Dealing with local jails

Well, for the sake of continuity, I feel obliged to update the status of 'P', one of our sisters before going on to report on my personal dealings with a local jail.

'P' is now heading for almost 90 days clean. In the interim, she was hospitalised due to a staff infection that she gets rather regularly now. She was also diagnosed with Hepatitis C. These are the consequences of her earlier behaviour (intravenous drug use and risky sexual activity). These are things no government can take away, things no amount of therapy can correct. She has them, and now must live with them. What she realised she did not have to live with, was a job that did not offer her medical insurance or ample time for sick days. To her benefit, she successfully sought out alternative employment, and now enjoys a job for which she was trained following one of her rehabs. She has an office.

An old family friend, 'J', I mentioned in my last post. He is also in recovery and on probation for an incident that happened when his marriage fell apart (he attacked a man that was in his house, having sex with his wife). He is divorced and, paying child support for 2 young children and alimony. A few weeks ago, J went in to probation to pay his child support. Apparently, if you are on probation, you pay probation the money and they track where it goes (into an account they have set up for the payees). He went in on a Friday. What happened next I would not have believed had I not been an eye-witness to the court proceedings the following Monday.

J was arrested; they told him that there was a warrant for his arrest for non-payment. This did not make sense to J, but given his experiences with the CJ system, he had learned to be a 'good little boy' and just do what he was told. He was not given a lawyer. His case manager was on vacation (confirmed in court on Monday).

On Monday, after four days now incarcerated and under state control, and out of work (J works construction and had jobs throughout the weekend), J finally saw a Judge. Now, this is interesting as well. I called the jail and found out when he would be seeing a Judge. So, I was present in the courtroom. However, J was not. Instead, the 'prisoners' were seen by the Judge via live video feed from the jail which is a few blocks away from the courthouse. So, when his name was called and he appeared on screen to the courtroom, J was not told who was in the 'audience'.

I have been told since then that this is 'public', thus, there is no requirement to inform prisoners of who is present in the court. I think this is bullshit. It seems a violation of basic rights to me. If he were actually present in court, he would know who was there, bearing witness. This way, he and none of the other men (and one woman) on trial are aware of who is watching them. If it made me uncomfortable ( I felt salacious and sneaky watching these people without their consent), it certainly seems it should make them uncomfortable. And, let's not forget, these are people who have not been found guilty of anything yet!

So, J's name is called and instantly, the Judge and 2 prosecutors there realise that they have the wrong person. That's right ladies and gentleman, they simply had not bothered to check the birthdays or social security numbers, it was just Js plain dumb luck that he had the same name as someone who had failed to make his payments.

And, what is worse is that even after that miscarriage of justice, he was simply dismissed --- AFTER SIX more hours of processing in the jail. Not only that, but when we went to pick him up at the jail release spot, WE were treated with disrespect.

So, in sum, this man was locked up for four days, for doing nothing, made to wait an additional six hours even after they realised it was THE PROBATION department's mistake - and, as far as I can tell by the resounding silence on the issue now, weeks later - made to feel that this type of treatment is first of all legal (which it is NOT) and normal. In essence, the message is, 'You're a piece of garbage and therefore have no rights becauise of things you did in the past' which violates just about every constitutional and human right I know of.

I wrote the jail to report the abuses I suffered (When I went to collect this man, a correctional guard told me - after waiting at the jail for 3 hours longer than I was told - that he would 'get out when he gets out'. I said 'when is that?' to which I was told, 'When I finish this cigarette and run the warrants'. Wow. So, you have to consider here that if you make any trouble, another 'mistake' could happen and that unless you have the money to hire a lawyer, you have to accept it. However, since reading also this series in the Boston Globe and listening to President Jimmy Carter a few weeks ago, I think I am not going to let this go despite the obvious obstacles of time and money. When my own schedule calms down, I will go to the local papers. I did receive a reply from the jail; they told me who to contact (a Captain). I called him and left a voicemail. he never called me back. I wrote the jail again. We'll see what happens.

This probably doesn't make much sense now, when I have a chance I will come back and revise.

til then...

Update: fines, laws and 60 days clean

It's fall now. P has been clean for almost 60 days. She has a job. We hope, but we do so now with less anticipation.

P has had to pay for her own 'hair test'. Drug offenders now have to have their hair strands tested as urine samples are too unreliable. They also are asked to shell out huge sums of money at a moments notice for their tests. I understand the punishment rationale, but considering the enormous financial impact most addicts have already had on their families - not to mention the precariousness of employment due to felon unfriendly hiring practices - this requirement seems to work against the goal of desistance (the cessation of alcohol and substance abuse).

I learned today that there was federal legislation passed in the last ten years that denies anyone with a felon drug offense from receiving public assistance. Unless you have children or mental illness, you cannot get welfare or other 'cash assistances' (though I am not exactly clear on what this means, I think it means the new welfare and things like food stamps. P and another recovering addict I have become familiar with in the last 2 weeks both receive medical assistance. P has Medicaid but she has children (though not in her care); 'J' gets 'charity care' and has children though they are not formally in his care either.

Recovering addicts drink red-bull a lot and smoke a lot.

I read a study yesterday that disaggregated one of the most major criminological findings that exists, criminality is most strongly related to age. Apparently, however, this 'age-crime' curve as it is known to criminologists is slightly different for whites and for different behaviours.

(This is where I need to learn how to add images, in the meantime, I will try and explain):

Most people commit most of their delinquent acts between the ages of 18 and 27, after that there is a dramatic decline that does not rise again. However, for blacks the decline is not as steep and rises a bit again after age 30.

Property crimes begin earlier and fall sooner, violent crimes take longer to increase and once established, longer to cease.

I will pick up on this later...out of time

She's back

She's back. From the underground of Asbury or some such place.

For me, I have lost some willingness or ability to feel anything about it. Not only that, but I don't feel guilty either.

Maybe this time will be the time she really gets out of the drugs for good. We'll see...

P and her Biker

We found out last night that P is now shacked up with a 50 year old biker. Great. Apparently, the sheriff's found her and arrested her for not showing up to her court dates. She was in jail for a night. This guy bailed her out at a $1,600.00. Egads.

She told my Dad she is going to a 30 day outpatient treatment. I doubt this will happen. I hope it does, but this is about the gazillion time she has said this - not including the times we have tried and walked her through going only to have her sign herself out. She needs a long term program - far away. Everyone seems to know this, but there is no money to pay for it. If there is through charity care or Medicaid that she could apply for,m then there are no spots open.

My Dad came home from work early yesterday after talking to her. I think it just takes such a toll on him. He said he told her he would take her for dinner tonight. I asked him if he though I could go but he said it would be too much for her and maybe he is right.

Her kids were with us yesterday (I took the day off from work). Her daughter stayed the night. They won't ever be right. I say this not out of pessimism, but realism. It's just what happens. Feckin life. Sux.

Twisting Arms Or a Helping Hand?

Twisting Arms Or a Helping Hand?

Assessing the Impact of ‘Coerced’ and Comparable ‘Voluntary’ Drug Treatment Options

Tim McSweeney, Alex Stevens, Neil Hunt and Paul J. Turnbull^*

Tim McSweeney is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Criminal Policy Research, School of Law, King's College London
Alex Stevens is a Senior Researcher at the European Institute of Social Services, School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research, University of Kent
Neil Hunt is Director of Research for KCA; Honorary Senior Research Associate at the European Institute of Social Services, School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research, University of Kent; Honorary Research Fellow with the Centre for Research on Drugs and Health Behaviour, London; and Chair of the UK Harm Reduction Alliance
Paul J. Turnbull is Deputy Director at the Institute for Criminal Policy Research, School of Law, King's College London

^* Correspondence to Tim McSweeney, Institute for Criminal Policy Research, School of Law, King's College London, 26–29 Drury Lane, London WC2B 5RL; tim.mcsweeney@kcl.ac.uk.

	Abstract

Despite the rapid expansion of options to coerce drug-dependent offenders into treatment—culminating recently in the provisions of the 2005 Drugs Act and the government's ‘Tough Choices’ agenda—research findings to date are equivocal about their impact in reducing crime. This paper presents UK findings from a pan-European study on this issue. The results—at both national and international levels—reveal that court-mandated clients reported significant and sustained reductions in illicit drug use and offending behaviours, and improvements in other areas of social functioning. Those entering the same treatment services through non-criminal justice routes also reported similar reductions and improvements. The implications of these findings are discussed in the context of recent policy developments.

Quick update

We tried to file a 'missing persons' report on P a few eeks ago after receiving some registered mail for her concerning her upcoming court dates. When we did this, a MB officer came tot he house. Apparently, the PO around MC know P and as such, knew she was not missing but in a different town. There are race issues here that are touchy to talk about without being offensive. So, apologies in advance (not thta anyone is reading this). Still, our sister is white and the area she is in is primarily african American. When I go looking for her, or my father goes looking for her - we stabnd out like sore thumbs. People know who she is and usually where she is.

So, she had a court date because her PTI had been violated. In NJ, first time drug offenders are given something called Pre-trial Intervention. Aslong as they adhere to the requirements, they won't have anything carry over on their record. This means they have to make regular visits to a probabtion officer and do community service. P did neither. She broke a few probation officer meetings and she came up with some story about how the man who was running the community service she had to do was hitting on her. Actually, he may have been but she should have just looked for another placement. I suppose this task presents itself quite differently to an addict vs a non-addict. In my opinion, P needs quick, stern disipline - not this kind of openly liberal thing. How can someone who has been reduced by drug taking to their most basic human functions and level comprehend something like liberal civility? It may make 'us' (as a society) feel good, but it can't help her.

After we tried to file the MP report, P called my father. She found out we were looking for her and wanted to get us off her back. We got an address and my dad was in touch with her a bit. The sister that I started this blog with, P1, let's say - and I went there one day. She was there but had someone come out and say she wasn't.

Two days ago my father got a call from the woman she was staying with saying that P had moved into some man's place around the corner. I can't even think about it. It all makes me feel so bizarre.

Anyway, that's that for now...I've not the energy to go into the last 2 weeks with her children.

Living with a ghost

One of our three sisters is an addict. It started (as far as we know) about 6 years ago when we discovered she had developed an addiction to prescription pain killers. Since then, she has been in and out of treatment, clean and relapsing, with and without her kids, connecting and then disappearing from us.

Living with a loved one who is an addict puts you in a bizarre position. How much of her is still there? How do we recognize this person who we grew up with now who does unimaginable things (prostitution, heroine, crack, using her 6 year old daughter's urine to pass drug tests)? What do you do with all the love you have, when you have no where to put it, but can't turn it off? It's not like she is actually gone, but for all intensive purposes - she is.

So, we have resolved to start writing about our experiences, our feelings and about what we learn, or continue not to know about being part of a family with an addict. We have resolved to try a new approach, one not advocated by popular shows (e.g. 'Intervention' ) to handle her with 'tough love'. But, can we do it? So, we will talk about how that feels and any impact it has. We also want to document what we learn about the formal services available in the state of NJ in 2007. From hospital crisis staff, to probation officers, to jail and prison staff, to local police officers - we find ourselves chronically a bit confused and usually surprised at the lack of consistency and hope.

One of us is a criminologist (PhD, Cambridge) by training and the other writing here has a BA in Sociology (Rutgers). We're not uninformed and we're not without resources. Our other sister is not writing here, the addict's twin - make of that what you will for now, we may talk about it at some point.

We're also a family highly shaped by our Sicilian roots. My mother's father came over through Ellis Island from Palermo and his ways dominated (and still do). Family is supreme and what what my sister feels is what I feel. The social contract is central; enmeshment is normative. This is an ode I know now to belong to immigrant populations and/or native populations but, it is difficult to be objective about. I am sure this perspective of ours will influence what follows.