Minimum is good news, and I agree, the cops do understand how the system works. My ex-husband is a cop and was actually very helpful in explaining the corrections system to me and making predictions about what would happen. As far as placement, my husband had to do only 10 months and they kept him in receiving the WHOLE time at his original location (which meant no phonecalls for 10 months!) because they weren't going to bother to do the paperwork/evaluations/etc to place him for such a short time.

Rew...just want to say my son is at a medium in Virginia and he tells me there is hardly ever any trouble. Maybe a fistfight once in awhile over gambling or something but he says most of the guys don't want to get in trouble because the next step is the penitentiary and they don't want to go there. I do read a lot of horror stories at other medium prisons but I thank god everyday my son seems to be at a safer one.

Rew,

My brother looked up where they sent my son. I don't know if this is supposed to be temporary, but I am concerned. I looked up the place. Its considered medium. Its the Jackson Correctional Center and it looks like when you go to the link that its LaSalle. Would this mean that this is where he would go? Who decides where the person goes? Because if this woman judge has it her way, she will send him to a medium jail. I spoke with my attorney yesterday and he said that she was very unprofessional. This place has about 1200 prisoners in there.

Heartbrokenparent

DEBBIEO403,

I am relieved that your son is doing so well. If you will remember we talked several times months ago and I was concerned that since he had such a long sentence that he would go to a medium, but apparently it is working out well for him. Good News!!!!

Heartbrokenparent,

I will research Jackson Correctional Center later tonight. I cannot imagine someone with only seven years going to a medium. I have never seen that happen. Unless---unless---Louisiana has a clause that everyone convicted of a sex offense automatically goes to a medium. But don't panic, let me see what I can find out. I have a friend from Louisiana that I did time with and I will try to call him tonight or tomorrow.

I try my best to look out for y'all and I will continue to do so as long as I am posting on this board.

rewdiazepam

Rew,

Yes, I do remember now we talked about where my son would end up. He is an amazing person and will do everything in his power to make the best of this. He is tutoring English and he mentors many inmates. So far (knock on wood..) he has not had any problems where he is. He will turn 30 this week in prison.

DEBBIEO403,

And your son is probably never going to have problems. You know why? He has won the other inmate's respect. He is helping them. He is their mentor. They like and respect him. He has learned to play the game and how to get along with the other inmates.

I have said this a thousand times----Inmates do not beat up other inmates they like and respect. PERIOD

If they like you and respect you, as they do your son, they will overlook his charges. Your son is a very wise person. He has learned that you "have to be just another inmate in there" but he has also learned how to make them respect and like him.

He will be fine. The inmates NEED him. He has something they want---knowledge and tutorship. That is how it is played in prison.

In another thread I started today in which I explained the difference in medium and minimum prisons, I showed a statistic where Oklahoma had 1200 inmate to inmate assaults and 200 assaults on staff in a 10 month period. That is a helluva lot. But you know the ones getting beat up? It was not the mentors, it was not the OK guys, it was not the guys that helped other inmates. Rather is was the guys who did not know how to get along and win the respect of the other inmates---regardless of their charges.

Good for your son!!!!

rewdiazepam

DEBBIEO403,

BTW, I know you are but you should be damned proud of your son going in there and helping others. He is doing wonderful work and regardless of his charges or whatever anyone thinks of him, he is a damn fine HUMAN BEING. He has taken a negative and is trying to turn it into a positive and make a difference. Very few inmates do that.

I know you are proud of him and so am I.

rewdiazepam

I am extremely proud of my son. He was well liked outside prison as well as inside prison. My son came into prison as a white college graduate, raised in a family not "acquainted" with the prison system by any means but thank god he was never prejudice of any other race and gets along with all of them. He happens to be the only "white" male on an all black football team. He says Mom I have the best protection of all on the field - nobody is going to mess with me! He made it into a 2 man-cell less than a month after he was there because he was respected (not to mention very clean) and someone you would want as a cellmate.

Rew, thank you for the nice words about my son - I appreciate it!

I think my only fear is when he gets moved someday (which he will when his sentence goes down) and hopefully he will be accepted at the next prison facility.

So, can a judge decide where you go?

Heartbroken...no...only the DOC decides which facility. A judge's jurisdiction is the court system, which is not the same thing as the penal system.

Thanks Honestwitness and Rew, I am looking forward to hearing back from you about the Jackson facility.

Heartbroken,

No neither the judge nor the DA decides where your son will be placed. Even if they were to make a recommendation, it would hold no water. The DOC if it is a state charge or the BOP if it is a federal charge are the sole determiners of your son's final destination.

His first stop in this journey will be at a Reception and Assessment center. There they will determine his needs, the programs he needs to take, and at what level of security he will be ultimately placed. He will be there probably about three weeks. After they finish the assessment process, he will be sent to his ultimate prison to begin his sentence. Since the prison system is so overcrowded, they will probably send him to the first prison with the bedspace for your son. But if he is minimum eligible, as I think he will be, they will not send him to a medium. He will go to the first minimum that has a warm bed.

Even though your son is a repeat offender, I doubt that he would ever be sent to the dreaded medium security facility as seven years is just too short a sentence for a medium. In my experience, being a repeat offender had little to do with the placement. Yes, it is one factor, but the minimum I was at had many, many inmates who were repeat offenders. The biggest determination is the amount of time the inmate has to do and in your son's case that is a relatively short sentence.

I am still checking on the Jackson facility. My father passed on last night, so it might take a few days for me to get back with you, but I WILL get back to you. I absolutely have no plans whatsover to ever stop posting on this wonderful board, but I might be slow for a few days.

I have many messages to answer and I want everyone to know that I will fall a little behind, but I WILL answer them all in a few days. Actually, I find that this is probably good therapy for me at this time.

Take care of yourself and I will talk to you soon,

rewdiazepam

My condolences, Rew. May you be blessed with peace and strength. (((HUGS)))

Oh Rew! I am so sorry for your loss. Write when you can. I lost my father 4 years ago and I know its not easy. My condolences. Hugs!