Detention Ministry News

Monday, April 30, 2007

News: 4/30/2007 (AM)

Sunday, April 29, 2007

For $82 a Day, Booking a Cell in a 5-Star Jail

It appears that the latest trend in corrections is providing a better class of jail cell for those who can afford to pay. Jennifer Steinhauer of the New York Times reports that a number of California jails offer "pay-to-stay" where, with court permission, one can lay down cash to get a cleaner, quieter and more private cell:

Many of the self-pay jails operate like secret velvet-roped nightclubs of the corrections world. You have to be in the know to even apply for entry, and even if the court approves your sentence there, jail administrators can operate like bouncers, rejecting anyone they wish.

"I am aware that this is considered to be a five-star Hilton," said Nicole Brockett, 22, who was recently booked into one of the jails, here in Orange County about 30 miles southeast of Los Angeles, and paid $82 a day to complete a 21-day sentence for a drunken driving conviction.

Ms. Brockett, who in her oversize orange T-shirt and flip-flops looked more like a contestant on "The Real World" than an inmate, shopped around for the best accommodations, travelocity.com-style.

"It’s clean here," she said, perched in a jail day room on the sort of couch found in a hospital emergency room. "It’s safe and everyone here is really nice. I haven’t had a problem with any of the other girls. They give me shampoo."

For roughly $75 to $127 a day, these convicts — who are known in the self-pay parlance as "clients" — get a small cell behind a regular door, distance of some amplitude from violent offenders and, in some cases, the right to bring an iPod or computer on which to compose a novel, or perhaps a song.

Many of the overnighters are granted work furlough, enabling them to do most of their time on the job, returning to the jail simply to go to bed (often following a strip search, which granted is not so five-star).

Still, a pay-to-stay cell will not be confused with the Ritz-Carlton, or even Motel 6:

The cells at Santa Ana are roughly the size of a custodial closet, and share its smell and ambience. Most have little more than a pink bottle of jail-issue moisturizer and a book borrowed from the day room. Lockdown can occur for hours at a time, and just feet away other prisoners sit with their faces pressed against cell windows, looking menacing.

Ms. Brockett, who normally works as a bartender in Los Angeles, said the experience was one she never cared to repeat.

"It does look decent," she said, "but you still feel exactly where you are."

Saturday, April 28, 2007

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Yes, capitalizing "Editor" is a bit much, but at least I decline to use the editorial "we". It would cause too much giggling around the house.

News: 4/28/2007 (Weekend)

Inmates Sent To Other Prisons After Riot (Indiana)
Prisons to stop accepting inmates soon (Oklahoma)
Details of the prison reform plan approved by lawmakers (California)
Corrections officer faces drug charge (Vermont)
Activists fight jails' solitary cell rules (Florida)
Corrections Officer Disciplined After Letting Wrong Man out of Jail (Illinois)
County renews re-entry efforts (Pennsylvania)
Survivors (not victims) of crime share struggles at special forum (Canada)
Lack of funding blamed for prison shortfall (UK)
Prison authorities discover cocaine in prison (Ghana)
Rohee outlines areas for improvement at Mazaruni Prisons (Guyana)
Jail inmates can now study to become Degree holder (India)
Internet voice for inmates (Australia)
Tax fraud rife in jails (Australia)
Bill would reduce jail crush (Colorado)
Yalies join national movement to pass Books through Bars (Connecticut)

Opinion: 4/28/2007 (Weekend)

Spending more cash on California prisons not enough - editorial, San Jose Mercury News
SJ will take no prisoners (California) - Michael Fitzgerald, Stockton Record
Roundup on Prison Deal (California) - Capitol Basement
Prisons: a costly growth industry (Arizona) - editorial, Tuscon Citizen
Prisons and privatization (Indiana) - editorial, Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
It's only fair: Az inmates should be in Az prisons - editorial, Tuscon Citizen

Friday, April 27, 2007

Chaplain expected riot at Indiana prison

Cara Reiter of NewsLink Indiana reports that this week's riot at New Castle Correctional Institution came as no surprise to Chaplain Michael Osborne:

"Everybody saw it coming, everybody from the top down to the lowest, and they pretended it wasn’t going to be there because what do you do?" Osborne said. "There was even a mock demonstration last week, and it didn’t even make the news because nobody was injured."

About 2 p.m. Tuesday, inmates at the New Castle prison rioted by burning mattresses and gathering outside the walls. The conflict is being blamed on tension between inmates from Indiana and a group that had been transported in from Arizona.

The Arizona inmates came to New Castle in spring, after Gov. Mitch Daniels agreed to accept 1,260 of them for $29.4 million.

Arizona inmates started to arrive at the facility on March 12. When they did, items such as tobacco, pornography and DVD players were confiscated. All of these had been allowed in Arizona.

As of Tuesday, the facility housed 630 Arizona inmates, all of whom were separated from Indiana inmates by a $97,000 fence installed prior to their arrival.

Osborne said he doesn't feel safe at the prison, where he volunteers as a way of doing "penance" as a recovering alcoholic.

"Have you heard the dribble that was on the news?" he said of the riot coverage. "They are making it sound like someone fell down and has scraped their knee. They are saying this is no big event. This is just a little uprising and it was no big deal. Only by the grace of God did the people not die today. Next time they will."

Time Running Out For 'Safe Surrender'

A program called "Safe Surrender", based at an Indianapolis church, is coming to an end this week. Its intention was to offer a safe place for nonviolent offenders to turn themselves in:

About 200 people have taken advantage of the program, in which people wanted for nonviolent felony and misdemeanor warrants can go to Messiah Missionary Baptist Church to report to authorities.

The church has been converted into a neighborhood community corrections center, complete with courtrooms and public defenders.

The program, which runs until 5 p.m. Friday and again on Saturday, could be the last chance for some of the 25,000 wanted individuals to turn themselves in and have a chance for a break.

The U.S. Marshals Office said those who don't take advantage of Fugitive Safe Surrender will be targeted in a warrant sweep and lose an opportunity for leniency.

(WRTV Indianapolis)

News: 4/27/2007 (AM)

Miami Inmate's Treatment Questioned (Florida)
Police say 16 molesters are staying at Garden Grove motels (California)
Legislature quickly OKs prison plan: Governor expected to sign measure (California)
Waiting game for SJ prisons (California)
Geo loses California contract
Survey shows that five inmates die every day. (Kenya)
Prisons boss sets up committee to fast- track reforms (Nigeria)
Freed offenders fail drug tests (Australia)
Greece prison protest ends
Jailbirds coughing up less for smokes (Australia)
2 inmates escape from Cocke Co. Jail (Tennessee)
Sheriff to pay $500000 to settle jail suit (Florida)
Author foresees end of capital punishment (Missouri)
Prison to Limit Inmates Toilet Paper (Kansas)

Thursday, April 26, 2007

News: 4/26/2007 (PM)

$7 Billion Bill Approved to Help Ease Overcrowded State Prisons (California)
500 Inmates Involved In Riot At New Castle Prison (Indiana)
Inmate's death blamed on Dade jailers' neglect (Florida)
Mass arraignment is working (South Carolina)

Outside lawyers hired for probe of anti-Islamic tracts at jail

Suzan Clarke of the Lower Hudson Journal News continues her reporting on the case of a Rockland County jail chaplain accused of handing out tracts that insult Muslims. The investigation will be handled by outside attorneys:

Local Muslims called for the Rev. Teresa Darden Clapp's dismissal after they learned of allegations she distributed booklets that condemned Islam and contained derogatory depictions and descriptions of Allah and the Prophet Muhammad, including characterizing Allah as an "idol" and devil and Muhammad as a criminal and a "religious dictator."

Last week, the county's Law Department referred the investigation into the chaplain's actions to outside attorneys to maintain the integrity of the investigation and avoid any possible conflict, Rockland County Sheriff James Kralik said yesterday.

"Whatever my part in it, it's going to be totally impartial, I can guarantee that," he said. "This is going to be something that we're going to take a good, honest look at. When we have conclusions, they'll be based on fact."

The attorneys, Kevin J. Plunkett and Darius P. Chafizadeh of Thacher, Proffitt and Wood in White Plains, are expected to have some answers soon, Kralik said.

"We'll hope to have something by next week, but I'm just going to wait until they do it right, that's the most important thing," he said.

Clapp was suspended with pay April 12. She will continue to be paid until the investigation indicates otherwise, Kralik said.

Church leaders see opportunity in proposed prison facility

Joan Gandy of the Natchez Democrat interviews local clergymen on a proposed commercial facility for federal prisoners in their area. Fr. David O’Connor, pastor at St. Mary Basilica and Assumption Catholic Church, responded that prisons are a part of society and must be accepted as such:

“It’s an amazing opportunity for ministry, as well," O’Connor said. "I’ve been to Woodville many, many times. Those people need ministry in a big way. We can help them find direction with their lives." O’Connor referred to the federal prison built in Wilkinson County near Woodville, where several Natchez churches have regular ministries among the inmates.

The Wilkinson County facility is a Corrections Corporation of America prison. CCA is seeking a site to build a prison in Natchez, estimating that it will house 1,500 mostly nonviolent inmates.The prison is estimated to be a $90 million construction project. When completed, it would employ about 300 people.

O’Connor said the jobs are important. "If a prison brings jobs to the community, I’m in favor of that," he said. The Rev. Steve Pearson, pastor at Community Chapel Church of God, agreed. "I’m for the prison for several reasons — first of all, for all the job opportunities," he said. "The economic opportunity is tremendous, and it’s long term." Pearson also believes a community that has a prison has a chance to offer special ministries within the prison.

NZ government asks for review of communion wine ban

New Zealand government leader are seeking a way out of the controversy caused recently when prison officials there banned communion wine for Catholic inmates, based on a new law:

From 1999 Catholics were granted an exemption to bring communion wine into prisons, but that was recently revoked as it was deemed to be inconsistent with the new Act.

The ban has outraged Catholics, who say it is a denial of religious freedom.
Public Prisons Service head Harry Hawthorn told the NZ Catholic newspaper the Act allowed no discretion.

But Corrections Minister Damien O'Connor today said he had been told legislative change was not necessary to achieve a solution.

NZPA understood a possible solution was Catholic priests being allowed to bring communion wine into prisons and drink it to celebrate mass, so long as prisoners did not partake of the wine.

"The ban is clearly an unintended consequence of the Act. I understand a legislative change is not required and I hope we can continue to accommodate the invaluable services of the church through the prison system," Mr O'Connor said.

(NZPA)

News: 4/26/20007 (AM)

Deal reached for 53K more prison beds (California)
Lawsuits drive prison operations in California
Company Must Reimburse Indiana for Riot Costs
Prison riot erupts (Indiana)
DOC officials sent to Indiana to help with riot investigation (Arizona)
Drug courts, stronger probation clears Texas House
Bill to close youth prisons gaining attention, criticism (California)
South Woods State Prison investigates employee activities (New Jersey)
National claims 'culture of denial' in prisons (New Zealand)
Suicide 'simple' in SA jails (Australia)
Superbugs hit prisons (Canada)
Prison Watchdog Unlikely to be Effective (UK)
Crime figures show need to focus on what works (UK)
3 indictments issued in prison smuggling case (Oregon)
Woman guilty of posing as lawyer to enter prison (Maryland)
Lawmakers delay prison construction, Hoeven goes along (North Dakota)
Miami Correctional Facility honored (Indiana)

Opinion: 4/26/2007

New Castle prison fracas holds lesson (Indiana) - editorial, Richmond Palladium-Item
Behind Prison Riots - Kansas City InfoZine
'But he's still my brother' (South Carolina) - Isaac Bailey, Myrtle Beach Sun News
Today's Opinions in No. 05-11284, Abdul-Kabir v. Quarterman, and No. 05-11287, Brewer v. Quarterman - Amy Howe, SCOTUSBLOG
Convicting innocent people a 'badge of honor' under old mentality, says Dallas DA (Texas) - Scott Henson, Grits for Breakfast

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

When true love knows no boundaries

Lisa Britton of the Baker City Herald reports on weddings in Oregon prisons, in particular Powder River Correctional Facility:

Two couples — Baley and Manning, and Veronica Barnett and Timothy Bender — said their "I dos" Monday. Inmate weddings are held twice a year, on the fourth Mondays in April and October.

"There's usually at least three who request weddings, but they usually don't follow through," said Roger Haefer, chaplain at PRCF.

On Monday, 67 inmate marriages were performed across Oregon, said Aleca Nelson, public information officer at Two Rivers Correctional Institution in Umatilla.
To be eligible, inmates must submit a "request for marriage" form for approval at least six weeks prior to the marriage date.

The inmate marriage policy for the Department of Corrections reads: "An incarcerated inmate may be permitted to marry someone of the opposite sex, including another inmate, provided that the marriage is legal, would not present a threat to the safe, secure and orderly operation of a Department of Corrections facility, and would not jeopardize public safety."

News: 4/25/2007

Inmate imports suspended by New Castle riot (Indiana)
Bill to close youth prisons passes committee (California)
High Court Tosses 3 Death Sentences (Texas)
Convicted killer of Amarillo couple set to die Thursday (Texas)
TYC corrections officer arrested on sex charge (Texas)
No election on possible private prison in Adams Co. (Missouri)
Vermont prison overhaul proposed
ACLU asks judge to end LA jail overcrowding (California)
Crowding brings county jails to a boil (California)
Young people remanded to adult prisons as Feltham pressures rise (UK)
Prison guard fights second assault charge (New Zealand)
Corrections Canada considers halfway house bid
Sedgwick Co. officials find jail food revolting (Kansas)
Funding tight at jail (Colorado)
Downtown jail nixed (Minnesota)
Local group tours Wapello Co. jail (Indiana)
This Prison Dentist Yanked More Than a Molar (Washington)

Opinion: 4/25/2007

Sex offenders’ restrictions should depend on offenses (Oklahoma) - editorial, Enid News & Eagle

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

News: 4/24/2006 (PM)

Inmates Riot At Indiana Prison
New Rules for Confining the Mentally Ill (New York)
Jail is given high marks (Ohio)
More inmates than space (Pennsylvania)
No Changes to Sex Offender Restriction This Year (Indiana)
Third officer drawn into jail inquiry (New Zealand)
Tension in prisons eases (Greece)
Ex-inmate helps 16 gangsters stop crime (UK)
Alabama Prisons Population at All-Time High
Moving ahead on the Lyon County jail project (Minnesota)

Legal pressure for jail baptisms

According to a Liberty Counsel press release, the Curry County Detention Center (New Mexico) will now allow a local ministry to baptise six inmates in a portable pool:

The prison ministry of the Sixteenth & Pile Church of Christ contacted Liberty Counsel for assistance after Warden Leslie Johnson and county officials refused to permit baptism by immersion at the local detention center. The ministry offered to provide a mobile baptismal tank in a secure area of the facility and to pay any additional security costs. Ministry leaders also advised the warden that a prison ministry in neighboring Portales, New Mexico, had utilized a similar procedure without incident.

Liberty Counsel sent a demand letter to the warden and the county explaining that failure to allow the baptisms violated the inmates' constitutional right to free exercise of religion and also violated the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000. The county continued to emphatically refuse to allow the baptisms, until the prison ministry warned the warden that it was serious about pursuing the matter further and advised the county that a federal lawsuit by Liberty Counsel was unavoidable.

H/T to Religion Clause

Parishioner provides job training to the incarcerated

Well, it's not what one might think of first regarding prison ministry, but Bob Mattucci credits his Catholic faith as the foundation for his work teaching inmates plumbing. Claudia Mathis of the (Syracuse) Catholic Sun (New York) writes that Mattucci worked as a plumber for 22 years, then became a vocational education teacher. His intention was to create a program for local schools to fill in the gap formed as plumbers retired without replacements:

Mattucci said he got into the corrections field by accident. After being marketed, his program was rejected by all of the public school vocational education programs in the Syracuse region. But Mattucci was determined to find a way to put his training program into practice. After researching education in correctional facilities, Mattucci learned that there was a void in education programs in the corrections system and that educating the inmates could reverse the likelihood of re-incarceration.

Mattucci contemplated what a plumbing curriculum could potentially offer to the incarcerated individuals. His training program was designed to foster success and focus on motivation, decision-making, respectful environment and teamwork as a foundation for change. He saw his program as an experience that might motivate those in prison to contribute to society in a positive way. Tim Gangemi, a fellow parishioner at St. Margaret’s, thinks Mattucci’s training program is a wonderful idea. "I also think some of the other skilled trades like carpentry and masonry should be taught to the inmates," he said.

Taking into consideration the many barriers associated with working within the prison system, Mattucci developed a plan for three phases of inmate education that would build the students’ commitment and responsibility over time while rewarding them with immediate successes in the classroom. Phase I consisted of an eight-session program while in prison; phase II included a 42-session program for after they were released and phase III included admission to a plumber’s union as second-year apprentices.

Convinced of the value of his training program, Mattucci persisted, presenting his program to the education coordinator at the Onondaga County Department of Correction facility in Jamesville, N.Y. in 2000. Mattucci taught the training program in the evening at the Jamesville facility from 2000 to 2002.

(via Catholic Online)

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