Parole

January 17, 2011

For the past year, I've noticed dozens of guys being released on Community Supervision (Parole) after completing 85% of their prison terms, only to return for parole violations. Few of them are reinstated onto Community Supervision at their parole violation hearings.

Having spoken to many of these guys, I've learned the following information. hopefully providing this information will help those of you with loved ones on parole, or soon to be on parole.

With nearly everybody I've spoken to, two things were huge contributing factors in their returning to prison. Drugs and lack of adequate support.

Most guys stepped out of the prison gates with good intentions and the desire to successfully complete parole and get on with their lives. Returning to prison to kill their numbers wasn't even a fleeting thought.

Foreseeably, the job market, economy and costs of living were a huge problem. All of these guys had $50, or less, in their pockets upon their release, their loved ones had no income due to recently being layed off, and had no state government assistance due to legislative budget cuts to DES, AHCCCS, etc, so employment was a priority, although a hopeless one.

Most of them immediately began searching for employment with a positive sense of responsibility. Responsibility to loved ones and self. In order to help contribute, lessen burdens and occupy time. In a couple of instances, loved ones may have pushed their family member too insistently to gain employment out of desperate urgency for finances. All of them scoured the community for any legal form of employment. All of them came up empty-handed daily. Within 3 weeks, most of them were highly stressed, feeling hopeless and that they had failed their loved ones. Not only could they not find a job and contribute, but they felt they'd become another financial burden on their family.

Feeling employment wasn't a possibility any time soon, many of these guys went to ask for food stamps, AHCCCS (health insurance) and any other help they could get from local government. Most waited for hours in rooms packed with other people in need of help, only to be told that they don't qualify for help for various reason, although I suspect legislative budget cuts to these agencies and programs were the true reason. A few guys did get referrals to local churches for clothing and food box donations. One guy told me about a church in East Phoenix who gave him clothing, a food box, and a bus pass that was valid for a month to help with his job search.

Now, as many addicts will tell you, we all have our triggers. We all have something that sets off our giving in to our addiction. Combined with high stress, feelings of frustration, fear, hopelessness, defeat, failure, and uncertainty of what to do, many addicts relapse. For parolees, relapsing into using drugs/alcohol is a prelude to recidivism. Random urinalysis is common while on parole. Most parolees with any history of drug use are placed on "colors". The parolee is given a "color" by their PO. Every day the parolee calls a number where random colors are announced. If your color is announced-you go to drop a UA. Everybody's color comes around sometime.

Some PO's don't send you back to prison on your first dirty UA. They'll give you a chance to stop, go to counseling, and get back on track. Others will send you back, just to rid you from their huge caseload. Most of the guys recently were sent back for one hot UA, although one had six over a three month period.

Times are tough for most of you in society who don't have a cool million in the bank. Our state government here in Arizona has made a huge mess of our financial system in AZ. And seems to continue to make it worse. Legislators and our governor refuse to stop all of their political bickering and fix our budget properly. So, until that happens, things will remain tough and even worsen. How can you help your loved one on parole survive and get off parole? Here's my suggestions:

Try not to overwhelm him/her with hurrying them to get a job, but continue to encourage them to find work. Jobs are scarce, but it's good to keep looking. Stressing won't help either of you. Also, let your loved one know that it's okay if they can't find a job and encourage them to keep looking. If you can, join them in their job seeking.

Take a little time to talk with your loved one. Let them know that it's great to have them home and that they aren't a burden. In prison, we don't talk much about our feelings. Sometimes we'll feel that we aren't contributing or are in the way. We're not used to hearing kind words and encouragements so it'll go a long way.

Most importantly, if you loved one is an addict, pay attention to signs of them using or getting ready to. And in my opinion: many would argue in opposition, don't turn them in to their PO or the police for using, unless they are a danger to themselves or others. Talk to them. Try to get them to stop and/or into counseling. Telling their PO or the police will only get them locked up again, and could harm the relationship and will likely no help at all. Prison is full of drugs readily available. A sad reality. Due to AZ's Dept of Corrections and lawmakers' budget cutting decisions, prisons no longer have effective substance abuse classes, much less anything else to give your loved one help with addiction. You can persuade them to take advantage of innumerable meeting and groups out there. Free.

Communication, trust and patience. You'll all make it through these times. What do you think?

Killer Amongst Us

January 10, 2011

I don't know whether I'm simply more observant of what's going on in society or there has been a dramatic increase of incidents or the news has been reporting these occurances more often, but it seems society is becoming more and more violent and unconcerned with human lives and suffering.

For the past few days, I've watched the news of the mass shooting in Tucson, Arizona, which senselessly too the lives of so many people, including a federal judge and a child, not to mention six others. In addition to critically wounding more than a dozen other people, this person shot Congresswoman Gabriel Gifford from point blank range in the head.

It seems to me that people today no longer cherish life. My fellow man can take away the life of innocent people of any age, sex, race or religion without hesitation. Children, adults and elderly alike have lost their empathy and seem to no longer care.

At times I fear that society will be worse than some of the prisoners I'm locked up with. I've known many convicted murderers and other men who have committed horrible crimes. Many of them truly regret what they've done and would take it back if they could. The part that scares me most is that many of these guys were high or drunk. It seems today's killers are straight and/or suffering mental illnesses.

Am I the only one who is concerned and saddened by this?

My heart goes out to everybody suffering.

ACI Blues

December 17, 2010

Today I learned that Ron Bell, CEO/Owner of First Services, LLC, is under investigation and it is possible that he may not be returning to continue with his telemarketing business at Eagle Point Unit.

For those just joining Persevering Prison Pages, I had previously written about my resigning with First Services a few months ago.

Based on what I've heard discussed through the unit, here's the gist of it...

Mr. Bell was hiring prisoners to work for First Services, based on demand. When First Services would secure a contract with a business, generally on a trial basis, Mr. Bell would hire the number of prisoners required to fulfill the contract. Some of the prisoners hired by Mr. Bell do have computer skills, but most have only barely earned their GED (a requirement for working at ACI). It's apparent that Mr. Bell hired a prisoner who had more than just a functional knowledge of computers. This prisoner was employed by Mr. Bell for only a few months, when he was let go after Mr. Bell discovered that he was not performing the telemarketing calls he was hired to make.

Well, this guy left the yard and apparently on his way out he told the staff that while he was working at First Services, Ron Bell had him doing things which were not only a violation of ADOC/ACI policy, but could be a violation of State and Federal laws. Criminal acts.

Ron Bell has not been present, not anybody else, to run First Services' business since these accusations. All orangemen workers are suspended and not working either.

Rumor has it that Ron Bell and his employees (orangemen included) are under investigation for a range of things. Possibly obtaining a top of the line hacker program, hacking, stealing, and an inmate doing a blog from in First Services are just a few things ADOC is supposedly investigating. The blog I found interesting and had to ask about, which I spoke to the Lt., explaining how I had this and have had for multiple years and did it via a third party by pen, paper and snail-mail. Persevering Prison Pages has never had a single entry done from any computer inside prison. I don't suspect anything will pan out investigating me and my blog, because I'd never jeopardize this great faucet for me so stupidly, but I suspect this won't end that simply if it is in fact my blog they are investigating.

Having worked with Mr. Bell for awhile at First Services, I don't believe he is guilty of what has been said and I hope he gets a fair shake. Although I quit due to his misrepresenting his purpose for coming into prison for the betterment of prisoners, he is a good person and I can't imagine him allowing, much less recruiting someone to commit any of these things. He was a businessman. He wasn't the type to steal or cheat to get ahead. He did come to prison for prisoner labor, but in my opinion his only error was trying to capitalize on the labor of desperate and captive employees while trying to convince them he was trying to help them.

I hope that Mr. Bell gets a fair investigation and outcome. Do you think the inmate who left making these accusations will be charged since he admitted to his part? Should he?