I'm sorry , and sad for you . I wish the prisons had drug counseling ,one on one , and s.o counseling ,so these guys will be able to survive if and when they ever get out .

I so agree!

Drug counseling would be so helpful.

So it seems a flot of us have kids in prison as a result of addiction which is considered according to DSM3 as a disease. I know it seems futile but maybe we can turn our pain into something positive???? Start writing our congressmen and community leaders.....band together even though we are all across the country???? Have I lost my mind?

Most prisoners are locked up for non-violent crimes. Mental health issues that ultimately lead to drug addiction is a big reason why. We need to humanize these men and women that are in the prison system and when you are a mother/father with a child behind bars you truly see things differently. To Sunworship.... I totally understand... You love your son and helping with commissary, bills etc. is at least something you are in control of, a way that you can help. The hard stuff, to truly help himself, he has to do on his own. I found a fantastic resource that will truly help you. Google Christopher Zoukis... he is currently in prison and has written a few wonderful books.... Wealth of information.

Most prisoners are locked up for non-violent crimes. Mental health issues that ultimately lead to drug addiction is a big reason why. We need to humanize these men and women that are in the prison system and when you are a mother/father with a child behind bars you truly see things differently. To Sunworship.... I totally understand... You love your son and helping with commissary, bills etc. is at least something you are in control of, a way that you can help. The hard stuff, to truly help himself, he has to do on his own. I found a fantastic resource that will truly help you. Google Christopher Zoukis... he is currently in prison and has written a few wonderful books.... Wealth of information.

Very familiar with Chris. I have written him and actually got a reply. Unfortunately he is involved with federal prison reform. My son is in a state prison in NC with no educational opportunity and no law library. Many of the books I have sent my son via Amazon....the only way I can send books to him....have been refused by the prison staff even though they are on the "allowed" list. He has a job....he cleans the bathrooms for 15 cents a day. I get it....he is in prison because he broke the law. Prison is hard. He deserves to be there. I'm not defending him. However there has to be a better way other than warehousing them for 15 years and setting them free.

Sunworship, it is frustrating and maddening that, as you put it so well ,they are "warehousing" these men and women. That is exactly how I feel. They made bad choices and are paying for it but in order to reintegrate them successfully there must be rehab. and some kind of treatment from within the system, programs to teach life skills etc. That the staff is not allowing your son the "allowed" books is not right. I recently sent my son some IRS paperwork to fill out with a plain stamped envelope to send back the paperwork to me so he wouldn't have to spend his commissary money. They withheld the envelope stating that there was an extra, hidden letter in the paperwork I sent!! It was a plain envelope with nothing inside. He filled out a grievance form to get the envelope back. Those kind of unnecessary power plays and mind games are ridiculous and those staff members should be reprimanded. I intend to call the jail tomorrow and speak with the head jailer about this.

In regards to your son: Kenneth Lassiter has, as of May 2017, been appointed the new Director of North Carolina State prisons. There was an article written about this by Keith Acree who is with the NC Department of Public Safety. Perhaps it would be helpful if you reach out to him in regards to staff at your sons prison withholding what you are sending him.

Keith may be a good first point of contact. His information is as follows: email: keith.acree@ncdps.gov and phone number 919-733-5027.

Thanks so much for the info!! I am going to follow up. One thing to keep in mind when calling the prison or jail.....I called the medical unit at my sons prison after he had an abscessed tooth and waited 6 months to see a dentist only to be told "yep...it needs to be pulled." and was told he would have to make another appointment and purchase Tylenol from the commissary. When I called I was calm and precise and not at all rude. A week or so later my son told me that his cell was searched, his Tylenol taken and his commissary put on hold for 45 days. One of the COs that did the cell search made a comment that this is what happens to Mama's boys in prison.

I have not been on here for a few weeks. The stress of my sons upcoming court hearing July 13th is taking a toll. His court appointed lawyer told him he has a 90% chance that he's going to prison. The probation officer is recommending 1 yr and 9 months, but, the judge can do what he wants. It could be much longer. It angers and saddens me that calling to check on your child's well being gets him backlash from the CO. I hope you are well

I will keep you and your Don in my meditations. Please let me know the outcome. I know just how difficult it is!

Sorry...your son

A mothers love is unconditional. I feel the same way. My youngest boy of 6 children was 15 and is being charged as an adult. I can not afford the phone calls, the money on his books and attorney fees. I have had my car repossessed and have taken out 2 loans to help pay for the attorney. But I dont regret one moment of it. My son is not the worst kid in the world and I was totally shocked because he never raised his voice or was disrespectful towards me in any way. Sometimes I find myself blaming myself and asking myself if there was something I could have done differently or where did I go wrong. I have a son in the Medical program in the Air Force, a daughter that is head teller at a bank, a daughter that is a manager at Wendy's, one getting ready for early graduation from high school and one doing well in middle school of the arts. Sometimes I dont understand but I will always be there for him no matter what. Thats a mother's love.