The reality of prisons. Please dont read if you dont want to know.

[PonyGirl65]

Ok thanks Lil.

 

[savior no more]

"Classification Staff" are the case managers. Your son will have a case manager or case worker or something along those lines.

So would this be the person to send medical documentation to once they arrive ?

 

[Jabberwockey]

Actually, medical has their own set of records. You will want to talk to them before sending anything just in case there are issues with getting medical records from anywhere but a medical facility.

 

[savior no more]

Thanks.

 

[detachingmother]

Thank you. I have been one mom mildly hoping this would be Son's next destination. Of course, I really do not mean it. It's going to be up to his Judge when he's done with his 4 months in county, then 90 days in inpatient. Then, off to face his felony probation violation in another county.

Yes! I learned something too...the classification staff. I might need to know this...so making that mental note.

Son has said he would rather go to prison instead of county. This might mean many different things, more access to drugs might be one reason. Though he's never had a problem finding them anywhere else. Probably doing drugs right in the county. He did sound "paranoid" one day when I talked to him...not sure if it was bc he didn't take his own medications, or if it was drugs...And I know for a fact, he got a hold of another inmates depakote.

Like SK said, it would be more of a wish to at least know he's safe. Although I would bet that's not a given in the BIG house. In our state a prison boot camp program would be the first stop. Any info on that? The boot camp style? I am envisioning it to be similar to Army boot camp.

Thanks for the reminder. And, I also did not know the extent of the programs. That's also good to know.

Just a side thought: Our local prison has a warden in BIG trouble. He was caught doing very illegal things for quite some time. Yep, the Warden himself was involved in some very unsavory acts within and outside of the prison walls. With trying not to sound like the town gossip, I will leave out the details, other than one small bit...he had his third DUI (all three while being the Warden), and was also found to be getting money from inmates in a certain illegal way. There was heavy surveillance on him for a very long time, as well, before action was taken. Also, this was kept very hush hush...not even in the news to my knowledge, so I probably better not write too much.

Prison is surely NOT a good place to be, but in some cases it will help with maybe knowing where they are...

Thanks Jabberwockey. This was helpful info.

 

[Jabberwockey]

Son has said he would rather go to prison instead of county. This might mean many different things, more access to drugs might be one reason.

From what I've heard, drug access in most counties isn't a problem. If they want it, someone will figure out a way to get it in. The reason they prefer State facilities over County facilities is fairly simple. Most county facilities are designed for short term housing so they don't have some of the...for a lack of a better term...amenities that the state facilities do. There is no canteen to buy food and hygiene products and most don't allow smoking at all. Then there is the fact that a lot of offenders from state facilities are housed temporarily in county facilities while out to court. LONG story, will explain if you want but not right now. Point is, when these offenders are staying there for court they tend to prey on the less experienced offenders in county. Some of them are much more violent that people in county are used to dealing with as well.

In our state a prison boot camp program would be the first stop. Any info on that?

Sorry, but not really. Missouri quit doing that years ago and it was at a facility I never worked at.

Our local prison has a warden in BIG trouble. He was caught doing very illegal things for quite some time.

Yeah, that tends to happen in Corrections. A lot. When I first started, the Major (head honcho over all custody staff) had a suspended license due to DWI's and he and a Lieutenant were under investigation for Conspiracy to Commit Murder. Never actually got charged with that to the best of my knowledge. Then there was the incident where staff was stealing food from the kitchen late at night, having the inmates prepare it in their cells, then selling it to staff and inmates alike. Yeah, corrections tends to draw in some unsavory people sometimes. That and it can corrupt good people who keep trying to tread water when they're in over their heads instead of asking for help. I could tell a bunch of stories that just happened to me. Fortunately, I've managed to not get caught up even though I have picked up some bad habits here.

Also, this was kept very hush hush...not even in the news to my knowledge,

Yeah, that happens too! Cant let the department get a black eye and all that!

 

[Lil]

Fortunately, I've managed to not get caught up even though I have picked up some bad habits here.

You didn't "manage" to not get caught up dear. You simply aren't the type to break the law, so you would never do what they do.

Though what bad habits you've picked up, I'd like to know.

We have another member on here, Donna I believe, who also works in prisons in another state. Perhaps she'll be along and be able to help with the boot camp question.

@donna723 is that you?

 

[Jabberwockey]

Though what bad habits you've picked up, I'd like to know.

I can do the inmate hand off like a pro and where do you think I learned how to get past locked doors without keys?

 

[Lil]

I've never actually seen you do either one of those, lol - so I guess I'm pleased you keep your bad habits away from home.

 

[detachingmother]

Then there was the incident where staff was stealing food from the kitchen late at night, having the inmates prepare it in their cells,

These people were "extorting" money from inmates, often giving them items they wanted for the money, sometimes not. I still have no idea how they couldve been getting money from inmates, maybe family members on the outside, maybe taking their money orders or something...I don't know.

They were then clocking in and going to the casino, while supposed to be on duty. They weren't only corrupt, but were also very stupid with their criminal mentality. It was very obvious what they were doing there...pretty dumb when you go right where there are cameras with time stamps.That's just one other thing. They were corrupt in probably every way possibe. Sadly, the guy I have heard was transferred to another prison, not fired. His assistant (not sure what her exact title was, but she was high up there)...she was driving him all over to do what he wanted. She lost everything, including her retirement package, with only one or two more years to go before retirement.

Anyway....You mentioned the violence. Yah, that's one that very much so worries me. Embarrassingly, my son would be new to prison, but he's no stranger to handling himself.

 

[pigless in VA]

Family members are no longer allowed to send offenders stamps because people kept lacing the adhesive with Acid.

Whoa. That's pretty shocking. But can't acid be laced into any kind of paper? Plus, you have to wonder why anyone would want to be tripping while locked up. That sounds like a recipe for disaster.

 

[Jabberwockey]

Its pointless to lace something if they dont know what to lick/consume. I agree, prison is most definitely a place I woudnt want to be compromised like that but its VERY popular. Thats why we have PREA, the Prison Rape Elimination Act.

 

[Roxona]

This is true but we are trying to overcome this. That's what my Employability Skills class is about. We try to teach them some things to help get an employer past the convicted felon thing.

I imagine this is becoming beyond difficult overcome. Most jobs require you to apply online these days. Once they see anything that resembles "felony," they move on to the next applicant. No call...no interview.

My son was arrested for 3 felony counts for contributing to the delinquency of a minor and 3 felony counts for serving alcohol to a minor. He had just turned 18 and had 3 of his 17 year old friends in his truck. Two of the minors had alcohol on them. J did not. J spent four days in county jail (because I wouldn't bail him out), but charges were never made. The DA dismissed the case nolle prosequi.

After that, J has had such a difficult time finding someone that would hire him. All counts were dismissed, yet he was being told they do not hire felons, but he's not a felon! I can only imagine how impossible it is for someone who actually has a felony to get a job.

 

[A dad]

The best way for him to get a job is trough networking lets be honest here most people get jobs trough acquaintances, friends and family even people that do not have a criminal record have a hard time finding a job trough the not networking way for people with criminal record its even harder.
Now I do not know how his social skills are but he can start with family.

 

[GoingNorth]

I have gotten ALL my IT jobs, even the first one, where I started out as a control clerk, through networking or "knowing the right people". Of course,I have a clean criminal record a an adult.

I do have a pot bust when I was sixteen, 50 dollar fine, a drug class after which my record was expunged, and my parents grounded my butt except for work for the rest of the summer.

All that for a roach in a cigarette pack. I suppose I'm lucky as that was before the "war on drugs" and laws were more lenient, at least for white, middle class appearing kids.

 

[Jabberwockey]

The best way for him to get a job is trough networking

Networking is the biggie. People don't realize that having someone on the inside, even if they don't know you all that well, is a HUGE boost.

I imagine this is becoming beyond difficult overcome.

In some ways its getting better, in some ways its getting worse. Online applications aren't really affecting them so much as ease of access to the general public to information on felonies.

 

[Tired Mom]

I imagine this is becoming beyond difficult overcome. Most jobs require you to apply online these days. Once they see anything that resembles "felony," they move on to the next applicant. No call...no interview.

My son was arrested for 3 felony counts for contributing to the delinquency of a minor and 3 felony counts for serving alcohol to a minor. He had just turned 18 and had 3 of his 17 year old friends in his truck. Two of the minors had alcohol on them. J did not. J spent four days in county jail (because I wouldn't bail him out), but charges were never made. The DA dismissed the case nolle prosequi.

After that, J has had such a difficult time finding someone that would hire him. All counts were dismissed, yet he was being told they do not hire felons, but he's not a felon! I can only imagine how impossible it is for someone who actually has a felony to get a job.

Curiously even though the charges were dropped do they still show up on a background check? Difficult child just completed his two years of PTI today. The paperwork is being mailed to us but I thought that once he completed PTI and then kept clean for another 6 months he could petition to have it sealed and that it wouldn't show up on background checks. I could be wrong difficult child has poor social skills this would be very difficult for him to explain in an interview.

Not sure if difficult child fully appreciates it but today is his 22nd birthday being done with PTI and not having that hang over his head anymore is a great birthday present.

 

[Jabberwockey]

It varies from state to state so I cant say for sure. I can say that most every state has a Case.net where you can look that kind of stuff up. As it tends to be charges and court actions, not sure if it would go away if it were sealed. The fact of the matter is, once something is on the internet, it tends to be there forever.

 

[savior no more]

before the "war on drugs" and laws were more lenient, at least for white, middle class appearing kids.

I'm with you on the leniency before the war on drugs. When I was 15 in the 70's the cops would just take me home and say, " Mrs. So and So, we know your daughter was not doing anything. She was just with some guys who had some marijuana. Little did they know. I could have easily been a convicted felon with my behavior. I never got caught and it was a different day.

 

[GoingNorth]

Well, the cop who took me home wasn't that lenient.He told me parent's that I'd been caught with a "partially smoked marijuana cigarette", and that he was sorry, but he had had to write me a ticket." He went on to explain how if I took a class the arrest would be expunged from my record, and suggested my parents should probably be more concerned about the cigarettes than the pot.

Like you, if I had been caught with any of the other stuff I was doing at that age, I'd have gone to juvie if I'd have been lucky enough to not be tried as an adult. I was a bit of a wild child in the mid-late 70s, though oddly, despite using fairly heavily, I never dealt. I worked at least one job throughout that entire time period and used drugs recreationally. Paid for them with a portion of my earnings.

Never became hooked on anything until an idiot of a shrink got me dependent on benzos in my late 40s, which I still am, much to my and my current psychiatrist's disgust.

Problem is that benzo withdrawal is so bad and so dangerous, even in the low doses in which I take them, that at this point, my psychiatrist feels I'm better off staying on them than trying to do even a slow taper.

Other than that. The year after I married, my husband and I decided that he would go on delayed enlistment to the Army, and we both quit all drug use while husband tried desperately to put on the 20lbs the Army insisted he gain before they'd let him in.