my care2
make a difference

community & fun

people

12 million members making a difference

 
 

Joel Williams
Add as friend
Introduce yourself
Invite to group
Send green star
"Free Joel Williams (Yup, That's Me)"

Camanche Lake, CA, USA
male, age 45
single, 1 child
Joined Dec 29, 2006
What I Want to Do:
Causes: child abuse, healing from trauma, PTSD, mental health care for prisoners, recovery from addiction, parents in prison
Activities: writing


 
Personal Professional Contact Singles
Joined Dec 29, 2006 Activist Aspirations Enthusiastic 
Here for Meeting Friends, Dating, Support a Cause 
Group Host of none yet
Groups Crime, Criminals, Prison & Rehabilitation, Shattered Minds, Stop Child Abuse, Murder, Exploitation and Neglect!
Hometown  
Homepage http://www.freejoelwilliams.org/FreeJoel.ht
ml  
Birthday Sept 23, 1964  
Languages  
About Me I find myself in the repeated position, all throughout my life, of trying to bring attention to my father's abuse of me. As a child, without voice or words to frame it, through hyper-arousal, intrusion, constriction, and just plain terror, wishing that someone in authority, -- mother, neighbor, teacher or police --will take me away and save me; and, also as an adolescent, through self-destructive and acting out behaviors, still without words to express the abuse, yet telling my story through my action; until finally, as a young adult, still withdrawn, hyper-vigilant, dissociated, and emotionally constricted, I told my story now through substance abuse, and rageful counterattack against my father. Now, as a middle aged man, after 20 years of imprisonment for pleading guilty to first degree murder and given a 27 years to life sentence, I am still calling attention to my father's abuse, which still echoes through the years, with this present attempt to file a writ of habeas corpus on my conviction. Although I've healed, and lessened some of the worst and destructive symptoms of my abuse, other less obvious ones persist. They will always haunt me. The one major physical hurdle now is my confinement.

I look around in disbelief at where I am, like I woke up after 20 years and saw strange surroundings. I feel as though I am thawing out, shaking the numbness, and as I do, I start to feel. Among these feelings are sadness at my life lost. thrown away, stolen, my past, my present, but hopefully not my future. I'm tired of being trauma's patsy, of being an actor in this tragedy and playing out the loser's part. I want healing, reconnection, community, to be a devoted and trustworthy friend, to love and be loved, and also to help others who suffer from the effects of trauma and abuse.

Joel Williams. D59854
Mule Creek State Prison, A3-114
P.O. Box 409020
Ione, CA 95640

Hi. My Name is Joel Williams.

I'm 42, white and American Indian. I've been in prison for the past 20 years. I killed my abusive father. I pled guilty and was sentenced to 27 years to life.

Recently, because of a new law (Penal Code Sec. 1473.5), I filed a writ of habeas corpus in Kern County Superior Court challenging my conviction. In short, 14.73.5 allows relief for incarcerated survivors who killed their abusers, allowing expert testimony on abuse and its effects, and how the survivor's experience of abuse related to the crime for which they were charged

11-21-2006 My writ was filed (HC9635A)

11-29-2006. My writ was denied by the court. Their reason was that it was "procedurally defective," that the service was improper. I forgot to send a "proof of service," meaning that I couldn't prove that I served legal documents on anyone. Oops. Hey! I'm new at this. I'm learning.

12-14-2006. I resubmitted my writ--this time with the "proof of service" and it was accepted (HC9675A). Whew! I was worried that I blew it. I admit ignorance of the law and its procedure. I didn't know anything about this until 2 months ago.

Prior to this, the Post Conviction Justice Project, at USC Law School, said they would review my case for representation as they take on cases similar to mine. I sent them the transcripts and documents requested. Months later, they sent me word that they would not accept my case because I was not a woman. Their limited funding only allowed them to represent women.

I got angry that people in Caifornia think that abuse only happens to women, and not children, adolescents or men. Abuse and trauma is blind to age, gender or race. According to the APA's Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, 4th Edition, "Post Traumatic Stress disorder" 309.81, the syndrome of trauma which underlies the now allowed exxpert testimony, describes people, persons or individuals who suffer traumatic events or elicit PTSD symptoms. Trauma does not discriminate.

So I sat down to prepare and file my own writ. Although I know nothing about law and legal maneuvering, I found in the prison library a few manuals on preparing writs. Armed with those, the evidence and penal codes, and an initiative and drive born of a taste for justice, I drafted my own writ and filed it. (See copy.) I know I have many hurdles to climb, but doing this makes me feel alive and invigorated.

I seek out and welcome any support -- moral, legal, healing and recovery related, I do not want money. I seek support and reconnection to others. I have been isolated for too long.

If you have any comments or suggestions, please write my address or email me.Thanks for your time. I'll keep you posted on further personal and legal develoopments.
  Introduce yourself to Joel
  Lifestyle
Pets  
Activist Aspirations Enthusiastic
Political Leaning Liberal
Religions Native American Spirituality, Native American Spirituality  
Eating Habits All kind of food  
Wild Fact About Me I'm en enrolled member of the Duck Valley Paiute Shoshone tribe. I play guitar and sing. I am pasionately interested in what makes people heal and change, especially through Depth Psychology.
My Philosophy
What Gives Me Hope
If I were Mayor, I'd make the world a better place by
What/who changed my life and why
What Bugs Me  
Passions  
Inspirations  
What Scares Me  
  Favorites
Role Models  
Quotation
Interests  
Books  
Music  
Movies  
TV Shows  
Favorite Foods  
Favorite Places  
Can't Live Without connecting with spirit within, telling the truth, music, sense of humour, generosity  
  Introduce yourself to Joel
 
Friends of Joel
none yet

My Butterfly Rewards
I’ve earned 0 Butterfly Credits
Kudos
no testimonials yet
Comment Board
No comments yet. Add one!
Profile theme: "C2C Default"   |    as your profile theme
Flag as Inappropriate
Copyright © 2009 Care2.com, inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved