to all the new members who joined yesterday and last night "by invitation" (aren`t you special!).

Please check in here and share what you`re hoping to learn here or educate others on.

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we lost 41 members when I purged the membership roles of fake Multiple Profiles over last weekend and last night but the GOOD NEWS is that we gained 10 REAL PEOPLE last night who were invited by members.

So hopefully with the continued aid of our members inviting their trusted and hopefully enlightened friends, we`ll build ourselves up to be a better and more secure group for discussing important issues pertinent to our concept, Inmate Rehabilitation & Institution Reform.

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Hello Donna,

If any problems follow me here as my other groups, I promise that I will just leave, as I did them.

Love and Light,

joey

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to the group.

Hope you enjoy your stay and see some valuable information here.

Please take part in our discussions, won`t you? Peruse the already existing threads and find the ones that interest you.

Donna

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I have a brother who has been in and out of Prison 4 times.

Now he is back in,..  it never ends.  Long story.

I read one of your posts about a native american needing help.

There are places called halfway houses, so I heard from my brother.

Hope that helps.

Scott

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Thanks for the invitation......

Debbie

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Thanks for the invitation Donna! And hello everybody. I guess I have a lot to learn, I really don't know a lot about the prison system...the only things I know are from things like Malcolm X's biography, nothing too substantial. I'll be digging through some old threads for sure.

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all youse guys!

You`re sure to find lots of interesting stuff here that you don`t see in your everyday media, that`s for sure!

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Dear Donna

Thanks for the invitation.  I consider it an honour.  I'm a teacher by day but I also work in homeless projects, sometimes in the evenings, sometimes at weekends and many of the people I work with, men and women, have been through the prison system here and, of course, it hasn't done them any good.  We are getting worse by the day in this area.  Our prisons are bursting, they're building new ones.  We have the largest prison population in Europe.  There are continual suicides.  We have the largest female prison population as well.  I live in Lanarkshire, Scotland.  Dungavel Prison in Lanarkshire now houses asylum seekers.  Men, women and children are imprisoned there but they have committed no crime.  It gives me a deep sense of shame.  As do the previous statistics I mentioned.  I don't know if I will be able to contribute anything worthwhile for you but I will be greatly interested in what this group has to say.

Love Eleanor

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We`re very happy to have you here!

Definitely interested in everything you have to contribute about your corner of the world, things I`m sure we won`t see much of in the media.

Your observations of our corner of the world are also welcomed.

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Sorry it took so long for me to get joined.  I think this group will help me out a lot since i have an ex boyfriend who's in prison and looking to rehabilitate and get out and get his life back on track in the right direction this time. 

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Well, better late than never.

aboard!

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I sort of invited myself to this group, so I hope that's not a problem.

I was just thinking about this issue today; I was talking with my mother about separating a person from his/her behavior and how even people who have done really "horrible" things had reasons, most of which they had no choice about. I mean, yes, they should be held responsible for their actions & choices, but that doesn't mean throw them away and forget about them (through the death penalty or prison). If they can deal with whatever issues led them to commit crimes in the first place, then they can change their behavior. But they need help to do that, and far too many are not getting the help they need.

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Lorri, we are so happy to have you here!

And Anita, this is an open group now so its more than ok that you joined on your own!

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Hello my name is Rhonda.  Thank you for the invitation, I am glad to be part of this group!

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Greetings!! I'm fairly new. I hope to learn alot from anyone/everyone's experiences with the prison system in Florida. I have a personal reason for wanting any/all information any of you may want to share with me. One question I have had on my mind since March is how hard is it to survive in population in a Florida prison & which ones are the better & which ones are the worse. I welcome any comments or opinions anyone has. Thanks so much. Peace, love & happiness to all!!

Linda B.

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to everyone new. Glad to see you all here!

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Thanks for the invite Donna. When I was much younger, from 16 to about 19 or 20, I got into a lot  of troouble. So I have some first hand knowledge of incarceration lol. Luckily I managed to straighten myself out( as much as is possible). . Thanks again for the invie. Peace

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  I think what you have said is summed up in these famous words>>>" FORGIVE THEM FATHER, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO" Had hey known, they would not have done it. (and this includes those who are sick beyond our imagining. For in their sickness they have No Knowledge nor dicernment of what they do....Some can even be compared to "OLD YELLER"  And so it is>>>>They are all Forgiven by The Highest Power whatever you concieve that to be.....

PeaceGD

PS:I also have chosen to share myself here with others .

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Hello everyone...I've never given myself a formal introduction, so I'm trying to follow Group Protocol, and let you know a little about myself and my interest in reforming prisons.

Well, I would think anyone who reads the news would know that prisons are not places of rehabilitation, that they serve to teach criminals better techniques to ply their  'trade'.  Now a book has been written about the corporatization the US Government Services, including 'outsourcing' the business of prisons. I posted a link to an interview Amy Goodman (who should be canonized!) did with the authors of The Fox in the Hen House. Chilling! No one powerful enough has an interest in the lives of prisoners. Truly, each soul, person, is seen as a means of erning a buck, whether it is taking away the funding to help the poor, the elderly, the sick, or warehousing prisoners for a profit.

What hurts me the most is seeing young people in the prison system, beaten, forgotten, emotionally devastated at a critical time in their lives.

I wonder what people are doing, what can I DO, to stop this insanity! (I did vote..apparently lots of people did..yay!)

Also, Martha Stewart in an interivew on Letterman said no one should be in prison for more than 5 years. I wonder what she might do to help that become a reality!

Okay..my prison stories...Juvenile Hall (rebellious teen!)..Um, that's it...I care about people, and the state of this country and this world. Apparently, the government doesn't. I hope we come up with real ways we can make a difference, now.

If anyone know of Prison Reform groups in California please let me know! Thanks!

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So glad you`ve joined us.

Yes, that is the frustrating part, finding existing groups. Many times the only way to be in one is to start one. Some have come and gone in California through the years. As for now, I don`t know of any but that doesn`t mean some don`t exist.

Anyone? Perhaps an online search may reveal group websites.

And many thanks for the link to the Amy Goodman piece!

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Hi Donna!

Thank you for the invitation! Glad to be a part of this group here, and will go through the posts. Kind of swamped right now, but will dedicate some time a bit later to go through everything already placed here.

Thanks again! Happy Holidays to all!

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to you all. and for joining.

We look forward to your contributions here.

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First, to the group. We look forward to your contributions here.

2nd, as to Drug Dealers. It is not only them but Drug users as well that are filling up US Prisons and filling profitable beds.

For a month now, as a Prisoner Advocate I have been going round and round in an effort to come to the aid of an inmate who is facing his 6th (!) incarceration for Drug Addiction. Possession and related crimes to support his habit. None of his crimes were of a violent nature. Years ago the small theft he is charged with would have been a misdemeanor but today many of those misdemeanors are felonies.

At any rate, in the 20 yr addiction of this man he has never had any drug treatment. He has been ushered in and out of the Criminal "Justice" System to feed the insatiable Prison Industrial Complex.

I stepped in at his latest "trial" to get him drug treatment this time. Something the state "says" they have. I was able to get a respected Psychiatrist to testify at his "trial". She had credentials as long as your arm and was an impressive speaker on the accused behalf. The Prosecution viciously and unprofessionally berated her at trial and said she had been manipulated by the accused and that there was no proof he was a Drug Addict nor a Manic Depressive, self medicating as she had diagnosed. A 20 yr Addict whose charges always included possession was not eligible for drug treatment because the state says there is no proof he was a drug addict.

No proof that he was an addict and no proof that he was a Manic Depressive despite this respected Doctors testimony.

The state couldn`t admit what it knew all along for the past 20 years, not to mention letting this fodder get away from their clutches.

No matter how hard one tries, no matter what proof one has, if Justice in the court system is null and void, the effort is futile.

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Thank you Donna for the invite .

I am here as a learner as far as I know.When I come across items to share ..I will post them.

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Thanks for the invite Donna, Hello everybody, if I can be of any help, please just let me know.

See You...

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& Happy New Year to you too and to every member of this group!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

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Donna.  The logo picture is one that even for those who have never been behind the iron wall of prison can relate to.  As a gay man I have been behind the wall most of my life and freedom is great!

  for all of those who remain behind the bars.  May the halls of justice reform and rehabilitate the souls who have gone astray or to those who have been wrongly accused.

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Thanks Donna for the invite.  My hope is to learn from this group and hopefully give some of my opinions without being chastized for it...

Cujo

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Hello all

thank you Donna for the invite

Becca

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HI Everyone,

Thanks for the invite Donna and glad to be a part of this group.

Hug's Deb.

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I see so many good people around here, this MUST become a great group!

Always happy to read from you guys!

Cheers,
Andreas

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I'm here! Thanks for the invitation. Prison reform is also big on my list. Just ignore me if I start screaming prisons are nothing but another form of Human Trafficking. EVERYTHING that's done to us in this country is Human Trafficking to me. When a person is made a slave, even a slave of the state, ( Well, there I go again! ), it's Human Trafficking!

I've studied this issue from a very different angle: the cause of the violence from a developmental point of view that affects not just criminals and/or prisoners, but us all in a psychological-physiological way.

In other words, I think I found what's predisposing everyone to violent emotions. ( Whether or not we are capable of curbing them isn't the issue. ) I'm talking about ENDING the chemical responses that cause them in the first place without drugs, surgery or imprisonment.

I even found a model of this idea that's working in Tailand. ( I think that's where it's at. I'd have to look it up again. ) In other words, I didn't just start screaming about the mess the prison system is in; I sat down, did my homework and have a real solution to offer that will turn the whole system; not just the prison system, but the WHOLE system on it's head.

Can you tell I'm excited about it?!?!?!? NOW I have someplace to DISCUSS IT!!! If it worked, it would put the American HUMAN TRAFFICKING, whoops, I mean Prison, System out of BU$INE$$$$$!!!! People wouldn't just be "reformed" - they'd be transformed...

Now, gee, I won$der Wh$y Th$e Go$ver$nm$en$$$$t doe$$$$n'$t W$an$t That?

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Wow Faith! U hit the nail on the head! Very good. I agree, the gov'ment uses it as a big business. They call it Dept. of Corrections, when actually, it should be Dept. of Corruptions.

Oops, almost forgot, (no I didn't), thanx for the invite Donna.

Peace

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I really don't know anything about this group topic but I have been trying to help Stacey Lannert get out of prison in Missouri.

Kristi K

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A big to all of you!

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I was'nt actually invited. I clicked the link from the other site. Very glad to be here though.

Charles G

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Hey Tom - welcome to the group!

And welcome to all the newbies!

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Hi!  Thanks for accepting me into the group.  I hope that I come up with something useful at least part of the time.

In short, I think that our criminal justice system needs an extreme makeover so that the focus of it is on rehabilitation and prevention instead of mere punishment.

Pet Peeves:

1.  The nod-nod, wink-wink mentality that first shows its ugly face in our public schools where "different" children are subjected to taunting by the more popular kids while the school authorities look the other way--then, shows up again in prisons when some of those misfits become so traumatized that they turn to crime and have prison authorities looking the other way while they get beaten, raped, and/or killed.

2.  Boot-camp!  SCREW boot-camp!  And look at how Maury puts these troubled children on his trash TV show for his Roman-Empire-style audience to eat alive before sending them off to boot-camp.  There's so much hurt in the eyes of these children.  They're so emotionally-fragile.  This kind of child-exploitation ranks worse in my book than the sick acts of pedophiles.  I don't mean that it's a worse act than getting raped--but I do mean that it's more disgusting that this goes on.because, in the case of the pedophiles, they're driven by a chemical imbalance in their bodies and/or emotional trauma.  What happens on Maury's show, that boot-camp "reality" show that was on for awhile, and other such forms of "entertainment" is a case of greed and the quest for ratings at all costs.

(...to be continued when I'm more awake...)

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Thanx for the invite from Cassandra, it's great to have a group that realizes we need more rehab for our prisons, I for one living in Ca. REALLY think it's critical, I could go on, maybe at another time lol! Mary

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Thanks for the invite Blue, I agree strongly with bootcamps being bad for kids, we found out firsthand when our older daughter got in some trouble as a teenager. They decided to make an example out of her and off she was shipped to an American Boot Camp!! Paid for by the tax payers of Nova Scotia!! $52.000 dollars a year. Its also privately run so we could not get her out for 3 years!! The crime, minor assault!!

I've been around people in prisons my whole life, visited many prisons here in Canada. As well I worked for Corrections, 6 month term. (not a correctional guard)  I want to learn as much as I can about helping people stay out of prison, after a long stay. I have an ex-son in law who is being released in Sept. after serving 6 years. And he had nobody/meaning adults, in his life, so he's our kid now!! Peace from Lyn

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Thanks for the invite, Blue. I look forward to interesting and informative discussions!

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New here too and this is the second group like this I was invited too...

Odd to me...because no one really KNEW me enough to know my interest and relationships with inmates.

These both came at a time

when I feel I might need them, the two groups.

Something for me to learn here...

My computer is acting up in the heat I am having here lately...

Not feeling too good we had not cool air here today and it is finally cooling off.

I will be back tomarrow.

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P.S. I am a REAL person...but I protect my ID because of my saftey for now.

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Thx for the invite Blue

I'm Janice and I live in Oregon...

I'm interested in this group as I have a son who was recently released after spending 14 months in prison. The need for rehabilitation and reform is phenomenal. I will do whatever I can to see that need met.

Again., Thx for the invite

Janice

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Hello Everyone,

My name is Michael and I am new to this group.  I do think there needs to be inmate rehab. and prison reform.  I did spend 30 days in Waukesha County Jail (WI) for my 2nd dui and the jail just did nothing to rehab me.  Actually Waukesha County Jail witheld my medication which made my time difficult while there.  So there definitely needs to be reform at the prisons and jails in this country.  That's my experience in jail.  So again, hello everyone.

Michael

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Thank you for the invite. liz

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sorry for not writing sooner - I have been a bad co-host lately...I was however away and neglecting my duties on all my groups!

thank you all for joining...I am always happy to see more people show interest in such an unpopular and very necessary topic.

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hi thanks for accepting me to th group. i found this from a link from another group about death penalty. As a psychology student i am interested in human behaviour and believe there may be a way for reform and rehabilitation of people in prison

alex x

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Hello to all and thanks for the invite!!  Ther is ALOT to go through in here.. To be honest I am all new to this prison thing.. But, I can tell you it has been an EYE opener.. So I am not sure what info I can offer but, I will try and express my views..

As for me.. it is my husband that is in prison.. And for a crime he did not commit.. which makes this even worse for me.. I used to believe that the judicial system was always fair and always just.. now I know the difference..

so far this is what I have learned though:

1) There is no such thing as reform.. The prisoners in my husbands prison spend most of there time doing nothing.. There are no formal counceling sessions, no REAL trade skills, and no education oppertunities.. GDOC.. Got rid of there education programs with the exception of GED>

2) That for alot of them in prison it is all they know.. because noone has taught them different.

Well catch you around..

Philip

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greetings group...

i agree with phillip.  there needs to be a complete reformation of the prison system.  all it is now is a holding tank. 

when my loved one was first incarcerated he started training as an xray tech...then the program was cut.  he does not work inside.  there is no incentive for him to.  if he did, we couldn't have visits on the weekend because he'd have to work...there is no excused time off...except extreme illness.  so he beads items for family and friends to sell for him.

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unfortunately david, for the california prisons...just about everything has been cut.  ged is still available for those who need it...but even our native american spritual practice has been attacked.  sweat lodges are limited as well as even getting the 'herbs' needed.   believe me... a lot of people are furious over this system here in california.  it's not that my loved one did not want to work... they have made it a joke.  they took his job away that he had because he refused to cut his hair due to a grooming policy and put him in AD seg.  to a traditional, cutting hair is like cutting off a finger.  anyway... it was deemed unconstitutional after years of fighting this issue...  the AA group meetings are irregular as well as the anger management....where everyone just sits and waits for the sponsor to arrive and then the time is over... in other words the 'self help' groups that should be available and be a useful tool are now just a group time out.

yes...there are a lot of lazy inmates just like people on the outside...however, many inmates would love the opportunity to gain a decent trade, further education and get help from group... they just ain't here in california

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David,

  That is nice to hear that at least in one state they do offer such things.. And while some of those items they offer in GDOC. Where GDOC lacks is the education of it's inmates. They use to offer a wider range of classes to help inmmates make it in the outside world. But, when our Governor came into office he and the GDOC director decided that it cost to much and cut it.

   As for work.. My husband loves to work. and while he is assigned to a "crew" the last time that crew worked was back in April. Ever since then he has been trying to get a transfer to another crew but, keeps getting denied because of his diabetes. I have even talked with the SGT in charge of that crew and he told me that he would put my lover to work.. and as of yet.. I am still waiting..

Much love..

Philip

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You said:

I do NOT believe there are any prisons that do not have these opportunities I'd check your resources from the department of corrections not the inmate !

This is not about unfounded beliefs based on experiences inside only one institution, it is about facts. Prisons in the U.S. do not have opportunities to rehabilitate for reentry to society. "Check resources from the DOC".... thanks for a good belly laugh there David.

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I just deleted a second post from the new member Michael. I have also blocked him as the statement on our Home page indicates:

ABSOLUTELY NO INMATE BASHING OR DEMONIZATION IS TOLERATED ON THIS GROUP

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for posting the truth of the situation.

P.S. I deleted one of your duplicate posts.

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...Sherrie for inviting me...Great topic and one close to my heart!  I have two sons who are ex-offenders both in their mid 30's...one suffers from mental illness and both are struggling just to keep alive. I am thankful they do not have any children (as much as I would love to be a grandmother). Neither are career criminals by any means, just got into some trouble when they were young...but it seems the system's job is to create career criminals...one cannot even get a job mowing lawns without a backround check! It is obsurd! Something really needs to be done. It is an atrosity that this is happening in this country. But, then again, nothing surprises me anymore.

Peace,

Julia

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...Sherrie for inviting me...Great topic and one close to my heart!  I have two sons who are ex-offenders both in their mid 30's...one suffers from mental illness and both are struggling just to keep alive. I am thankful they do not have any children (as much as I would love to be a grandmother). Neither are career criminals by any means, just got into some trouble when they were young...but it seems the system's job is to create career criminals...one cannot even get a job mowing lawns without a backround check! It is obsurd! Something really needs to be done. It is an atrosity that this is happening in this country. But, then again, nothing surprises me anymore.

Peace,

Julia

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Glad you made it. You might just want to check out the new Ex Offenders Resource Directory thread Donna started. I'm sure you would be very knowledgeable on possible efforts that would help.

Here's the link to that thread:

http://www.care2.com/c2c/groups/disc.html?gpp=2370&pst=400982

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What kept you?

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Welcome to Joann & Jackie.

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Hello... and thank-you for the invite.

Alot of you know my story  about my son " Timothy Joe Souders " a former inmate that Died in Jackson Prison on Aug. 6, 2006.

If  you want his whole story Please visit my home page or join our Group " Friends For Timmy Joe Souders"

I'm actively working to get Restrains taken out of all Prisons. Please sign our Petitions, we have 2 here on Care2.

Thank-you,

Theresa

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Thank you for the invite Sherrie, am looking forward to sharing my thoughts and experience in this feild.

Happy New Year Everyone!

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Glad to see you all here!

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Thankx for the invitation to this group, WildOne!  I am all for Prison Reform...I have a niece that was WRONGLY imprisoned by the Powers That Be for a crime she did not commit.  I am here in support for this Cause!

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Thanks for the invite, I'm a former inmate myself in the Missouri prison system.. I was unfortunate to listen to a public defender and plead to a plea bargain to something I was not guilty for..  I then violated months later and was sent to prison.. mind you both womens prison's in Missouri are max.. no min.. I saw and learned alot while I was there.. I won't go into detail.. but there are alot of innocent people in prison, different circumstances.. many in wrong place, wrong time or had sig others who commited a crime and because the other was near (not participating) they were charged too.. the rehab and reform needs to start inside prison and the prison workers (co's) need to start doing their job and protect those in prison from fellow inmates.. alot of violence that could be stopped isn't...  there is nearly no help to those being released.. and are thrown back out on the street, and may I end with the medical help inside prison is terrible !! The mentally ill inmates are druged heavily and violated in many ways..

I am currently working on a major in Human services so i may contribute in many ways !!

Kris

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to our latest members.

I hope everyone will invite others to join too. You never know who has been impacted by the Court System & the Prison Industrial Complex, you never know......

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WELCOME to our latest members. If you like, introduce yourself here.

for joining.

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Adawehi is my name,,,TY for the nice welcome. I'm realy happy to be here and yes I have friends doing time at San Quentin & a few other pens in Calif. They need our help badly.

Heres a petition I just posted I hope its ok to give the link for all to go read.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/justonechanceatfreedom

Please read & sign if it seems right for you,,,Thx

Love & light

Adawehi

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Hello all!

I have always been interested in rehabilitation and prison reform. I think the current system is barbaric and needs a complete overhaul.  I came across a wonderful video - I think I may have heard about it in National Geographic magazine, called Doing Time Doing Vipassana........has this video been discussed here? I browsed through the threads but may have missed it. Before I start talking about it I just wondered if it was already a subject of a thread.

Looking forward to reading the various discussions going on and putting an oar in somewhere if I can.

Happy New Year!

Susan

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Geetings to Donna & All

I am the mother of a 14 yr old boy who has struggled most all his life with mental illness. As we suspected, when puberty kicked in, things got even more difficult. he was residing in a level III group home and attending an alternative school, but more recently got in so much trouble (trying to sell meds @ school, stealing from walmart, assault, destruction of property...all while off meds) that he is currently locked up in a Juvenile Detention Ctr in NC.

I am doing my best to get him into a level IV, along with his case manager. I am now learning more about juvenile justice and those with mental illness who are incarcerated.

My interests is to help all...and find & contribute any info. i can.

Peace & Prayers, C.C.

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Please share here as much as possible. Contribute the knowledge you have and ask questions about something you need to know.

United we stand, divided we fall.

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Thanks for the invitation Donna.  I have worked with many prison inmates when I was director of a recovery 6 month recovery program for alcohol and drug abuse.  I worked for six months as a photographer to take pictures of art work done by inmates of the CT prison system.  The program had teachers doing poetry and GED work as well as providing art shows of their work.

I would be glad to assist in any way I can.

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Hello, Members!

Thank you so much, Kristi, for inviting me to this group.  I am so blessed that God led me to Care2 to associate and learn from people who have a commitment to human rights, especially prisoners.  Approximately 1.25 million of the prisoners in America are mentally ill persons, according to a recent letter to me from Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA).  I was astounded at the number, although even one person being incarcerated for demonstrations of his disability is too many.  Unfortunately, with so many hospitals closing and inadequate out-patient care available to our diffabled citizens has created this monstrous problem -- criminalization of the mentally ill.  I work in the tradition of Dorothea Dix to reverse that problem after the 2003 secret incarceration and wrongful death  of my brother, Larry Neal, a mentally ill heart patient.  Please visit my page sometime and find out more.  Below are a couple of links to tell you more about my advocacy.  Thanks again for accepting me into your group. 

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Hey everyone.  My name is Meg and I live in South Georgia. I have been a member for a little while now but I am not sure I introduced myself.  I see my friend Mary Neal ( also from Georgia) is also a member.

Within a 60 mile radius of my house there are at least 7 prisons. I have given the GED test at two of these, so I have been through the razor wires and in the depths of the maximum security prison. When giving the test, the guards leave me and another tester alone in the room with 20-30 prisoners (they are outside the door). When I am with them, they are respectful and are just like any of my other GED test takers ( except for the clothing!).  When I get back home, I often remember a name and look it up on the internet and cannot believe that that nice young man committed that crime!  Granted, I can be a bit naive and too trusting, but I do believe that these are lost souls and can be guided.  The ones I am in contact with are in education which is a form of rehab and I believe that has already made in difference in their lives.  It is obvious in the amount of work they have put in, their eagerness to succeed and their respect towards me.  Since going inside these prisons I have felt drawn to find a way to make a difference in their lives.  I have thought about starting a prison ministry in which building their self esteem would be a major focus.

Anyway, just a brief summary of what I feel. I also am a penpal with two inmates on death row. That has also given me a different perspective.  Thanks for listening and I hope to get to know some of you!

Have a good day! Meg

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