1) YUP!!! The correctional system here in Arizona assured Brent's friends and family that it had the ability and duty to keep our child safe. But, having heard not a word from Brent since his transfer to Rincon Minors Unit at the Tucson State Prison Facility since his transfer on 27 JUNE 2008, we started making phone calls on 7 JULY. Today (15 JULY), an on-site counselor took pity on us and allowed Brent to make a quick call tospeak with us after 26 days MIA. HERE is what Brent had to say: he was jumped by THREE Hispanic youth on his first day there, within the first 12 hours, because they felt he "disrespected" them. THREE. He managed to protect most of his head and face, but is still covered in bruises elsewhere on his body, 25 days later. These are the same kids that beat him in LBJ, forcing him into protective custody there. He got punished for his inability to defend himself and fend off THREE attackers, and has been in lockdown for the past 25 days, with NO PRIVILEGES or HUMAN CONTACT. His commissary privileges have been suspended and will not be reinstated until 17 JULY 2008-- meaning he cannot purchase stamps or stationary to write us until after they are ordered AND delivered. He has no telephone privileges to call us collect, because he was involved in an altercation, which he could not avoid AND from which no single person protected or defended him .In other words, HE got in trouble because OTHER people beat the crap out of him. AGAIN. That's SEVEN times now, in TEN months, in the care of our esteemed correctional system. And that's just the CHILDREN, folks. He is VERY depressed. And his medical diagnoses did NOT make the trip; the State's psych assessment left it to a CHILD to try to explain his disability and the required treatment prescribed by a neurological specialist. So he isn't getting any therapy either.
2) On August 1st, we were finally able to get a "special visit" approved so Brent's brother could see him before deploying to Iraq. Brent is living once again in Protective Custody, allowed out of his cell for TWO HOURS every other day, plus time for a shower. The "cage" he is released into for those two hours is not even large enough to exercise in, being about the same size as his cell...but at least it's fresh air, right?
Brent is allowed visitors ONLY on Fridays between 8am and noon AND only by appointment: how's THAT for holding a family together and accessing his support network? We can keep him as long as we give up our jobs? And his friends in school NEVER get to see him at all unless they break the law and cut class.
The State refuses to let him test for his GED because he is NOT yet 16 (even though he's legally an adult AND has shown he can do so on their aptitude tests?), and cannot do so for another year, until his birthday. Because he's PC, he also cannot attend classes. So what does he do all day? Reads and exercises. In his cell.
The STATE determined that Brent does NOT need behavioral counseling of any kind during Intake, so, of course, he isn't receiving any assistance in that capacity either. ASPC Medical DID tell us that his psychological reports, provided to the Court by us, never arrived at their facility, despite the Judge's order, and they have requested those records in the interim.
SOMEONE PLEASE explain to me how this is rehabilitative or helpful to our society in any way, because I can't see a positive end result or even any lesson being learned by this method....
Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas stated that this is what YOU, the people of Arizona, want to do with kids who make really stupid mistakes. Is it really worth a young man's entire life and mental health to punish him continually in this manner for something he will punish himself for, for the remainder of his life??? Do you suppose Thomas' children would ever be subjected to the same harshness in our system as any other child? Would he buy votes with his own children's futures? Then why would you allow him to buy those votes with your child, or mine? I am ashamed to reside in this State, and embarrassed for your morality. And they are requiring ME to sit on YOUR jury this week, despite my allegatins of hostility. My, aren't we in for a good time?
7/18/2008 UPDATE:
We really MUST commend the Staff at Tucson's prison complex: The few folks we have spoken with have taken a true interest in Brent's welfare, and have jumped through hoops to assist us in maintaining his safety, both physically and mentally. If he must be where he is, it gives us some comfort to know that there are people taking time from their hectic duties to keep eyes on him, on our behalf, and we pray that each of those persons is blessed with grace for their own families. Our most heart-felt THANK YOU.
