Last night I got a phone call from Lorne and to say that he was at an emotional low would be an understatement. His cellmate got all of his things "rolled up" (prison slang for taking an inventory of an inmates possessions before they are moved to another facility) because he was heading off to one of the camps around NV to finish his last three years. "Everyone is going home...why can't I come home?...this place sucks and I am so tired of being here." All I could say was "I know baby...I know" The reality is, I don't know. I know what it is like to be separated from people you love but I can go visit them whenever I want. I have the freedom to move from place to place if need be. What do you say to someone who feels such a victim of an exceptionally long sentence with no seeming recourse? where are his paroles? where do you draw the line between "justice" and "revenge"?
It occurred to me that being in a relationship with me has to be emotionally difficult for him. I am outside with access to all the things that Lorne loves, especially technology. I am the small bit of "normal" he has access to and that has got to be painful for him. I remind him of all the things that he is missing out on and a subtle reminder that the world is passing him by, that every day that goes by is another day locked inside a world that he does not want to be a part of any longer.
I told him I loved him but I don't think that was enough. What do you say when someone tells you "I should have let them beat the hell out of me, if they had, I wouldn't be here"? Am I supposed to say "yes dear, you should have let those guys beat you"? It feels like no matter what I say in response, it will never be the right thing or the understanding words that he needs to hear to feel better.
All I can think to tell him is "I love you baby" and listen as he responds, "I love you too". But I know deep in my heart that it's not enough...its just not enough.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
Ya gotta have faith....
As a bit of background, I spent four years working with the earth based religious groups at Lovelock Correctional Center. I did this from 2004 till 2008 when I left Nevada entirely. As an outside facilitator I had a little more leeway in providing for the religious needs of my students than the facility chaplain. (Whose name at Lovelock at the time I was there was Richard Garcia, a very kind and spiritual man. I really liked him as he was extremely respectful of all the different religions he had to assist) Being a facility chaplain can't have been easy since you are charged with meeting the needs of all inmates not just the group you may be affiliated with. Outside sponsors like myself served a vital role in bridging gaps for certain groups. Even though most of my work was with the Wiccans, from time to time I did interface with the Druid group and the Asatru group.
It was through my volunteer work at Lovelock that I met Lorne. He had a bit of trouble getting to class for the first couple of months since he was in a different yard but he finally managed to get transferred to the other side and was able to attend classes with about 12 others. Wicca, as a practice on the inside, gets its share of "posers" people who attend these types of classes because they think they can get different "stuff" for their religious practices than everyone else. Needless to say, I had a few of them...however, Lorne was one of three exceptional students. He had quite a bit of knowledge when I met him and he was very hungry for more. He was also very sincere in his desire to learn more about his path. He felt that it would really help him gain insight as to some of his attitudes towards women. I was able to spend about a year with Lorne before he was transferred to Nevada State Prison and I was no longer able to contact him since I was still working on the inside. As a teacher, I was crushed...I was losing one of my best students and while I knew he would carry on in his studies without me, it left me very empty inside.
Being a pagan in prison is not easy. You can forget about using any tools since most have been deemed "a threat to the safety and security of the institution". Using herbs or even growing things are for the most part, forbidden as well. Grounds where groups practice usually have to be shared with other groups. (something the Odinists/Asatrus really hate doing) Rituals must be done during daylight hours only since once the sun goes down, all inmates are confined to their houses/pods/tiers. Food has to be provided by the prison if there is to be food there at all and IF clearance is obtained in advance and IF it is one of the holidays they will provide for and IF the correctional officers remember to pick it up from the chow hall...most of the time practitioners of the group just donate small amounts of food from thheir personal stuffs for their rituals...a small box of crackers here, a bunch of drink mixes, cookies, etc.
As a facilitator, it was wonderful to watch all my students grow in their faith and craft. It was amazing watching Lorne grow in the one year that he studied with me, he was so hungry for knowledge. When we re-connected I was very pleased to see that he continued on in his studies and that he had grown so much as an individual and as a leader at NSP. He takes his faith very seriously and for that I am really glad. He's a much better partner since he took the time to learn about himself and about women...giving them an equal voice, seeing them as a partner not just as an appendage. If you ever have the opportunity to ask him about women, you should...the answers will be startling.
Yes, I am very happy that I am the recipient of all that he has learned and happier still that this is yet another items that binds us together.
It was through my volunteer work at Lovelock that I met Lorne. He had a bit of trouble getting to class for the first couple of months since he was in a different yard but he finally managed to get transferred to the other side and was able to attend classes with about 12 others. Wicca, as a practice on the inside, gets its share of "posers" people who attend these types of classes because they think they can get different "stuff" for their religious practices than everyone else. Needless to say, I had a few of them...however, Lorne was one of three exceptional students. He had quite a bit of knowledge when I met him and he was very hungry for more. He was also very sincere in his desire to learn more about his path. He felt that it would really help him gain insight as to some of his attitudes towards women. I was able to spend about a year with Lorne before he was transferred to Nevada State Prison and I was no longer able to contact him since I was still working on the inside. As a teacher, I was crushed...I was losing one of my best students and while I knew he would carry on in his studies without me, it left me very empty inside.
Being a pagan in prison is not easy. You can forget about using any tools since most have been deemed "a threat to the safety and security of the institution". Using herbs or even growing things are for the most part, forbidden as well. Grounds where groups practice usually have to be shared with other groups. (something the Odinists/Asatrus really hate doing) Rituals must be done during daylight hours only since once the sun goes down, all inmates are confined to their houses/pods/tiers. Food has to be provided by the prison if there is to be food there at all and IF clearance is obtained in advance and IF it is one of the holidays they will provide for and IF the correctional officers remember to pick it up from the chow hall...most of the time practitioners of the group just donate small amounts of food from thheir personal stuffs for their rituals...a small box of crackers here, a bunch of drink mixes, cookies, etc.
As a facilitator, it was wonderful to watch all my students grow in their faith and craft. It was amazing watching Lorne grow in the one year that he studied with me, he was so hungry for knowledge. When we re-connected I was very pleased to see that he continued on in his studies and that he had grown so much as an individual and as a leader at NSP. He takes his faith very seriously and for that I am really glad. He's a much better partner since he took the time to learn about himself and about women...giving them an equal voice, seeing them as a partner not just as an appendage. If you ever have the opportunity to ask him about women, you should...the answers will be startling.
Yes, I am very happy that I am the recipient of all that he has learned and happier still that this is yet another items that binds us together.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
"That which we call a rose, By any other name, would smell as sweet."
I love roses. I think they are some of the most beautiful flowers in the world. I have a special fondness for heritage roses...those rose strains that have not been bred with others to change specific traits about them.
Last year, after Lorne and I became a couple, he acquired a small rose plant and planted it out on the grounds he uses for his religious practices. It was a tiny sliver of a plant and he was VERY concerned that it would not make it through the winter. He planted it about May of last year and nurtured it so that it would have solid root growth for the winter. H watered it, kept it mulched and gave it regular fertilizer. He reports on the progress of "my rose" weekly and , according to him, it is doing quite well.
I think that our relationship is a lot like that little rose plant. It started off with a tiny sliver and we have both worked really hard to keep it not only alive, but to keep it growing too. We know that we have to work very hard to keep the lines of communication open. Something that is not easily done when you have 2,000 miles separating you and visits are twice a year. The "fertilizer" of our relationship is that we tell each other the truth...even when it is painful for us to tell (or hear) because we know that without the ability to be so open and honest with each other, we run the risk of other things coming between us.
Yup...I love roses...not only are they some of the most beautiful plants, but they can be some of the most hardiest as well.
Last year, after Lorne and I became a couple, he acquired a small rose plant and planted it out on the grounds he uses for his religious practices. It was a tiny sliver of a plant and he was VERY concerned that it would not make it through the winter. He planted it about May of last year and nurtured it so that it would have solid root growth for the winter. H watered it, kept it mulched and gave it regular fertilizer. He reports on the progress of "my rose" weekly and , according to him, it is doing quite well.
I think that our relationship is a lot like that little rose plant. It started off with a tiny sliver and we have both worked really hard to keep it not only alive, but to keep it growing too. We know that we have to work very hard to keep the lines of communication open. Something that is not easily done when you have 2,000 miles separating you and visits are twice a year. The "fertilizer" of our relationship is that we tell each other the truth...even when it is painful for us to tell (or hear) because we know that without the ability to be so open and honest with each other, we run the risk of other things coming between us.
Yup...I love roses...not only are they some of the most beautiful plants, but they can be some of the most hardiest as well.
Friday, May 27, 2011
The View From Inside...Lorne's Voice Pt. 1
NOTE: From time to time Lorne will be sending me his perspective on life inside. Trust me when I say, inmates don't think like the rest of us...it truly is a whole other world inside. The following note is a letter that Lorne asked me to post for followers to read.
Tuesday May, 17, 2011
Sitting in the office at work this morning (I am the gymnasium clerk), another gym worker and I were discussing some of the other inmates whom we've known and who've been sent to the hole. As a result of this conversation, it occurred to me that the possible impending closure of Nevada State Prison (NSP) is creating yet another advantage for those inmates who get into trouble over those of us who do our best to stay disciplinary-free.
Because of the director's zeal to shut down as much of NSP as possible, NSP has no unit which is designated as the hole. Inmates who get sent to the hole as a result of disciplinary sanction, being put under investigations, or whatever other reason are held in a temporary holding cell on the bottom floor of the worker's unit until they're absolved of whatever wrongdoing of which they've been accused and let back out into the yard or until they're shipped off the yard. Those who are shipped off the yard go to Warm Springs Correctional Center (WSCC) Northern Nevada Correctional Center (NNCC) or Ely State Prison (ESP), this last if they've done something really horrible and I use that phrase loosely.
The irony of this is that with the exception of ESP, which is Nevada's primary maximum security establishment, most inmates, me included, feel that WSCC and NNCC are far preferable destinations than the one to which the vast majority, if not the entirety, of NSP inmates are slated to go to if NSP does indeed close, that is to say High Desert State Prison (HDSP), where they have major problems with both water and power. It is my understanding that you can only flush the cell toilets every so often like once an hour, and that surge protectors are not allowed so that you can only have two appliances plugged in at a time. Furthermore, HDSP has very little, if any, movement, so suffice it to say that doing time at HDSP or anywhere down south right now for that matter just sucks. To add insult to injury, I would be losing my job so that will trim a few meager bucks off my monthly income but more importantly, will cost me work time credits, making my expiration date for this sentence further back.
Meanwhile, these other inmates who got shipped to WSCC and NNCC did a couple of weeks to a month in the hole and are now walking those respective yards. They may have even acquired other jobs by now. it makes me feel as if I should go to the hole for something serious, but not serious enough to go to ESP, just so that I can stay up north and get to a yard where there's plenty of movement and some semblance of normality. It seem preferable to a trip to HDSP, which is my punishment for holding down a job and staying disciplinary free. Obviously, the lesson to be learned here is that there is no regard for doing the right thing, following the rules and being an upstanding, model inmate. And people wonder about why Nevada has such a high recidivism rate.
Just chalk it up to their great incentives for good behavior.
**For those unfamiliar with the term "the hole", it is where inmates who can't follow the rules are placed until a decision has been made about what to do with them. Most facilities have a separate area for them, like a pod or wing. Interaction with others as well as mail, phone and visiting and other privileges are very restricted. This is not the case at NSP as Lorne notes in his letter.**
Tuesday May, 17, 2011
Sitting in the office at work this morning (I am the gymnasium clerk), another gym worker and I were discussing some of the other inmates whom we've known and who've been sent to the hole. As a result of this conversation, it occurred to me that the possible impending closure of Nevada State Prison (NSP) is creating yet another advantage for those inmates who get into trouble over those of us who do our best to stay disciplinary-free.
Because of the director's zeal to shut down as much of NSP as possible, NSP has no unit which is designated as the hole. Inmates who get sent to the hole as a result of disciplinary sanction, being put under investigations, or whatever other reason are held in a temporary holding cell on the bottom floor of the worker's unit until they're absolved of whatever wrongdoing of which they've been accused and let back out into the yard or until they're shipped off the yard. Those who are shipped off the yard go to Warm Springs Correctional Center (WSCC) Northern Nevada Correctional Center (NNCC) or Ely State Prison (ESP), this last if they've done something really horrible and I use that phrase loosely.
The irony of this is that with the exception of ESP, which is Nevada's primary maximum security establishment, most inmates, me included, feel that WSCC and NNCC are far preferable destinations than the one to which the vast majority, if not the entirety, of NSP inmates are slated to go to if NSP does indeed close, that is to say High Desert State Prison (HDSP), where they have major problems with both water and power. It is my understanding that you can only flush the cell toilets every so often like once an hour, and that surge protectors are not allowed so that you can only have two appliances plugged in at a time. Furthermore, HDSP has very little, if any, movement, so suffice it to say that doing time at HDSP or anywhere down south right now for that matter just sucks. To add insult to injury, I would be losing my job so that will trim a few meager bucks off my monthly income but more importantly, will cost me work time credits, making my expiration date for this sentence further back.
Meanwhile, these other inmates who got shipped to WSCC and NNCC did a couple of weeks to a month in the hole and are now walking those respective yards. They may have even acquired other jobs by now. it makes me feel as if I should go to the hole for something serious, but not serious enough to go to ESP, just so that I can stay up north and get to a yard where there's plenty of movement and some semblance of normality. It seem preferable to a trip to HDSP, which is my punishment for holding down a job and staying disciplinary free. Obviously, the lesson to be learned here is that there is no regard for doing the right thing, following the rules and being an upstanding, model inmate. And people wonder about why Nevada has such a high recidivism rate.
Just chalk it up to their great incentives for good behavior.
**For those unfamiliar with the term "the hole", it is where inmates who can't follow the rules are placed until a decision has been made about what to do with them. Most facilities have a separate area for them, like a pod or wing. Interaction with others as well as mail, phone and visiting and other privileges are very restricted. This is not the case at NSP as Lorne notes in his letter.**
Friday, May 20, 2011
I read the news today....oh boy
When Lorne and I got together, I had told him that I didn't want to know the details of how he came to be incarcerated until I was able to tell him that I loved him. The day that I told him, he sat down to write out the story of how he came to be in prison. He gave me all the details I needed. It was hard to believe that Lorne, my kind, gentle, Lorne killed a man. Lorne remembers very little of that night. I think that is a combination of the brutal beating he sustained (that culminated in him having his jaw wired shut for six weeks) and the emotional trauma of being viciously attacked like he was.
As our relationship develops and unfolds, he sends me things. One of the things that I asked him to send me was any legal paperwork he has for the blog. Today I received the first packet of legal paperwork. The first and largest chunk was the transcripts form his sentencing hearing. This was probably the most painful of the documents to read since it included victim impact statements from the family members of the man who Lorne killed as well as his other victim, the one of whom he assaulted. Certainly these are gut wrenching statements from family members who are mourning the loss of their loved ones. However, the story that the prosecutor presented at sentencing was that Lorne was a vicious killing machine, hell bent of taking the life of someone that night. It was difficult for me to see Lorne being portrayed that way. That could not possibly be MY Lorne they were talking about. Attached to that was some of the support letters for Lorne..all of them portrayed Lorne as I know him to be. Hardworking, intelligent and someone who is devoted and faithful to his friends and family. So Lorne's conviction stands as thus...Count 1 Voluntary Manslaughter 120 months; 24 mos. minimum before he can be eligible for parole. Another 120 month term to be served consecutively as a use of a deadly weapons enhancement. Count II Attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon, 240 months; 48 month minimum before he can be parole eligible...another 240 months for the weapons enhancement; 48 month minimum before he can be eligible for parole. Count II runs consecutive to Count I. 30 years total before Lorne will see the light of day. 30 years because he had the gall to fight back after he was brutally beaten by 3 people who were drunk and high. The prosecutors portrayed them as people just hanging out having a good time...the coroners report paints a very different picture, but that is for another blog posting.
As our relationship develops and unfolds, he sends me things. One of the things that I asked him to send me was any legal paperwork he has for the blog. Today I received the first packet of legal paperwork. The first and largest chunk was the transcripts form his sentencing hearing. This was probably the most painful of the documents to read since it included victim impact statements from the family members of the man who Lorne killed as well as his other victim, the one of whom he assaulted. Certainly these are gut wrenching statements from family members who are mourning the loss of their loved ones. However, the story that the prosecutor presented at sentencing was that Lorne was a vicious killing machine, hell bent of taking the life of someone that night. It was difficult for me to see Lorne being portrayed that way. That could not possibly be MY Lorne they were talking about. Attached to that was some of the support letters for Lorne..all of them portrayed Lorne as I know him to be. Hardworking, intelligent and someone who is devoted and faithful to his friends and family. So Lorne's conviction stands as thus...Count 1 Voluntary Manslaughter 120 months; 24 mos. minimum before he can be eligible for parole. Another 120 month term to be served consecutively as a use of a deadly weapons enhancement. Count II Attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon, 240 months; 48 month minimum before he can be parole eligible...another 240 months for the weapons enhancement; 48 month minimum before he can be eligible for parole. Count II runs consecutive to Count I. 30 years total before Lorne will see the light of day. 30 years because he had the gall to fight back after he was brutally beaten by 3 people who were drunk and high. The prosecutors portrayed them as people just hanging out having a good time...the coroners report paints a very different picture, but that is for another blog posting.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
"Human Livestock"
Last night as Lorne and I were discussing his options (ok, he talked, I just listened) regarding the soon to happen closure of Nevada State Prison. He was expressing the frustration he felt at being at the mercy of the prison systems with regard to where he could go. Lorne, unlike so many, does have some options open to him. He has enough "yard points" (I think that is what he called them) where he can be classified as a minimum security (he is in a medium facility at the moment) and can request transfer to one of the camps (not likely due to medical issues) or other "Lorne preferred" facility. He has no enemies to speak of, no gang affiliations, etc. that would limit his ability to make those requests or change his custody level.
However it was a comment that he made regarding himself that really bothered me...he referred to himself as "human livestock". He was right of course...like any other form of livestock, they have no say in where they are sent. They are put in a bus, usually within hours of being notified they are being moved, and sent on down the road. NSP inmates know that they will be moved...its all over the papers by now that it is closing within the next 12 months. Most of them also have a good idea of where they will be going...High Desert State Prison. It is unlikely that the inmates will know exactly which facility they are being sent to until they are given their paperwork and told to get on the bus. Most facilities do this as a security precaution, and I can see their point. I'm also sure that many inmates will be putting in transfers to those facilities that they deem to be more suitable to their personal tastes and NSP will have to work through that mess of applications too.
But the term livestock truly bothered me...made me cry even. These inmates, even if they are scum of the earth, are people that should be treated with at least a minimal amount of human dignity. How sad is it that this is how inmates view themselves? as livestock, having no mind or will of their own, to be unable to control even the smallest part of their destiny. Lorne isn't livestock to me...he is a very real, living, breathing human being with thoughts, feelings and a heart that beats just like mine does. He has the ability to vocalize his pain, his feelings in such a way that any other human can understand them.
To me he is Lorne...my heart, not a piece of livestock.
However it was a comment that he made regarding himself that really bothered me...he referred to himself as "human livestock". He was right of course...like any other form of livestock, they have no say in where they are sent. They are put in a bus, usually within hours of being notified they are being moved, and sent on down the road. NSP inmates know that they will be moved...its all over the papers by now that it is closing within the next 12 months. Most of them also have a good idea of where they will be going...High Desert State Prison. It is unlikely that the inmates will know exactly which facility they are being sent to until they are given their paperwork and told to get on the bus. Most facilities do this as a security precaution, and I can see their point. I'm also sure that many inmates will be putting in transfers to those facilities that they deem to be more suitable to their personal tastes and NSP will have to work through that mess of applications too.
But the term livestock truly bothered me...made me cry even. These inmates, even if they are scum of the earth, are people that should be treated with at least a minimal amount of human dignity. How sad is it that this is how inmates view themselves? as livestock, having no mind or will of their own, to be unable to control even the smallest part of their destiny. Lorne isn't livestock to me...he is a very real, living, breathing human being with thoughts, feelings and a heart that beats just like mine does. He has the ability to vocalize his pain, his feelings in such a way that any other human can understand them.
To me he is Lorne...my heart, not a piece of livestock.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
The closure of Nevada State Prison
You can read the latest about the closure of Nevada State Prison here. Certainly this means a change of address for all the inmates there, including Lorne. Many people think that prisons are located near towns and other services. However, in the state of Nevada, that is not the case. With the closure of NSP, about 500 inmates will be shipped south to High Desert, another 200 or so will be shipped to other prisons within the state of NV. In case you don't know where High Desert is, it is about an hour outside Las Vegas. In the middle of nowhere...literally. There are a host of problems with this facility, lack of water being the biggest issue with this place. Water is already rationed there so I can't imagine the situation will be improved with the addition of 500 additional inmates. NV is a very mineral rich state...for that reason even drinking water has to be brought in due to high amounts of naturally occurring arsenic in the local water supply. You can find an article form the CDC regarding the cancer cluster in Fallon, NV here. Same state, just in the northern section. Did I mention that southern Nevada is known for above ground atomic bomb testing back in the 1950's? See a map here. Yes, let's put a prison in the midst of a known fallout area for radiation. Genius!! Let's give the inmates leukemia and allow them to die slow painful deaths due to poor medial treatment.
For whatever reason, the state feels that closing NSP will close some of their budget shortfalls...I, and many others, are not convinced of that. But let me tell you what this closure means the for inmate's families. At NSP, for visiting, we were spoiled. I had the chance to spend 3 days with Lorne, 8:00am to 2:30pm. I didn't need an appointment, I wasn't restricted to how long I could be there or how many days I could show up. At High Desert, you are assigned a specific day depending upon which unit your inmate is assigned to. Let's hope that if you work during the week, that your loved on gets assigned to a unit that gets a weekend date. Transportation out there can be difficult as well. There is a bus service that runs out there from Vegas but what if you live out of state or can't afford the bus company's price? There are many families of inmates who struggle with finances and for those who have family in the Carson City/Reno/Sparks area, I can see this going two different ways...visiting becomes such a financial burden that they can no longer afford to go...OR the distance for people to travel is so unwieldy that people don't see the point in driving for 7-8 hours for a 3 hour visit, especially since they will do the driving the day before, stay in a hotel in Vegas, visit the following day and then drive home.
There are many, many problems at High Desert...I can't tell you how many times it has been on lockdown in the past year for fights of some kind. Phone service is spotty as well with few local numbers being assigned to that area since the only place in town is the prison. (Indian Springs has a population of 1,302 people per the 2000 census count)
I also feel sorry for the correctional officers who worked at NSP. Many of them are lifelong residents of the Carson City area. Certainly the legislators didn't think about the staff when they made this decision either. While the current director states that there are jobs for those who want one in any of the other facilities, I am thinking that very few will take him up on that offer since all the facilities that they will be placed at are located in VERY rural areas where drives of an hour or more to get groceries are common place.
There is a whole lot of nothing where these facilities are located and it will be fun to see just how many officers make the move. I suspect, very few.
For whatever reason, the state feels that closing NSP will close some of their budget shortfalls...I, and many others, are not convinced of that. But let me tell you what this closure means the for inmate's families. At NSP, for visiting, we were spoiled. I had the chance to spend 3 days with Lorne, 8:00am to 2:30pm. I didn't need an appointment, I wasn't restricted to how long I could be there or how many days I could show up. At High Desert, you are assigned a specific day depending upon which unit your inmate is assigned to. Let's hope that if you work during the week, that your loved on gets assigned to a unit that gets a weekend date. Transportation out there can be difficult as well. There is a bus service that runs out there from Vegas but what if you live out of state or can't afford the bus company's price? There are many families of inmates who struggle with finances and for those who have family in the Carson City/Reno/Sparks area, I can see this going two different ways...visiting becomes such a financial burden that they can no longer afford to go...OR the distance for people to travel is so unwieldy that people don't see the point in driving for 7-8 hours for a 3 hour visit, especially since they will do the driving the day before, stay in a hotel in Vegas, visit the following day and then drive home.
There are many, many problems at High Desert...I can't tell you how many times it has been on lockdown in the past year for fights of some kind. Phone service is spotty as well with few local numbers being assigned to that area since the only place in town is the prison. (Indian Springs has a population of 1,302 people per the 2000 census count)
I also feel sorry for the correctional officers who worked at NSP. Many of them are lifelong residents of the Carson City area. Certainly the legislators didn't think about the staff when they made this decision either. While the current director states that there are jobs for those who want one in any of the other facilities, I am thinking that very few will take him up on that offer since all the facilities that they will be placed at are located in VERY rural areas where drives of an hour or more to get groceries are common place.
There is a whole lot of nothing where these facilities are located and it will be fun to see just how many officers make the move. I suspect, very few.
Friday, May 13, 2011
The road to normalcy.
Is there such a thing for an inmate? I think it is merely a point of view. I'm thankful that Lorne's parent provide financial support to him in the form of a monthly allowance. Not many inmates are so lucky. A contribution from Lorne's parents have allowed me to open up a bank account for Lorne. When he called this evening and I told him all was set up and he was now an account holder, I honestly thought that he was going to cry. I've never seen anyone so moved by a bank account! But of course, when you have nothing, no access to these types of things, I can see where one could get excited about it.
He recently tried getting his credit report...to which I pointed out that after having been in prison for the past 12 years that he wouldn't have much of a credit history. All three credit reporting agencies wanted extra information to confirm that he was indeed Lorne Richardson. Even providing this is proving to be a struggle since the caseworker assigned to his unit does not understand why Lorne would want a credit report to begin with and dragged her feet until the day she retired, leaving the facility with a host of unanswered requests from Lorne and others. (side note...why do they call them "caseworkers" when they do so little?) He has no government issued ID to share and when you are taken into custody at a prison, all documents that show who you are, are taken from you. Hence, one companies request for a copy of his social security card can't be accommodated since Lorne is no longer in possession of said document.
When I moved to PA, I took my drivers license down to the local bank and quickly and easily opened up an account. It seems to me that instead of offering inmates assistance in getting back on track, we do nothing more than put barriers in their way to that success.
He recently tried getting his credit report...to which I pointed out that after having been in prison for the past 12 years that he wouldn't have much of a credit history. All three credit reporting agencies wanted extra information to confirm that he was indeed Lorne Richardson. Even providing this is proving to be a struggle since the caseworker assigned to his unit does not understand why Lorne would want a credit report to begin with and dragged her feet until the day she retired, leaving the facility with a host of unanswered requests from Lorne and others. (side note...why do they call them "caseworkers" when they do so little?) He has no government issued ID to share and when you are taken into custody at a prison, all documents that show who you are, are taken from you. Hence, one companies request for a copy of his social security card can't be accommodated since Lorne is no longer in possession of said document.
When I moved to PA, I took my drivers license down to the local bank and quickly and easily opened up an account. It seems to me that instead of offering inmates assistance in getting back on track, we do nothing more than put barriers in their way to that success.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
And so it begins...
When I entered into this relationship with Lorne, I knew what I was getting into...I knew that Lorne was a convicted felon, I knew exactly what he was in for. Lorne has been nothing but upfront and open with everything. Every question I asked, he answered. I knew it pained him greatly to be so open and honest. He risked me walking away if he wasn't, and he knew this. I have always felt that anything can be faced as long as one knew all the details. So for me, it was paramount that he give me all the details of how he ended up being incarcerated.
According to Lorne, for the most part, his case was done. There were no more appeals to be had, higher courts had affirmed his conviction and there was nothing left to be done but to work towards either a parole or a sentence modification through the pardons board. The most recent venture was to work towards a sentence modification through the pardons board. Not an easy thing to do. Lorne's mother wrote a letter, she also enlisted the help of other family friends to write letters as well. I wrote a letter as well (which I will post on here as well) all in the hope of securing a release date for him. When you read my letter (and the others) you will see what our plan was.
I try to visit him twice a year. May and October are our dates because they follow our favorite holidays, Beltane and Samheim. The most recent visit was May 7-9, 2011. On May 6, Lorne received a lovely form letter from the pardons board that his case was not to be heard. My first full day with Lorne was listening to him rant about the injustice of it all. All I could do was listen. The sad part about it all, he's right.
Now keep in mind, Lorne has NEVER said he didn't do the crime...he did and he accepts the fact that jail time was warranted. Lorne isn't an inmate who proclaims his innocence (although given the circumstances as described by Lorne, it could be argued that his crime was in self-defense...more on that later) but he does rail against a system that keeps their criminals far beyond "justice" and moves into "revenge".
My second ex-husband was a correctional officer for the state of NV. He was very fond of saying that "NV likes to keep its inmates". And that they do! One prison wife told me this weekend a statistic that was told to her..."67% of Nevada inmates who are eligible for parole, get it" However, what that figure does NOT tell you is that most of those are paroles to other sentences. The inmates don't get out...they are still incarcerated. The only thing is that they can now start working on their NEXT sentence.
I'm not quite sure what I hope to accomplish with this blog...all I know is that there are somethings that need to change and that the only way change can be initiated is for it to be shown the light of day.
I will be posting on here my journey through this system. Some will be my thoughts, some will be cold hard facts and some of the postings will be from Lorne as well. I will also be posting some of his legal documents on here as well so that you can see for yourself and make your own decisions if his incarcerations for the past 12 years has been "just" or if it is time for him to just come home.
According to Lorne, for the most part, his case was done. There were no more appeals to be had, higher courts had affirmed his conviction and there was nothing left to be done but to work towards either a parole or a sentence modification through the pardons board. The most recent venture was to work towards a sentence modification through the pardons board. Not an easy thing to do. Lorne's mother wrote a letter, she also enlisted the help of other family friends to write letters as well. I wrote a letter as well (which I will post on here as well) all in the hope of securing a release date for him. When you read my letter (and the others) you will see what our plan was.
I try to visit him twice a year. May and October are our dates because they follow our favorite holidays, Beltane and Samheim. The most recent visit was May 7-9, 2011. On May 6, Lorne received a lovely form letter from the pardons board that his case was not to be heard. My first full day with Lorne was listening to him rant about the injustice of it all. All I could do was listen. The sad part about it all, he's right.
Now keep in mind, Lorne has NEVER said he didn't do the crime...he did and he accepts the fact that jail time was warranted. Lorne isn't an inmate who proclaims his innocence (although given the circumstances as described by Lorne, it could be argued that his crime was in self-defense...more on that later) but he does rail against a system that keeps their criminals far beyond "justice" and moves into "revenge".
My second ex-husband was a correctional officer for the state of NV. He was very fond of saying that "NV likes to keep its inmates". And that they do! One prison wife told me this weekend a statistic that was told to her..."67% of Nevada inmates who are eligible for parole, get it" However, what that figure does NOT tell you is that most of those are paroles to other sentences. The inmates don't get out...they are still incarcerated. The only thing is that they can now start working on their NEXT sentence.
I'm not quite sure what I hope to accomplish with this blog...all I know is that there are somethings that need to change and that the only way change can be initiated is for it to be shown the light of day.
I will be posting on here my journey through this system. Some will be my thoughts, some will be cold hard facts and some of the postings will be from Lorne as well. I will also be posting some of his legal documents on here as well so that you can see for yourself and make your own decisions if his incarcerations for the past 12 years has been "just" or if it is time for him to just come home.
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