Comments for Prisonmovement's Weblog

Comment on Justice, American Style:Sarah Kruzan 16-Year-Old sentenced to life for killing pimp by Jenea

Jenea — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:18:33 +0000

This story is quit compelling. I believe the judge based the final decision to grant this young lady life without parole was for pure self gratification. Yes its by law a huge crime to take the life another pending their wrong doing, However, Sarah was a minor. A youth. Her mind was like a sponge. Yet, based on her scholar achievements, she was put into the catagory of a premeditated crime. I sincerely believe that the system is unjust. Who is to decide rather parole is granted or not. A murder is a murder. Yes , I agree with pending the type of hate crime should be weighed, but this was a self act of protection. A desperate cry out for freedom. She should be released on parole and granted a new life. She has served her time in prison and Im sure she has a story to share with other woman and men that dont involve crime as a way of excaping explotation.

Comment on Pit Bulls and Parolees- on Animal Planet by prisonmovement

prisonmovement — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:16:44 +0000

go here http://www.vrcpitbull.com/ and then to “contact us” I dont know if there are any positions available but hey can always use volunteers….

Comment on Pit Bulls and Parolees- on Animal Planet by kody

kody — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:13:51 +0000

i love thw show and the breed so is there anywhere i can apply for a job

Comment on Despite sobs, 81-year-old woman denied parole again by Lynn

Lynn — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:58:40 +0000

Oh! Wow! That is brutal…No wonder they are keeping her. I wonder if she has had some counseling for obvious anger issues?

Comment on The Green Wall- Excerpt by Lynn

Lynn — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:54:45 +0000

Most of us know that you don’t need them to formally form an actual gang in the CDCr to still continue in this path of “code of silence”. These officers just confirmed it all, what was already going on and continues too go on in the system.

Comment on State prisons plan to expand psychiatric care by Christine

Christine — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:06:59 +0000

I have great doubts about getting anything done for the mentally ill anywhere in California (or the US).
Right now if an individual in California and has not worked because of mental illness, or didn’t earn enough for early retirement and Medicare again due to mental illness they have some big problems.
First, the amounts disability pay has dwindled. The average single person’s benefits in Californai have gone down about $150.00 per person since 2006 according to SSI’s tables listing benefits for 2006 – 2009. You can find the information on their website.
The second issue that concerns me is that all mentally ill adults in California are no longer able to have paid visits to their therapist. Most people are referred to a clinic of some type. Most clinics that are free have had their funding cut, so they almost always assign patients to a group. This grouping is often determined by sex, a general diagnosis or sometimes just by what time of day can the patient come and join a group. Groups can be good social support if managed properly. However, they are not a substitute for individual therapy. Siding scale clinics have a little more monies and can usually offer one on one therapy if it is needed. The problem is many sliding scale clinics are simply full. Patients are sometimes put on a waiting list, but are usually just turned away. I have even heard of patients being referred to clinics that have already closed their doors for good.
Not all patients want group therapy, and those who don’t often go without therapy at all. Some do spend their precious little income at a sliding scale clinic. Fees that would delight you can be burdensome to the serious mental health consumer. No one should give up food or clothing money to get necessary health care. Again consumers of mental health care simply don’t go to therapy
What does this have to do with California prisons? Well, it is important to give the mental health consumers a support system. In California a patient may be covered to see a psychiatrist if they are diagnosed and being treated for mental illness. It is not as likely that a person on psychiatric medications will continue to take them if they loose their support system. It is more likely then that person would end up homeless or in an institution. It could possibly be a mental health care facility, but usually it’s the prison system.
Prison is a breeding ground for mental illness. Over crowding, stress, worry about safety from physical and mental harm, hopelessness, issues surrounding basic medical care are problems in prisons (just to name a few). These kinds of problems have been shown to combine and take a toll on an individual in such away that if they are somewhat prone to a mental illness, it is almost certain that it will develop under these negative conditions. Considering the background of a majority of the prison population surely there is a higher portion of people at risk. Prevention as well as treatment is needed.
California is not alone in this matter. It is merely representative of the US. Health care in general. I would like to see the mentally ill get better treatment everywhere possible. The reality is that mental health will always be a low priority. Serious mental health consumers are in a silent minority. I don’t believe any politician has ever lost sleep with worry because he/she won’t be getting the mental illness vote on Election Day.

Comment on Pit Bulls and Parolees- on Animal Planet by dannie

dannie — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:54:10 +0000

i love the show, and i love that the breed is FINALLY getting their redemption! the Pit Bull breed is a breed that shouldn’t be feared at all, and they shouldn’t be trianed to fight, or have it bred into them. i was just watching the animal cops of Philly the other day, and they brought in about 7 Pits. six of which were euthanized because they had been bred to fight. this one pit was so violent, it bit through wires, and had busted up a plastic, or someting, cage, because it wanted to get out to fight! it was all bloodied from breaking through the cage. how is doing this to the breed making them an excellent breed? once i have a family of my own, and depending on our living situation (where we’re living), i definitely plan on having Pits! my kids WON’T fear the breed one bit. they’ll be ones out front, protecting and sticking up for the breed . . . knocking down anyone who deems thems an unfit breed for anybody, or anything.

Comment on Just A Guy: Out on Parole!! by Incarceration? « Jhughe49's Blog

Incarceration? « Jhughe49's Blog — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:45:35 +0000

[...] that it is unfair to him that he cannot leave the state of california because of his past, this link provided shows the full story. This man who doesnt even get a chance to see his family is forced to [...]

Comment on Bay area support group for families of prisoners by miveWremi

miveWremi — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:39:11 +0000

I am often looking for new informations in the WWW about this issue. Thanx!

Comment on Just A Guy: Out on Parole!! by Tweets that mention Just A Guy: Out on Parole!! « Prisonmovement's Weblog -- Topsy.com

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:19:45 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Carol Leonard, Piper Kerman. Piper Kerman said: Mazel tov, JAG! RT @PrisonMovement: Just A Guy Out on Parole! http://bit.ly/6Ekaq6 [...]