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| Blind inmate poet Minor Smith, age 73 |
Joe Davidson, in a July 12, 2017, Washington Post column, reports concerns expressed by a watchdog group of the U.S. Justice Department about the use of solitary confinement for long periods of time in federal prisons. He also cites a general lack of mental health treatment for US inmates.
Some mentally ill persons are housed in solitary-confinement conditions for years, according to the report, with limited human contact or opportunities for physical or mental stimulation. This creates the kind of stress that can contribute to psychosis in anyone, but especially people who already have diagnosable emotional and mental problems.
Local Spouse Responds to Harvspot Blog on "The High (and Hidden) Costs Of Incarceration"
My husband committed credit card fraud in 2011 and gave a false name when confronted by police. He got two years probation and did weekend jail for two months. In 2015 he got off probation and thought he was a free man. Then he and I got pulled over in on June 28, 2017, for a seat belt violation. The Sheriff ran both our licenses and my husband was informed there had been a capias out on him.We were in shock.
He was arrested, taken to Sheriff's Department where they gave him a court date and let him go. He had a fine that was past due that he had made small payments on, and he went to court and was assigned a public defender. The next time he came to court to make payment arrangements he got locked up for a year!
The Circuit Court Judge asked why he had never seen a probation officer. He had already completed probation in the County where we live and was not aware that he had to complete probation in ________ County as well.
He was arrested, taken to Sheriff's Department where they gave him a court date and let him go. He had a fine that was past due that he had made small payments on, and he went to court and was assigned a public defender. The next time he came to court to make payment arrangements he got locked up for a year!
The Circuit Court Judge asked why he had never seen a probation officer. He had already completed probation in the County where we live and was not aware that he had to complete probation in ________ County as well.
It makes me sick to think our tax dollars are paying for a man who has already done 2 years probation to sit in jail, who could be out repaying his fines and paying his debt to society. This is an injustice and a true disgrace to our justice system!
My husband had never been in trouble or incarcerated before. He is 45 yrs old, is diabetic and has a bad case of arthritis along with his nerve problems, and he is not doing well at the Middle River Jail. He's been waiting patiently to see a medical doctor there, but has been there for a week and a half and no one has even taken his blood sugar level yet.
There are hardened criminals who get less time then my husband got for this one bad judgement he made in 2011.
Questionable Jail Deaths to get Closer Scrutiny
The following is by Bill Bartel in the 7/25/17 Virginian-Pilot:
Any future questionable deaths in Hampton Roads Regional Jail and other Virginia jails will require closer state scrutiny under a new law that took effect this month. The legislation also puts more law enforcement and health care professionals on the State Board of Corrections.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who pressed for tighter oversight of regional jails, has announced the appointment of six new members to the nine-member corrections board, including Virginia Beach Police Deputy Chief Bill Dean, two former sheriffs, a physician, a health care executive and a minister. Their appointments were guided by the new requirement that the board have members with specific backgrounds, including health care or law enforcement, as well as “a citizen member who represents community interests.”
The statute, unanimously approved by the General Assembly earlier this year, expanded the board’s responsibilities to include reviewing the questionable death of an inmate in local or regional correctional facilities. The panel has the power to conduct hearings, issue subpoenas and take sworn testimony. Its probe can lead to proposed policy changes, but any criminal investigation would have to be conducted by state or local law enforcement officials.
Virginia Parole Board Grants 32 July Releases
Of 242 cases reviewed by the current four-member Parole Board now chaired by Adrianne Bennett, 32 inmates were granted parole in July. Only four of these were geriatric releases, at a time when ever more inmates are needing to be transferred to the Deerfield Correctional Center, a virtual nursing home offering care to aging and ill inmates.
Mr. Algie Howell, a long time member of the Parole Board who I have been told has often cast deciding nay votes in inmate cases, is rumored to have been relieved of his assignment by the Governor, and according to the VPB website, no one has yet been appointed to replace him.
Another Poem by Legally Blind Inmate Minor Smith, Recently Moved to Deerfield Correctional Center
"FROM THE COOKIES TO THE CROSS"
BY MINOR JUNIOR SMITH, age 73
Shopping became a pleasure, and we each preferred colors that were not dim.
New clothes looked so nice, only we could not afford to purchase many of them.
Jennifer bought two western style outfits and other items she had selected.
Although my new sport coat matched her fashion, boots and hats were neglected.
That evening, we lugged our suitcases into a restaurant for a light meal.
By and by, in a supermarket, a package of cookies was included in our next deal.
Life was still looking up, while we boarded the Trailway bus in single file.
Our smiling driver simply told my wife she was really traveling in style.
We exited Roanoke County, then travelled through Montgomery, Pulaski, and Whythe.
Jennifer had progressed poorly in the fourth grade and never entered the fifth.
At VSDB (1), she had been the one girl who had skated among us boys on the court.
Together, she and I had rarely attended the school's activities of some sort.
In Sunday school at Staunton, I would have been willing to marry Mary Beth.
Above my TV. chair at dads, a crucifix still hung to reveal his "Good Mans" death.
In characterization, I have given his favorite Grandson the name Peter.
That one had been privileged by parents as though he would become a great leader.
His father, Sam, had lumbered for Dad and had labored as our Blacksmith.
Then Sam bought property in Williamsburg for Gordon, whom he had hauled logs with.
Among Dad's four sons in law, Sam had been the one whom I had admired the most.
He had provided well for his family,and usually carried out each boast.
Jennifer and I hurried off the bus in Bristol to find some food that was good.
We hadn't eaten my cookies assuming that they were probably as hard as wood.
It appeared to us that we had ridden 200 more miles as we rolled into Knoxville.
In all my future travels, I would never tour the cities I desired to see:Nashville.
Jennifer favored songs by Patsy Cline, Roy Acuff; she too liked Minny Pearl.
I wondered what all had gone amiss in the life of the slain little Knoxville girl.
Daddy had revealed anger to some people down his hard working hands.
Although compelled by spite, Mom had been strict about some of Gods commands.
To retaliate for having been abused by Mom, children, robbers, and rookies.
Upon reentering Chattanooga, I opened the package and gave Jennifer the cookies.
Momentarily, I considered the convicts at Silverdale and their various pains.
I imagined that former prison mines there were still asleep in chains.
Jennifer had verbal control of my actions like a mean Cowgirl with a whip.
A boil about Little Rock, we acted like two runaways during the entire trip.
Granny Johnson lived beyond her eightieth birthday before she had been found dead.
To give some people information, she did not need to hit the nail right on the head.
At the Memphis depot, a display case revealed a little silver cross and chain.
Fulfilling Jennifer's desire, I bought it, unaware that it would match her cane.
What we rode across next made us proud, yet I shrugged off a meager shiver.
Our driver announced that we were crossing the wide and still muddy Mississippi River.
(1) Virginia School For The Deaf And Blind
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