Robert G Dellelo Editor

We just wanted to take the time to apologize for the late issue; we have simply been overwhelmed. We are happy to report that there was a magnificent response to our first publication. Thank you for your insightful responses and feedback. We hope that this current issue will inspire you to write more. This is an open forum for dialogue and debate around the concepts of justice, correc­tions, the courts, legislation, rehabilitation, reentry, and me creation of safer communities. Let's identify problems, and where pos­sible, suggest solutions and alternatives. As we have said before, the format of Outlook on Justice will depend entirely upon you. Outlook on Justice is going to be what you make it.

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This thought-provoking article by Joli Sparkman illustrates the Importance of prisoners receiving educational programs. People like Joli are then able to educate other prisoners, at great savings to the tax-payers of the Commonwealth

My name is Joli Sparkman and I am currently incarcerated at MCl-Framingham. I am serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole in 2012. Since my incarceration 1 have had to overcome many obstacles and personal straggles. These barriers that I experienced led me towards a path of change and growth. Unfortunately, the change that has taken place in my life has not come without a very high price. It has been a very lonely, cumber­some, and rigorous road to travel.

Growing up with my grandparents I did experience family and love, but I had been damaged at a young age while my fattier was incarcerated. My mother was an addict and could not handle the role of being a parent, so my brother and I suffered at the hands of my mother and strangers. This misfortune is not an excuse for the violence that 1 committed in my life and there is no justification for my actions. My past was filled with demons I had to defeat.

Ultimately, I changed, but it was not until my sixth year of incarceration, when I experienced a spiritual and mental breakdown, that this adjust­ment occurred. I had hit rock bottom and I was broken. 1 was naked on the floor looking up at a Plexiglas win­dow of the hospital unit in the prison. I had become suicidal and had tried vigorously to end my life. I had become a nightmare to myself and to the Department of Correc­tions. Psychologically, these at­tempts were just cries for help. I wreaked havoc not only on my self but also on any person who tried to stop me from hurting myself 1 sim­ply wanted help. I could not compre­hend the fact that my past actions had led to another person's death. I could not grasp the idea of living my life with some degree of tranquility and respect in prison.

It was not until a very frightening and botched suicide attempt that I became aware of how 1 was living. I became conscious of how my actions affected the people around me. I had never acknowledged that my three young children had been split up and may never be reunited again. 1 was ashamed of how my incarceration would affect my children and the profound influence it would have on their place in society. It was at that moment that 1 realized it was time to change.

What occurred in my life has hap­pened to countless others; however, I was consumed by this my whole life. I never understood the true meaning of femininity or womanhood; it was not until I matured behind these ce­ment walls that 1 realized what de­fined me as a woman. My children were what first came to mind and then I realized that the very essence of which I am deep inside defines me as a woman. I am a nurturing, lov­ing, intelligent, and sophisticated woman. It just took time to see and realize those positive aspects of my­self. Through therapy, education, and self-love I have made it possible to release the demons of my past. 1 have made a promise to myself that I would embrace being the best woman I could and, in doing so, I would have respect for myself and those around me. I am a mother and 1 want to connect with my children. I never knew how to love them and nurture them; now I want them to know who 1 am and be proud. Being a better woman and an improved person is the only gift I am now able to give my children, I do not want them to see the monster 1 once was, but the lady I have now become.

When I enrolled in the Boston Uni­versity program I had only com­pleted one full semester before my breakdown. However, when I got back on my feet I was able to take five classes at a time and maintain honor grades. I also worked and still do, full-time at the Prison Industries Flag Shop. It is so ironic that when I punch in to my daily job and I sit at my machine, I sew the American flag the symbol of freedom. The freedom that I took for granted so long ago.

In May of 20061 graduated with honors from the Boston University program with my father Bryan and my son Adrian standing beside me. It was bittersweet. I was proud of my­self, because for the first time in my life I had actually finished something that i started. But my graduation was heartbreaking because I had to learn such valuable lessons at the cost of someone else's life.

My education has matured me and fostered not only my mental growth but also my emotional growth. Edu­cation is a necessary tool in life; it allows individuals to be more grounded and insightful. When I applied what I had learned in differ­ent classes to my own life it enabled me to become more rational; my thought process became more de­fined. I can say with certainty that my education reshaped the way I respond to and perceive all situa­tions. I look at all the angles and I now confront possible hostile situa­tions in this environment with a more positive approach. I am learn­ing to stay away from the bad rela­tions and relationships in my life because I am a stronger woman.

 

 

I believe that a graduate program would benefit many women in this facility. I know that I have asked  many questions of the advisory staff at the Boston University Prison Pro­gram and they have informed me that I can audit the classes but I can­not receive credit for the classes that I participate in. I was further in­formed that they do not have the funds for a graduate program here at the facility. I am trying to advocate strongly for this program; however, my voice is not enough.

I have involved myself with tutoring others that are either new students or have been in the program for some time. I believe in giving back to the program the positive energy that education created in me. I revel in the opportunity to listen to students discuss new ideas. It would give me a great sense of completion to see that I was capable of delivering posi­tive messages and material to people who desired to grow.

Lastly, 1 would like to add these few words: I am pleased that there are people willing to help incarcerated individuals who desire to change. It is necessary that women from prison find programs that promote their positive adjustment back into society. 1 see so many women come back into this prison because they did not have suitable skills or a proper place to live. The women need better preparation and better training for life.

It is not going to be an easy transi­tion for myself when my time comes for parole. I have a few family mem­bers, but I need to construct a safe network for myself consisting of sober living and therapy. I know there are others who are in need of the same assistance and will be leav­ing before I do; I wish, however, that I wouldn't have to see them again before I parole.

The sad fact is that I will, unless more community agencies and gov­ernment offices work in coordination with each other to reintegrate the women safely and adequately into society. The women are in dire need of more training. One example of the lack of programs for women is this: we have had a hair salon built for over a year and no available teacher. That is a waste of time, money, and someone's life. That training oppor­tunity could have meant one woman who didn't have to go back to the street and prostitute herself to find a place to live. Drugs are not always the primary cause of prostitution; they could, however, be secondary. There are some women who get high to forget about the work they do to pay for shelter. This reality is ugly but true here in America and I see it every day here at MCI-Framingham.

In closing, I would like to say thank you for listening to my concerns and remembering the countless young girls and women who are incarcer­ated. Your agency can certainly en­dorse some necessary changes in the justice system. Once again 1 thank you and I look forward to the next publication of Outlook on Justice.

Sincerely Yours, Joli M. Sparkman

RE:

Outlook on Justice" January 2007, Vol. 26 - Questionnaire.

How do you think society can best rehabilitate people while they are in prison and then re-integrate them into
communities (p.l)?
To Who Concerned;                                                                                   

In response to the above caption and query taken from your January 2007 periodical it did bring some thought-provoking idea from the past.

First, I am presently incarcerated in a medium security prison at MCI Norfolk and I have been confined for over 17 years in various correctional facilities. Unfortunately, I have become familiar with the Department of Corrections (DOC) procedures and social infrastructure while confined behind prison walls, including the Departmental Disciplinary Unit (DDU) at MCI Walpole Prison (Cedar Junction). So, I will give you my best thought on rehabilitation and re-integration.

 

 

THE MURDER OF MINDS PRISON SUICIDES

           By Joe Labriola

 

We had another suicide in Souza-Baranowski prison yesterday. It is the umpteenth suicide since January of 1979 when a decision was made to enforce punishment and do away completely with any foolish notion of the idea of rehabili­tation as a tool to curb crime inside the prison system or outside for those who one day might get there. (98% of those already doing time).

The numbers are staggering. We have surpassed what could reasonably be con­sidered an epidemic proportion of men and women in the state of Massachusetts taking their own lives. (The numbers are only as important as a single digit of one.) Each one is tragic to those who are left behind to mourn the loss. Mothers still weep and children still remain father­less or motherless while others may rea­sonably question the why of it all.

To better understand the epistemology of suicides in prison, a study and research project was done by Lindsay M. Hayes of the National Center of Institutions and Alternatives and presented on January 31, 2007, it is entitled TECHNICAL ASSIS­TANCE REPORT ON SUICIDE PRE­VENTION PRACTICES WITHIN THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION.

In part, this study shows that as of De­cember 2006, the Mass. Department of Correction held approximately 10,500 inmates in 18 correctional facilities. Since 2000, the DOC has experienced 18 inmate suicides in its facilities, with more than 60 percent occurring during 2005-2006. The suicide rate within the Mass. DOC during the past ten years was 26.9 deaths per 100,000 inmates. According to the most recent national data, the suicide rate in federal, state, and private prisons throughout the country during 2002 was 14 deaths per 100,000 inmates. As such, the suicide rate within the DOC was al­most double the national average during this 10-year period and several times greater than the national average in 2006. Leslie Walker, Executive Director of Massachusetts Correctional Legal Ser­vices, an inmate rights group, said; "The worst problem in prison isn't violence, it is boredom. They don't have enough job training, they don't have enough educa­tion. Add in the overcrowding, and they are at a breaking point (AP, December 27,2006).

 

On March 9,2007 the Boston Globe re­ported that the Disability Law Center, which provides legal help for the dis­abled, sued the Department of Correction in U.S. District Court in Boston after a year-long investigation during which the advocates questioned more man 220 in­mates in segregation units at two maxi­mum security prisons, Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center and MCI Cedar Junction at Walpole. They found that at least two dozen of the 220 segregated inmates displayed signs of mental illness. Extrapolating those numbers, advocates estimated that hundreds of prisoners in the state with mental health issues are being confined in such units, which the group said demoralizes any inmate but exceeds "me limit of human endurance" for those with psychological problems.

In Massachusetts, the suit says, cells in segregation units often have minimal furnishings, little if any natural light and solid doors with a narrow slot used to deliver food. Inmates are allowed out only an hour a day five days a week to exercise, and some are so depressed mat they decline to do so.

In 1890 the U.S. Supreme Court noted that even healthy prisoners often become psychotic and agitated in such conditions. "Now if you take someone who is al­ready mentally ill and put them in an environment that is supposed to be pain-nil psychologically, what do you ex­pect?"

It has been my unfortunate experience to note that when any prisoner seeks help either for physical or psychological prob­lems that they are punished for doing so. I do not claim to be an expert on mental health nor of the care medical providers deliver. I can only write from my per­sonal views as someone who has been in the prison system for 34 years.

If someone is ignorant enough to seek help under the belief that me DOC cares about them, they are sadly mistaken and  that mistake will be proven in the way they are treated for having the audacity to Mill.

Someone might go up to a guard, a case worker, or even a mental health worker and say that they are depressed and have given some thought to hurting them­selves. They are immediately taken to a strip cell in what is euphemistically called a "Health Service Unit" or HSU, and stripped down to their undershorts in an empty and filmy cell where they can be observed on either "eye-ball" or 15-minute watches. They may be inter­viewed by a mental health worker, who will most often prescribe some sort of chemical therapy, which in many cases exacerbates the already deeply rooted problem. They are quick to hand out a pill or two because of their being over­burdened with case loads or to be able to write that the prisoner was "treated," thereby covering their asses if and when the prisoner hangs it up. In other words, he or she is punished into having second thoughts about hurting themselves. When they get out of that situation they will relate to others the kind of punishment they received for having sought help in me first place. Those who hear the sto­ries, as I mink most all of us have, will now decide to just kill themselves rather than to be punished for thinking about killing themselves. The same thing ap­plies to anyone who again, has the audac­ity to fell sick. You are locked in a strip cell labeled HSU "hospital room" and punished. It is all about punishment and always will be. It matters not how many kill themselves or die for NOT seeking "help."

The recommendations by Lindays M. Hayes is a start, but it again deals with identifying those in need of care watch and what to do with them if they should attempt suicide. It does not at all in any way whatsoever deal with the root causes of what might have provoked the initial decision to end it. "Mentally ill" is a label.  Where did it begin? Were the conditions of confinement in any way responsible for it?

It is my contention that this epidemic of suicide in Massachusetts prisons is not an anomaly specifically related to any particular state. Suicide is not geographical. It is despair. Simply stated with much more complex reasoning behind that one word. If we have the highest suicide rate in the entire nation, what is it about Massachusetts that causes them? In the 1970's in segregation units we had our property. We had the televisions and radios to distract and we had a minimum of canteen each week to make us at least feel not so isolated from everyone else in the prison population.

It was not about coddling prisoners back than. No one wants to suggest such a flung. However, that said, in Nolan v. Scafati, 306 F.Supp; I, "A

PRISONER IS ONE WHOSE FREEDOM HAS BEEN INTENTIONALLY

 RESTRICTED IN THE INTEREST OF THE SAFETY OF SOCIETY, HIS OWN

REFORM, AND A DETERRENCE OF MISCONDUCT  BY HTM OR OTHERS.WHILE

 HE IS NOT SENT TO PRISON FOR PUNISHMENT, HE HAS BEEN SENT THERE AT

PUNISHMENT. IT GOES ON FURTHER TO STATE TO THE PRECLUSION OF INVI

 DOUS DISCR1MATION."

Just losing ones liberty was more than enough. The same thing can be said about segregation unite. If a person is on sanctioned disciplinary restrictions for a reason, the purpose of segregation units is to isolate those who by word or deed have clearly demonstrated that they are a threat to the well being of themselves or others. When someone is removed from the general population and placed in a segregation cell for 24 hours a day, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! Anything further inflicted upon this person is punishment and nothing less.

Once in segregation for committing an infraction of any rule or regulation, a person then sees a disciplinary board to determine appropriate punishment for that particular offense. They are then sanctioned to do fifteen days, me most allowed by law ,at any one time, in isolation with loss of privileges.
Any suggestions that I, a prisoner may boldly make will be seen as a self-serving diatribe. Having served off and on over 18 years in segregation I have earned me right to call it as I see it.

There were very few suicides in die early 1970's therefore SOMEONE must have been doing SOMETHING right. Prisoners have not gotten mentally weaker since those days. They have just been punished more onerously. Those who may not have had any serious mental health issues will manifest them in a negative way simply because the culture of prisons has so drastically changed from trying to be humane to being draconian in its treatment of people.

There are many who think we are all throw-away human beings and deserve to hang for using drugs or robbing gas stations or even harming others. That makes those who entertain such notions no better than the men and women who commit a crime against them.

I have seen several men hanging over my long years and I can promise those who read this statement that it is an ugly and despicable way to die. Yet, given the nature of punishment, it is not hard to understand why they might choose this way out.

 

Joe Labriola March 12,2007

ALL RESPECT IS SELF-RESPECT

By Timothy J. Muise

It took me many years to learn that all respect is basically self-respect What I mean by this is that when you show your humanity by caring about how you interact with others, you do yourself a great service. It's kind of like the "karma" thing that so many believe in. What goes around, comes around is, to my opinion, God's way of showing that you need to love your neighbor as yourself.

Now one of the mistaken impressions I had about respect was mat I had to feel that someone deserved it, or had earned it This is just not true. Respecting others, even others whom you have a truly hard time even tolerat­ing, is a basic foundation for self-actualization. If you want to be all that you can be you must show respect to all.

I am a prisoner. In prison the word "respect" gets thrown around a lot.  Most times it's preceded by the prefix "dis," but the term is widely used no matter which side of its coin is being called. I do my best to school the younger guys about what I think is the real meaning of the word in this setting. I believe it is being the best man you can be under the difficulty of (he circumstance. You don't leave the soap wrappers in the shower. Not because of the guy who cleans the showers, but because of yourself You don't make loud noises that will continuously disturb your neighbor. Again, not because of your neighbor, but for yourself.  You shape who you are by how you act You are defined by the sum total of what you do. Many men in these cages come in with not so rosy pasts. We don't have to let that define the rest of our lives. It does not have to be who we are. To rise above it we must change. We must have self-respect.

My responsibility, as I see it, in this prison world is to do my best to break prisoner stereotypes. I need to show my peers, the public, as well as my captors, mat I am a man of value. The circumstances that brought me here are behind me. My future is in how 1 let my choices be guided. With faith, effort, and desire, I know I have the brightest of chances. For tee things I respect myself.

Timothy J. Muise, W66927

 

 

The Hypothetical Button

By Robert Dellelo

The hypothesis: If there was a magical button that, if pressed, would instantly rehabilitate all prisoners and reduce the Massachusetts recidivism rate to zero, would/could the Massachusetts Department of Corrections press this button?

Unfortunately, the answer is an emphatic "NO." The Department of Corrections (DOC) simply could not, and would not, press this button. la the rationale behind why DOC would not press this button lies the crux of the problem of corrections in this Commonwealth.

This is quite contrary to the statutory mandate that part of the powers and duties of the Commissioner of the Department of Correction is to rehabilitate prisoners. See M.G.L. Chapter 124, section 1(e):

(e)establish, maintain and administer programs of rehabilitation, including but not limited to education, training and employment, of persons committed to the custody of the department, designed as far as practicable to prepare and assist each such Benson to assume the responsi­bilities and exercise the rights of a citizen of the commonwealth:

(f)establish a classification of persons committed to the custody of the department for the pur­pose of developing a rehabilitation program for each such person:

(Emphasis added by the writer of this article).

Corrections in this Commonwealth is no longer about "rehabilitation" and "correction." Corrections is now simply about job security. Simply put, the Department of Correction (including staff, correctional officers, etc.) DO NOT have a vested interest in rehabilitating prisoners. A direct consequence of rehabilitating prisoners would be the disintegration of prison through attrition. In other words, as you rehabilitate prisoners, thereby reducing the recidivism rate, there will be fewer and fewer prisoners in the system, inevitably requiring the closing of more and more prisons. Which, of course, will require fewer and fewer Department of Correction employees... Ergo, the dilemma.

EDITORS NOTE: It is of the utmost importance, at this point, to make it perfectly clear, that, it is not the in­tent of this article, or the Outlook on Justice in general, to simply be washing anybody's dirty laundry in public. It is the intent of Outlook to be an open forum for dialogue and debate around the concepts of justice, correc­tions, the courts, legislation, rehabilitation, re-entry, and the creation of safer communities. The focus is on identifying problems and, where possible, suggesting solutions or alternatives.

Keep in mind, we are presently spending more money on "corrections" man we are spending on higher education. However you try to cut it, that's a formula for social disaster. The pertinent questions is "How did we get here? And "How do we get out of continuing this social disaster?"

First off, the crux of the problem is that we have created a self-perpetuating monster of a correctional system. And the monster is simply becoming bigger and bigger. The larger this monster becomes the more uncontrollable and unmanageable it will become, which, in feet, is a testament to the titter failure of our present concepts and application of corrections. The inevitable consequence of a self-perpetuating system is that mis type of system could never be about correction and rehabilitation; it wiU always be orientated toward self-serving job security, with no interest in re­habilitating prisoners. Increase in correctional officers (CO's) salaries since 1992:70% to 77%. The average percent increase in all Massachusetts wage earners* salaries since 1992; 42.3%. The salaries of Massachusetts CO's (Levels L H, 111) in 1992, excluding benefits and overtime: $35,386 - $40,531. Salaries of CO's in 2003, excluding benefits and overtime: $59,919 - $71,946, Not only, will this type of system become bigger and bigger, it will continue to become more and more expensive. We simply cannot afford this. So, how do we get out of this?

 

 Outlook on Justice

New England Regional Office, American Friends Service Committee

May/June 2007                                                                                    Vol.27

Promoting Non-Violent Social Change since 1971

What we need to do is create a correctional system that is self-disintegrating. We need to create a correctional system that's truly dedicated to corrections. Any correctional system that is truly dedicated to corrections has to be founded on the concept and principle of rehabilitation of prisoners. Simply put, if we rehabilitate prisoners there will be fewer prisoners in the system. Which means, there will be less and less need for staff... which doesn't mean we will have to fire staff, we simply do not fill the slots created by retirement, quitting, or death. With fewer prisoners and less staff we will need fewer prison… Ergo, will would have more money for higher education, or whatever.

Right now, our present system of corrections is tantamount to an abyss, simply swallowing up tax-payers' money while incapacitating prisoners without providing meaningful rehabilitation, and consequently producing more crime than originally existed.

Though it is true that only the prisoner can make the decision to rehabilitate himself, the system must provide the necessary tools for the individual to use to help his rehabilitative effort. Rehabilitation works. And of how our problem is that we don't have people that are trained in rehabilitation. We simply do not have people trained in how to assist, support, and help direct an individual down a meaningful path of rehabilitation.

Joli Sparkman is a classic example of a solution and alternative to our present system. And of how a self-disintegrating correctional system could work. Here is an individual who, in spite of the present system, turned her life around; in essence, she has rehabilitated herself. Joli now possesses invaluable knowledge and experience. She is, in­deed, an expert trained in rehabilitation. Her skills properly honed and applied, she could be employed by the Depart­ment of Correction (as a prisoner, at minimum wage) to educate, teach and help other individuals rehabilitate them­selves.

How many Joli Sparkmans are in the system? I would venture to say, far more than you could ever imagine. If we invested in these individuals, educated them, helped get them master degrees and certification as teachers; trained them in vocational skills, got them certified as instructors in carpentry, plumbing, masonry... With these skills prison­ers could not only make a living wage with on the street, but they could be used to maintain the institutions them­selves, at huge saving to the state. And, of course, working at minimum wage, these prisoners would be paying taxes, which would help defray the cost of the correctional system.

 Outlook on Justice is published four times a year by the Criminal Justice Program of the New England Regional Office of the American Friends Service Committee, 2161 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140 (617-661-6130). We work with pris­oners, ex-prisoners, families, legislators, and other concerned people to challenge punishment polky-makers and to create sound public policy.

Staff: Editor Robert Dellelo, Jamie Bissonnette, John "Jack" McCambridge, John Bougbner, Megan Tunstill

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                                Opinions expressed in Outlook are not necessarily those of AFSC