to take a stand when they see abuse. If you could Timmy would be alive today.      

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You are so right. And thank-you for posting. I want people to discuss his Death and what they think.

We as a family did not know Timothy was in isolation or in Restraints, at the time of his Death.

We found out about Timothy’s treatment and isolation on August 20, 2006…

…  14 days after being notified of Timothy’s death.

The State officials said Timothy had Died in his sleep.

We found out the details of Timothy’s Death ,  from a story on the front page of the Detroit Free press.

I still can not believe the cruelty and insensitive of the corrections department. But for people to truly understand the cruelty, you need to know… the Video tapes the Corrections Department is mandated to record of  people placed in isolation is recorded over and erased every 7 days.

It is nothing short of a miracle that the Federal Monitor was at Jackson reviewing records, 2 days after Timothy Died, and took the tapes with him, and reported the abuse and Death of my son to the Judge over seeing the Prisons in Jackson.

The Michigan department of corrections has and is committing far more devastating crimes than my SON every did.

The criminal investigation by the STATE police, has been completed and no one was found guilty of any crime or wrong doing.

I do want to hear people speak up, if not for Timothy than for some one in your community... There are so many people out there that need a voice.

Please be the voice. 

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I want to share something I have borrowed from another site.I would love to give credit to the author, but do not know who they are.This is very enlightening and I only wish the 16 million intimidated family members would all join in voicing their fears,concerns and stories. Then perhaps we could tear down the wall of silence.  We are no longer a minority, but a majority and we have the right and the duty to defend our loved ones from an abusive, saddistic,uncaring justice system.

We are everywhere--
 
 For those who  forget that the incarcerated humans in this country
are indeed
 just that - HUMAN  - I would like you to think on this the next
time you talk
 about "inmates,  criminals, convicts, etc...". These humans have
families and 
those who love them  despite whatever they did. Look around you and
wonder, 
because this is who we  are....
 
We take care of your children and grandchildren in nursery  
schools, we give them shots in the doctor's office, we are dental  
assistants, we are school teachers and Sunday school teachers, we
stand behind  you in 
the grocery store, we prepare your medicine in the drug store, we
work in  
banks, we approve your loans, we service your insurance claims, we
work for  
newspapers, TV stations and radio stations, we read your electric
meters and  water
meters, we are your 
landlords, your neighbors, we take care of your  elderly parents in
nursing 
homes, we are nurses, lab technicians, X-ray  technicians, we own
beauty shops, 
flower shops, printing shops, we are welders,  plumbers, tree
trimmers, we 
work for the IRS, the State Dept., in the  courthouse, schools,
churches, drug
stores and toy stores, we are legal  secretaries, lawyers, school
board 
members, we are bus 
drivers, we prepare  meals for your kids in school, we are city 
council members, bank tellers, we  process your checking account,
your saving 
account, we work at your Social  Security office, your insurance
company, we 
take care of your IRA, stocks,  bonds, we sell your kids bikes,
school 
supplies, clothes, shoes, eyeglasses, we  repair your cars, we are
real estate 
agents, car dealers, college professors,  psychologists,
administrative assistants, 
safety engineers and ranchers. We work  at Ralphs, Albertsons,
Trader Joe's, 
Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Target, Macy's, Nordstrom  and Saks 5th Avenue.
We sell Avon
and Tupperware. We are not all "on welfare",  
no matter what the government would like you to think.

 There are two  million people in prison in America and twice that
many on 
parole and probation.  Add in mothers, fathers, children, sisters,
brothers, 
aunts, uncles,  grandparents and friends and about sixteen million
people are 
personally  affected by the prison system 
in the United States.
 
We are tired of  letting ourselves feel humiliated or embarrassed
because our 
loved one is in  prison. WE did nothing wrong, and they are paying
for their 
crime!
 
We are  tired of fearing the loss of our jobs or evictions from our
housing 
should  anyone find out we have a loved one in prison.
 
We are tired of being made  to feel inferior or unwelcome in
churches, clubs, 
organizations or society in  general simply because we refuse to
abandon our 
loved ones.
 
We are ready  to unite, to come out of hiding and openly support
each other 
and our loved  ones. It's a new day, America and we're here to
prove it!
 
We are ready to  speak out against the "they deserve what they get"
attitude 
we hear you talk  about in stores, theaters and restaurants.
 
We number in the millions, we  are everywhere, every state, county,
city and 
town. We may even live next door  to you.

 Sixteen million & counting. We are everywhere.
 
Think  about it

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We are tired of being made to feel inferior or unwelcome in churches, clubs, organizations or society in general simply because we refuse to abandon our loved ones.
 
We are ready to unite, to come out of hiding and openly support each other and our loved ones. It's a new day, America and we're here to prove it!
 
We are ready to speak out against the "they deserve what they get" attitude we hear you talk about in stores, theaters and restaurants.
 
We number in the millions, we are everywhere, every state, county, city and town. We may even live next door to you.

 Sixteen million & counting. We are everywhere.

I'm ready. I'll be  # 1 and counting... Thank-you for your post you are so right.

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Thank-you Deb …

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I want you to know I cannot forget your son, I have been offline for several months now and during that time I spoke frankly to those I know inside my community about him, of all the causes I have seen on Care2 this is, in my opinion of the greatest importance

. I am back now and intend to continue to do my best to try and help. Its so horrific I cant even imagine your pain or put it into the right words. Please let me know how I can continue to help. 

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By no means was Timothy's death an accident!!!  It was outright neglect & abuse.  Although I've never had any experience with the penal system, I've had a lot of experience in the mental-health system. I've seen more abuse of patients in my lifetime then anyone should see. What bothers me most is when staff gets away with it. I've known patients that have died under "questionable" circumstances. I know all too well what the staff is like, and how poorly patients get treated. My goal is to change how that system works. I've seen some small improvements, yet won't rest until there is a significant change. My hopes and prayers are that Timothy's death will cause major changes in the penal system.  It must be absolutely horrid to lose a child. Let it not be in vain!!!

God Bless You,

Christine

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A person sentenced to prison may become "the property of the state," and through his crime he may forfeit many of his basic civil rights such as his right to vote, his freedom to walk the streets etc.

But a prisoner never forfeits his basic human rights and among these is the right to be respected as a human being irrespective of his crime. Even the worst criminal is worthy of being respected as a human.

It seems so often that the prison authorities and prison guards fail to respect the people they hold incarcerated on behalf of the state. And it seems that the state colludes with this by not holding prison guards accountable for the treatment they show to prisoners. There is the principle here in northern Ireland that states: "Collusion is State Murder."

Is there any way that the forces of the state can be mobilised to ensure the prison authorities and prison guards carry out their responsibilities within the bounds of human rights?

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Thank~you...

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Hi Darlene,

Andrew C. left a comment on the following article:

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Knowing the details of Timothy's death now makes me afraid of finding something I have been seeking for 4.5 years -- the truth about my brother's death while under secret incarceration in Shelby County Jail in Memphis, Tennessee on August 1, 2003.  My deep condolenses regarding Timothy's mistreatment and death at the hands of those who swore to serve and protect him and each of us.  What a tragedy!  What pain this is for his family, especially his mother.  I pray that you have God in your lives to help you endure this pain, to forgive Timothy's murderers and the system that tolerates and actually hides such monstrous acts, and to rejoice in the expectation of seeing your Timothy again, whole and happy.  His pictures are beautiful -- such a smile!  Know that although Tim may have had issues, the joy in his spirit shines through in his photos.  Such joy would not have been possible were it not for a loving mother and family and friends.  You did a good job with Tim, and know that there is nothing you should have or could have done different to prevent this tragic loss.  I commend you for having the strength and character to turn your personal tragedy into an opportunity to reach out to others who need your advocacy.  Your tears are not in vain.  The understanding you have gained in your suffering is like a bridge for me.  My spirit says, "Here is a family that knows exactly what we feel.  Tim's family offers compassion out of their understanding and our common suffering."  My God!  What you have been through!  My brother died like Timothy -- murdered by jail authorities.  But to lose a son!  My 85-year-old mother lives for the day when justice will finally come.  I will tell you more about our own tragic loss next time I write and on another thread.  For now, I am overcome with grief for your family, and I want you to know that you do not suffer alone.  Let us work together to prevent similar losses to as many families as we can.  God bless you.

Mary Neal
Assistance to the Incarcerated Mentally Ill
Website:  http://wrongfuldeathoflarryneal.com
P.O. Box 7222
Atlanta, GA  30357

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I am horrified every time I hear of this case. I worked for the state for nearly 15 years. I wrecked my health doing my job and trying to put my clients and the state first, like a marriage. I was committed. I have learned over the past two years that the state does as it pleases and there is no accountability. I was sent 2 years ago to a series of doctors who I knew would take my long term disability away from me. That is one issue, but it is what fell out from it that is destroying me. The first doctor did not even pretend to do an exam and was very threatening. I found out later he did 5 years in Jackson for trying to kill his wife with a claw hammer to the head 9 times and he got his license back while he was still on a tether. He lied on his credentials, on my report and so on. Then they got a real, supposedly honest doctor to change his mind after he found for me. Finally the last doctor had me in a position for testing that hurt my cervical spine and I had to have a lot of surgery and spent roughly a week in the hospital. My doctor, a very good one, said their doctor did it. He had to remove the top layer of my spinal cord. I have permanent loss of function. I continue to have complications. Has the state stepped up to take responsibility? No. Have they apologized? No. Do I have any legal recourse? No. The state, their contractors, Citizens in Howell (who get financial bonuses for closing up these cases), and the doctors all have immunity. What was done to me was essentially non-aggravated assault. And I am treated like a criminal. There is much more going on here but to be blunt, every single day is a new rape by the state for me. And they can get away with it. No one is accountable. I have been openly lied to, caught errors, found willful bad behavior/bad faith and no one has to make it right. When I worked for the state, I had to correct my errors. I have been without nearly half my income for 2 years. I have an attorney pursing other benefits but the mental and emotional toll have been devastating and yesterday, my property tax credit was taken for an old debt--a very old one that I should not owe but do not have the power to fight. Here is something that is in place to help low income people preserve their homes and it is not protected. A tax refund should be able to be taken but not something for property taxes. Humanity must come before bureaucracy. But the state does not care. They are supposed to protect their citizens, but instead they are protected from us. Incidentally, the state is the great refuge for bad doctors. Doctors who cannot practice in other states can come here and get licensed, including those who lost their licenses for malpractice, criminal convictions, etc. Michigan is one sick state. Marian Latimer

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