Mission Statement

This is a blog about reentry into society for persons released from prison and the many difficulties and barriers they face. The writings contained in this blog come from personal experience and they are intended to put out information from the real life adventures I have come up against with navigating my reentry into society. The blog welcomes submissions from anyone who is or has gone through reentry after prison as well as from any authorities, organizations, etc. with information that would be help for prisoners with their reentry to society after incarceration.

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Who are you?

By Steve Gordon

I watched one of my favorite movies tonight in “Bridges of Madison County.” I found it searching on TV and even better was it was without commercials and I caught it right from the beginning. After it was over I felt I had to write something because of how this movie makes me feel.

My first wife in our very short marriage (where I was mostly away at sea on the submarine in the Navy) used to call me stone face. My second wife said she didn’t feel loved or appreciated in 23 years before we split up. My VA therapist and I talk about my emotional detachment.

In general I am not openly emotional about anything and I am not a touchy feely person. Walking or sitting and holding hands with my wife or just a hug made me feel uncomfortable. It is like taking things for granted, taking love for granted I guess.

Foreigner has a song “I Want to Know What Love Is” that intrigues me. “I want you to show me,” the lyrics continue. It makes me wonder if I ever knew or know what love is. So how is it I turn into a wet noodle with movies like Bridges, or “Somewhere In Time” and some others where privately watching them the emotions come to the surface?

While taking a shower when not concentrating on getting ready for work I sometimes find myself doing some soul searching and thinking. My therapist once asked if I was dating and I told him I was not. I think I would like to and to have someone intimate in my life, but on the other hand not so much.

To get involved in a relationship means commitment to another person. There are a bunch of factors involved. For starters it takes away the independence I now enjoy to do what I want on my own time table. But I like structure and in those 23 years of marriage I made it work balancing home and family responsibilities with my own personal interests.

I have a friend I go out with to movies and we talk but that’s all there is to it. I think she pretty much likes it this way but we have never talked about it. Bottom line is that this is all it will ever be and that is fine. But in the shower I think about what kind of person I could see myself with and here is the problem. I can’t see myself with anyone other than my second wife and that is never going to happen.

It makes me wonder about the detachment of my emotions and if it actually builds upon itself over time. My therapist has said it is something in the way some people are wired, not necessarily a learned thing and it is something we have to learn to recognize and deal with.

Privately I have cried openly about things in my life and some movies also get an emotional release. I find that I can let go of things easier than many people and it appears to people outwardly it is like they mean nothing.

And at this point I am lost and don’t know where to take this…I guess the question is “Who Am I?” and I guess I don’t have the answer. It is a work in progress.  Do you know who you are?

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Blocked

By Steve Gordon

If you read the post about the new ML registration you will remember I mentioned a newspaper article by Laurie Mason Schroeder of the Bucks County Courier Times. It appears open mindedness to hear all sides of issues...ah...well she has seemingly blocked my email address from contacting her. This is what came back when I tried to send her an email tonight.


     "This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification.     

Delivery to the following recipients was aborted after 0 second(s):



All I was trying to do was send her a copy of an email I sent to friends which read:


Dear Friends,

 

Because of new stricter laws regarding my required ML registration with the PA State Police from my offense, all “internet identifiers (such as email address(es))” now have to be on record. It is ambiguous but I expect when I check in next this will include social media such as my FB identity. As such any communications I have with anyone are potentially not private.

 

While there has not been any behavior on my part to illicit research or investigation nor any communications to cause alarm or would be a problem if they were monitored or researched, this is an invasion of your privacy. If you feel that your email contact with me is a problem and request no further emails from me I understand your wanting to protect your privacy and I will respect that.

 

If you have a problem with this new requirement you can contact the office of the governor of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, as well as your local state representatives and senators and voice your opinions on Act 111 of 2011 and Act 9 of 2012.

 

Thank you.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

How much is news really?


By Steve Gordon
 
Sometimes I just want to scream and yell at the TV, and not at the Eagles for playing so poorly. It is at main stream media. Can somebody explain to me how reporting the news morphed into sensationalizing it? Why can’t they just report what happened without the drama?

I bet you know what I talking about. In the last few weeks there have been a series of senseless random acts of violence where innocent people were murdered. Most recently the horrific events in Newtown, Connecticut in an elementary school.

Earlier today I shared a post of a statement Morgan Freeman made and I agree with him. Absolutely do not mention the name of the person committing the acts. NEVER EVER!!! We don’t need to know and it seems to only spur on other people to try to go one better. Where does it end?

But it is more than that. These people have innocent families that had nothing to do with what they did and don’t you think they have suffered enough. The media creates an atmosphere of secondary victimization for them.

Further, it doesn’t stop there. After the word is spread on local and national news and sensationalized and dramatized, sometimes mere hours after the occurrence TV specials are hastily aired. Rarely do they provide more or meaningful information as they rehash and repeat what has been said earlier. In the latest one all kinds of wrong information was broadcast.

I watch the news on TV because it is a way to quickly be informed of things going on around me in the community and the world. It is a link to the outside past my front door and it can be informational only the negative overshadows the positive more often than not. I know people who do not watch TV news because of the negativity and they do not expose their young children to it.

One last point before I stop ranting. Please get off the gun control issue. Personally I do not think everyone needs or should have a gun and I certainly do not see a need for any citizen to have access to assault type weapons or assault weapon related equipment. I do however think it should be harder to legally obtain a handgun because it is harder to get a drivers license than a gun and a gun permit.

That said, these crimes are committed with mostly illegal or illegally obtained guns, Gun control is not the answer but it is a start. People that are planning on doing things with guns will find a way to get them no matter how strict the gun control laws are, but if just one potential offense can be averted that is progress.

We can't just sit back and do nothing and most definately putting more guns out there like having armed police in the schools, as the NRA has suggested, is in my opinion not a resolution to this issue or a good idea. What will be next, libraries, hospitals, post offices, shopping malls, movie theatres, etc.?


Sunday, December 16, 2012

More on Registration

By Steve Gordon

OK, here we go. Local writer, Laurie Mason Schroeder who covers lot of criminal court issues for the Bucks County Courier Times (www.PhillyBurbs.com), has jumped into the ring on the new Megan's Law requirements.

The focus of her article in the Sunday, December 16, 2012 paper in the Local section (Page A3) is on juvenile or teen sex offenders. It uses the word "consequences" which by my definition in this means punishment, and the appellate courts have consistently said that ML is not punishment when application of such has been challenged.

Aside from the things I wrote about in an earlier post last week entitled "Registration" it now appears the laws have really overstepped their boundaries. Schroeder wrote, "SORNA is a portion of the Adam Walsh Child Protection Act, which was signed into law in 2006. The federal act goes a step beyond Megan's Law, imposing longer and stricter registration requirements on sex offenders of all ages."

SORNA is the Sex Offenders Registration and Notification Act and in her article Schroeder leads off with saying that there will be "long-lasting, potentially public consequences." This is where I take the inference that this is punishment. The consequences go into almost branding a person where applying for work, admission to a school/college or applying for work related licenses punish a person not giving them an equal opportunity.

The article clearly bears out or confirms my feelings on this issue in a few very succinct words saying, "...juvenile advocates fear that the new law might mark a teen for life." I also believe that the new law unfairly brands all sex offenders and goes beyond consequences into punishment.

The new law increased the amount of information that the public has access to. I don't understand how this is a productive element. It is fact that a majority of child sex abuse cases involve individuals the child knows AND many are first time offenders. Thus my question is how does more information available to the public prevent anything?

I was able to get an entry level part-time job after talking with the open minded owner of a local business. He was not so much concerned about what I had done and served time in state prison for but if it would be a problem in the work place. When I assured him that my past would not be a problem in the work place he too me for my word and gave me a job. It has not been an issue and I have made myself an asset to the workplace and I have a very good working relationship with the other employees who do not know  (nor is it important that they know) my history.

However anyone can look up my name or search the sex offender registry online and find me and potentially and maliciously make public that this business has a registered sex offender working there. First, why is this anyone elses business? Second, how or why is that pertinent information? I have proven myself to be responsible and trusted. And not to beat a dead horse, buy my offense was a specific domestic offense with my than wife in our home. How am I a danger to the community or to society?

Briefly on the public information, there have been cases around the country where people have sought out people listed on ML registrations and perpetrated violence upon them and or their families.

I fully understand a person with a history of a sex offense cannot work in certain places like in health care with elderly people or in schools for example. There are laws on those things. But I know from personal experience that you can't even get an interview to get a job riding around on the back of a trash truck if you have a felony (and sex offenses are felonys).

Unfortunately the bottom line is that if anyone, former offender or not, is going to commit a sex offense on a child (or an adult) what is going to stop them? Sure, parents can be careful who they leave watching their children when they are not around knowing someone has a history, but with many of these offenders being first time offenders how is this helpful? Also consider that only a small minority reoffend.

So when you least expect it good old Uncle __________ (fill in the blank) or your friendly neighbor next door or across the street might actually might be more or a risk than a name of someone you saw online.

OK, we keep an eye on those who might reoffend and it might prevent a life changing event to happen to a child, but again I present that if someone is intent on committing an act (of any kind) that person will likely carry out his or her intent. In prison they drill into you in group programs that if you think it you will do it. The idea is to keep you from thinking it. How does Megan's Law do this?

Lawyer Robert Mancini who was quoted in the article commented that he doubts the new law will be a deterrent in reference to the consequences on juveniles. I present that same question in regard to all but SVP (Sexually Violent Predators) offenders.

You can reach Laurie at email: lmason@phillyBurbs.com

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

The question

By Steve Gordon

Can you name 50 things you like about yourself? Can you name 100? This is a positive assessment you can make of yourself. It sounds like a lot but try it and see what happens. Without being too repetitive maybe don't put a limit on the list and just write. See how long you can make it?

This was an exercise in a group I was in while in prison. Some guys figured out some things they had not thought about in regard to themselves. Of course some guys wrote down what they thought were positives but actually were negatives because of their thinking. Those guys were a minimum and that is all I will say about them.

While we are making this assessment of ourselves let me diverse just a little and ask you to fill in the blanks on the following 15 items: (Make a complete sentences to express your real feelings.)
  1. I like_____________________
  2. The happiest time___________
  3. I want to know______________
  4. Back home_________________
  5. I regret____________________
  6. At bedtime_________________
  7. Men_______________________
  8. The best____________________
  9. What annoys me_____________
  10. People_____________________
  11. A mother___________________
  12. I feel_______________________
  13. My greatest fear______________
  14. In school____________________
  15. I can't______________________
Still with me?

Now here is the question:

Who are you?

Once you figure this out there should be no reason you can't live a happy successful life.

Here is my closing statement. On my list of things I like about myself at the last minute I erased number 50 on the form we were given and wrote the following"

"I like that I am a perfectly imperfect human being."

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Prison Health Care

I found this cartoon and had to put it up here. How many can relate to this?

 
A friend told me a little story the other day I would like to add here.
 
In the beginning God created red, green and yellow vegetables and dairy products so man would be able to eat healthy and live a long productive life. Satan created Dairy Queen and asked if he wanted hot fudge with it. Men and women said yes and they gained 10 pounds.
 
God created yogurt and Satan brought forth white flour from wheat and sugar from cane and women went from size 2 to 14.
 
God presented the potato that is naturally low in fat and full of potassium and good nutrition and Satan peeled off the skin, sliced it and fried it in animal fats and cholesterol levels went up.
 
God gave man lean beef and Satan created McDonald's and Super Sized it and people began to have cardiac arrest.
 
God created quadruple by-pass surgery and Satan chuckled and created Obamacare.
 
 
 
 
OK, that's it. Got my political dig in for the day. You all have a great day.
 
Steve Gordon

Registration

By Steve Gordon

Here is the latest draconian legislation in Pennsylvania that on the surface people say protects society, but in reality it is basically worthless and lip service to a headline driven paranoid population. Governor Tom Corbett signed into law significant changes to the sexual offender registration law. Act 111 of 2011 and Act 91 of 2012 incorporate federally mandated changes that go into effect on December 20, 2012.

Basically registration is quarterly now instead of every six months. I am not sure how this changed, but I thought I was on a 10 year registration but apparently I have Lifetime registration. I am not sure how this will change should my petition for a Pardon be signed in a couple years. However given the nature of things I am not positive on that happening even as I have successfully transitioned and I am by the accounts of my neighbors, a good neighbor.

Anyway, the letter I got from the PA State Police reads:

You will be required to verify your current, existing information and to provide the following additional items or information during the registration process:
  • Palm prints
  • DNA Sample
  • Passport Number, Immigration ID and Immigration Status
  • Internet Identifiers (such as email address(es)).
  • Vehicles owned or operated, including locations parked or stored.
  • Boats and aircraft owned or operated, including locations parked and stored.
  • Professional License information (such as real estate license, Barber's license, etc.).
This flies in the face of reality that most all studies done, and the ACLU can verify this, have shown that registration does not protect or prevent sexual offenses. Megan's Law was originally intended to protect children from sexual abuse and nearly all studies on this account show that the majority of these offenses are committed by family members or persons the children know, not the guy who is out of prison and lives down the street or on the next block.

Further, many of those under Megan's Law registration are 1. first time offenders; and 2. did not have offenses regarding minor children.

Justice Department statistics I have seen in the past have shown clearly, and by a wide margin, that the majority of sexual offenders are first time offenders. This makes the whole concept of Megan's Law a law on paper that has no teeth except for government to control and potential harassment of former sexual offenders not deemed to be Sexually Violent Predators.

If a person is found to be a SVP then that person needs to be monitored. To exercise the amount of control and hold information on those not deemed to be a danger in this regard is infringement upon personal liberties. If I had the financial resources and a good lawyer willing to take up the fight I would be doing this. Unfortunately I do not. It is an unpopular subject that many lawyers will not tackle because of public perception even if they feel it is unjust.

To take it a little further, there are sex offenders with offenses that were not involving children such as domestic offenses or consentual relationships for example and these offenders pose no danger or threat to the general public or children.

It is a sticky subject because sexual offenses are not acceptable, but the point is that not all sexual offenders need to be watched and monitored as closely as these new legislation's allow. People are against the Patriot Act as too much Big Brother and there are fine lines within it. There should be fine lines in the sex offender registration laws as well.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Prison Reform

By Steve Gordon

The Forum For Understanding Prisons out of Wisconsin is working towards prison reform. The current issue is keeping older prisoners incarcerated. With nationwide prison overcrowding this makes even more sense now than ever before. It isn't a new proposal, just one that has fallen on deaf ears in government and corrections in the past and it is being revisited.

I was 63-years-old when I was released from prison after serving 10 years. I had family and friends for support, a place to go to live, a car to drive, some money in a savings account, and I was generally in good health in spite of the minimal health care in prison. I don't think that is the norm. Unfortunately I do not have a stack of statistics or results of studies to justify that keeping older prisoners is costly, and for the most part unproductive, but I think that FFUP is targeting a just cause.

It actually is common sense if you think about it.

1. Financial - It costs more for medical care for older prisoners.
2. General Living Conditions - Older prisoners sometimes require special circumstances such as lower bunk status or even single cell status.
3. Safety - The recidivism rate, or the likely hood of older prisoners committing more crimes is minimal if only from a physical aspect let alone from a more mature attitude toward respecting the laws and the rights of other citizens.

It doesn't take much to figure out that older prisoners are likely to have more ailments and will require more medications. There are also visits to outside specialists and medical facilities for care that prison medical facilities are not equipped to deal and which increases the costs of care. Even without the above there is just more time required by prison medical staff for treatments and general wellness care for older prisoners and none of this takes dental care into consideration.

Prison isn't suppose to be comfortable, but prison conditions in general are not conducive for a comfortable/humane environment for many older prisoners who will develop arthritis and other ailments related to aging. Cold damp cells accelerate and aggravate these things. Stress doesn't help either. Further, hard metal bunks (with a thin mattress) as well as hard wood or metal seats/stools with no back support just aren't appropriate for older prisoners who develop lower back problems.

While all meals are (minimally) sufficient nutritionally, older prisoners dietary needs are different than younger men and women. All prisons do have measures to address this but I would suggest that it is different from prison to prison based on the physical capabilities of each facility.

Any vitamin supplements an older prisoner would take he would be required to purchase with his own money. That would be money earned from a prison job or sent in from family or friends outside, if he has those people. The sidebar to that is older prisoners lose family and such and at some point there may not be anyone outside. Aside from the financial aspect, it lessens his or her options for where they would go to restart their lives.

The safety to society and the community however is the bottom line. Without question there are older prisoners who do not deserve or belong outside of prison. But there are many studies that show the rate of recidivism for older prisoners is minimal at best, one of the lowest percentages actually. Just the other day I was listening to the music of Les Miserables and wondering if many of us (older ex-offenders) have a little Jean Valjean within us?

I just feel I need to highlight some issues and you can draw your own conclusions. Below are some comments made by the FFUP on its Facebook page:

"FFUP is consulting with legislators, 2 law schools, several judges to put together a bill that give a viable path for release for the 1600 prisoners over the age of 55 who have been eligible for parole for many years and are stuck in limbo. This bill will help solve a growing national crisis inside our prisons caused by our nation's refusal to acknowledge that people do change and many deserve a second chance. Elderly prisoners are 3 times more expensive to house that younger prisoners, have a 2 percent recidivism rate. Prisons are not set up to house them humanely. With robust screening and placement and then a hearing before sentencing judge, our bill begins to address this problem : see
Elderly Release Bill- A work in progress"


I would also like to include excerpts a couple comments on the above post:

"You can scream and yell all you want but getting some to listen, someone who might have the capacity to initiate change...positive change...then having it acted on is the barrier. Like government, corrections moves at a snails pace."

"Only those that dare to see the "invisible" can do the "Impossible."

"GOD has created us to make a mark, to make a positive difference for the time we have here. 11 years ago, my severally mentally ill brother was an accessory to a Crime (was mentally ill at age 14) where he was a Victim himself. To the publics' eye, he should be put away and not receive the medical treatment he needs to receive healing mentally, physically, as well as spiritually. He is ONE OF MANY that I speak for of the injustices that take place every day in our current PRISON System. Sadly, many do not know how or want to get personally involved. America makes up a mere 3-5 percent of the worlds population, yet approx. 25 percent of our men and women are in some sort of Prison and/or jail. Who will stand up and speak for those that have no voice? Who will be the voice? A stranger on a plane reminded me recently, that IF it was easy, "everyone would be doing it." That it takes a brave strong individual to begin to make change. With God's help may I be that change.
"Speak up for those that can not speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute."
Proverbs 31:8"


"This work can be rather hard on the heart and soul of good people. Rarely do you get someone who can look the truth in the face and keep on fighting. The truth is horrific, but the public wants to think differently, to keep the "tough on crime" mentality alive.
Fear is a huge "obstacle" for many good hearted people."

 

To read more about the FFUP on this and other issues go to these links:

https://www.facebook.com/mrs.efleming/posts/4895756638976?comment_id=5383368&ref=notif&notif_t=like#!/prisonforum?fref=ts

http://forumforunderstandingprisons.net/