Tag Archives: jail

Animal Issues

He’s our gonzo City Council candidate!😝💚🇺🇸

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Ron O’Clair – terrific writer💚! Interesting inner-city political candidate.🇺🇸

Why Vote for Me?

By Ron O’Clair

As we head down the road to the preliminary election in September, you have to ask yourself, of all the people running in this election cycle, who am I going to vote for? And why?

A fair question! And one that I hope to give you an answer to here:

I have been working for the last 30 years on behalf of the residents of my beloved City of Worcester, and most never knew what I was doing, nor why I was convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that it needed to be done.

Someone had to make the sacrifices required to see the job through to its completion.

That someone happened to be me.

All these years I have been cataloging abuses made in various guises by those who are being paid a handsome salary on the back of the average working stiff in the form of – trap of – high taxes$$$. We hoi polloi foot the bills that keep them in clover!

I have nothing against paying our Worcester Police Law Enforcement Personnel a living wage, plus benefits, lest they be tempted to work against us – and for the drug cartels. There have already been cases here in Worcester of that happening – Operation Tune-up!

What I do have a problem with is when the people put in positions of trust and authority over “the people” abuse that trust or authority to deprive the least of us of our inalienable rights to be free and unmolested as we go about our legal and lawful business. I am against those who target certain people based on wrong assumptions.

When these abuses and usurpations of power happen, there is a process in place meant to provide relief for those who are unjustly persecuted, and even maliciously prosecuted, for crimes that either never happened or were blown out of proportion into something bigger for more sentence.

When that process itself is corrupted by malfeasance, ineptitude, cronyism, nepotism and outright favoritism, what is a citizen supposed to do?

Pack his toothbrush as he heads off to do time to satisfy the lust of some jerk putting him or her in jail just because they CAN – and not because a crime was in fact committed!

Well, when the victim happens to be a dual citizen / soldier like me – in service to the United States Government on a Federal Level, there is only one thing to do: INVESTIGATE.

I had the Constitutional authority granted to me as a non-commissioned officer in the rank of E/5 to back my play, and the corrupted County of Worcester had not a freaking clue as to the deep pile of doo doo they stepped into when they attempted to, and succeeded in, covering up for a corrupted Court officer who attempted to murder a prisoner – me! – in restraints, and in custody of the Trial Court of the Commonwealth at 50 Harvard Street that 30th day of September, 1986. A fateful day indeed.

I was nearly killed that day. And the Court Officer was in fact 100% disabled by me so that I could have the ability to breathe back when he let go of my throat after I put his lower left leg bones out the back of his leg with my Air Force low quarter dress shoes that I was wearing at the time of the assault on my person there on my charge of “Disturbing the Peace”!

I want to bring honesty and accountability to our City of Worcester Government, and to do that I need a chair on the Worcester City Council Floor.

Vote Ron O’Clair for City Council and “RULE OUT CORRUPTION” in the City of Worcester.

Ronald O’Clair
ronaldoclair@hotmail.com
(774) 242-1468 for donations of volunteer time or money for the Campaign for Worcester City Council. All donations will go for a worthy cause. Guaranteed.

Green Island Grrrl, Rosalie's Blog

Go, Edith, go!!!

Our still, small voice

By Edith Morgan
 
Not all of us have one. And of those who do, not all of us listen to it. It’s invisible, except in some Disney movies, where it is called “Jiminy Cricket,” or where it takes the shape of a small, mouthy dragon, as in “Mulan”, or where it is sometimes portrayed as sitting on our shoulder, on the opposite side from a devil figure, whispering into our ear and trying to guide us onto the right path.
 
I grew up in the era when Sigmund Freud was making his discoveries about the human psyche. We understood that there were three important parts, which should remain in balance: the id, the ego, and the superego. 

Looking at our society today, it is obvious that the ego and the id are in great shape; but there is scant evidence of any superego in a number of our citizens: there appears to be no small, still voice speaking to us, and counseling  us, and guiding us in our daily endeavors.

It is the voice of conscience that is so often missing, or drowned out by the clamor of the ego (taking selfies, starting nearly every sentence with “I,” pandering to our every whim, and indulging even when we know it is harmful.).
 
I bring this up now because these days we are looking to power and help outside of ourselves and blame external forces for our troubles.

The opioid crisis is a good example: Is there any adult out there who does not know about the addictive power of alcohol, nicotine, heroin, oxycontin, marijuana and all the other habit-forming substances out there?

I will admit that it is much more difficult for some of us to resist their appeal than it is for others. The penchant to become addicted seems to be far stronger in some of us than in others.  We have all known people who can take a drink or two, or a cigarette or two, and not want any more. But we also know others who, on taking one drink, or one pill, or one cigarette, immediately crave another, and another and another. 

When I was a school teacher, I was pretty sure I could spot the potential habit-formers among students as early as grade 1, and I believe that most teachers today can do the same, given a chance to think about it.

Wouldn’t it be a better preventive, if we could help those children right from the beginning, at least warn them, and help them to resist the siren call of addiction?

The so-called  “War on Drugs” has been an expensive and violence-ridden failure, and we still have about the same number of addicts. Added to the street drugs, we now have so many pain killers, passed out  like candy –  acting as the gateway to street drugs. 
 
How about funding immediate treatment, rather than the revolving door of jail?

How about insisting that treatment be long enough, good enough, and individualized enough to enable addictive personalities to stand up to their problem?

It would be cheaper, more effective and more humane.
 
And maybe we can get back to instilling that still, small voice inside us all that tells us “Don’t do this!”. Conscience is good for other decisions too, and putting up with a bit of discomfort once in a while certainly beats becoming an addict.

InCity Letters, InCity Voices, Uncategorized

InCity Voices: Speaking out on my son’s addiction

By Robin Generelli

Thanks again for letting people speak on topics that need to be addressed.

Again, love your paper [InCity Times] … a paper about … telling the truth about things!! In my last email I said I could go on for days about all that I think is backwards….. So here it is:

Most important to me are my thoughts on addiction an enormous problem across this country and the world. I’m so tired of being told this makes money.

ok yeah to some extent it does to the doctors who do the prescribing, charging the health insurance companies for office visits that probably lasted just long enough to write the prescriptions the ones causing all the problems in the first place!?!?!?

In turn people becoming addicted… What happens next: these addicts lives are turned upside down. Life becomes unbearable, then they are referred to a psych doc who then gets his money for the visit, prescribes more drugs for anxiety… Xanax…Seroquil for sleep…the list goes on.

What a joke!!! The last thing an addict needs is more drugs.

So you’re thinking: How do you know this?

This is my life. I lived this mess. My son had surgery at age 18, was given oxycodone – the devil I call it. S

Soon addicted he went from a caring good kid with a huge heart to an addict that quick.

It’s like buying a loaf of bread at the corner store – that’s how easy it is to get this crap.

How does this happen? Went to rehab only to be prescribed more meds – huge friggin joke! Then oh it’s a psych issue, they say. Ha! My son is an addict whose life became out of control in the first place because of prescription drugs – not needing more drugs – and certainly not needing an excuse from some psych doc wanting to make excuses for his behavior.

My son was a happy, loving, caring kid who has a beautiful family, a mom and dad who give the world to all our children: hugs, kisses, care, support. Our children are the most important things to us. Other than probably being too spoiled (not a good thing) there is no excuse, except for the fact he has an addiction and needs to take reposibility for it.

I know we are not the only family dealing with this demon of addiction.

Many many families are in the same boat drifting down this river of complete insanity.

What next? you ask. No job … getting Mass Health ect… Are you kidding! Maybe they should focus more on recovery programs, a good DRUG-FREE rehab. Hey! That’s an idea!

One of the so called rehabs my son attended – a three day stay (a joke) leaving with more prescriptions(totally insane). He had all his belonging stolen – brand new clothes mind you! I have a friend who works there, and she laughed telling stories about staff stealing cigarettes, clothes, money ect from clients. TRAGIC.

Mass health pays for this?

Ask any E. R. [hospital emergency room] worker about the regulars. Yes, the regulars addicted, alcoholic, homeless (which is usually the case when addiction becomes bad enough) who are picked up by ambulance (how much is an ambulance ride?). A stay in the E. R. (thousand at least) only to do the same thing the next day. All on your pocketbook!! Mass Health – I mean ok – your pockets is really the truth.

So just a thought: have places that these people can go to for a year if needed if that’s what it takes to get well.

Teach life skills.

Help with jobs ect.

In the long run, it would be a cheaper way! Cheaper than an ambulance ride and er visit daily? Crime would go down, I’d bet my life on it.

So my son going from addict to convict – this is what usually occurs – doesn’t seem surprising. Receives tattoos and more prescriptions in jail. Are you kidding me?! Is this seem crazy to anyone but me?

Quick story. One November night I was going to visit, something I hardly do because its so hard to see my child in this situation. Just so depressing.

Again freezing cold night, of course. I had on a coat (with a hood), was told I had to put my coat in the car because of the hood. Are you kidding? I said. I probably would have been nicer but usually you get the you’re-a-scumbag attitude from the staff there. (Not all I have to add – some staff are very nice). Gee, I said that’s hilarious. My son gets better drugs in here and tattoos from neck to waist, but my hood is a threat.

The reply was that’s not supposed to happen?!?!?!? No kidding, Sherlock! But it does. How?

No response – that’s what I usually get when I confront people about this stuff. And by the way gabapentin ( not sure of the spelling). Is a jailhouse favorite jonnies the slang in jail widely prescribed in there. What a joke – ask any addict that’s been in jail. Mention jonnies and they laugh – you do get high on them. A suboxone goes for $100 a whack for one. Gee sounds like a good gig to me – crooked workers making an extra buck selling to inmates.

Just want to set things straight. Not all guards do this crap. I have friends – the most honest, upstanding guys who are guards never would dream to do such things. But dishonest crooked people exist in every part of society! My son has to pay the price for the things he’s done – ABSOLUTELY!

But make a difference – do not add to the problem.

Programs in jail should be required for every inmate – period!

editor’s note: Robin is a faithful ICT reader!

InCity Letters, Uncategorized

Jobs NOT Jails! A Rallying Cry!

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EPOCA news …

Since we launched the Jobs Not Jails campaign last spring, nearly 100 organizations have joined the cause, led by a Steering Committee made up of groups such as Youth Against Mass Incarceration, and Mothers for Justice and Equality.  Together, we have collected 8,786 signatures on the Jobs Not Jails petition!  Petition forms in English and Spanish can be downloaded from our website, www.jobsnotjails.org, and we  have been receiving signed forms in the mail almost daily.  Our goal is to have at least 50,000 by the time of our rally next April.  Our signed petition sheets will be attached to “safety orange” fabric that we will wrap around the State House – to let legislators, the media and everyone around know that Massachusetts citizens say NO MORE MASS INCARCERATION!

We can do this together! Call us at 508-410-7676 or email steve@exprisoners.org to take part!  You can also learn more and download our petitions at www.exprisoners.org and at our new coalition site: www.jobsnotjails.org

InCity Letters, InCity Voices, Uncategorized

CHINS REFORM BILL PASSED!

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Finally! We have F.A.C.E.S
An Act Regarding Families and Children Engaged in Services

With our FACES bill on the Governor’s desk, the night before last night proved to be a victorious night for those who worked tirelessly on this reform for so many years, and also for 8,000 children and youth and their families across the state. For almost 40 years the CHINS system has criminalized young people who need help, not punishment, a probation officer and the lasting stigma of a court record.

ABOUT FACES:

The Problem: For nearly 40 years, CHINS has punished thousands of people, and helped few.

The CHINS system put youth (ages 6 to 18) into the criminal justice system and assigns them a probation officer, even if they have never been accused of breaking a law.

Being labeled a “CHINS Kid” unfairly stigmatized a young person at a time when we are still defining who we are.

Studies show that youths who are exposed to the criminal justice system in the formative years between 6 and 18 are more likely to be involved in serious crimes later in life. One reason for this is that young people become de-sensitized to going to court, so that it seems like no big deal.

There were roughly 9,000 applications for CHINS every year in Massachusetts, and each of those youths is assigned a probation officer. Of the approximately 6,000 cases that went through court, 60% or around 3,600 families lost custody of their child.

More than 50% of CHINS cases involved youth with a diagnosed mental health disorder, youth who needed treatment, not punishment.

The Solution: CHINS is now replaced with a new program: FACES

FACES (“Families and Children Engaged in Services”) will create an alternative to court, whereby families have the opportunity to receive the help they need without going through the court system. These services would be voluntary and collaborative.

The FACES program is designed to address whatever problems may be underlying a young person’s negative behavior – with mediation, mentorship, mental health or academic supports, for example – rather than treating the youth as a criminal in need of punishment.

Under FACES, both the youth and his or her parents will be eligible for legal representation.

Under FACES, there will be a full range of services provided consistently throughout the state, and these would be coordinated through a “wrap-around” process so that families and youth are part of a team working to build on the youth’s strengths and meet his or her needs – and also to build on the family’s strengths and meet their needs.

One goal of the FACES program is to provide services so that the youth can continue to reside in their home communities and attend their own schools.

A child will never be restrained in shackles or handcuffs, or placed in a lockup facility unless they are accused of breaking the law.

This bill would also increase the mandatory school attendance age to 18.

FACES will transform the current juvenile court based CHINS system to one which is community-based and family and child focused. It will integrate school and community based services with juvenile justice interventions to keep children healthy and safe; support and strengthen family connections; provide family services in the least restrictive environment possible.

FACES will prevent children from becoming criminally involved and decrease the juvenile justice pipeline CHINS has created.

FACES will eliminate the necessity for parents to lose custody of their children in order to receive services.

Green Island Grrrl, Rosalie's Blog

Some thoughts on (possible) sheriff candidate Frank Beshai …

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By Rosalie Tirella

It’s one of those weird wonders … Frank Beshai, a good guy AND ex-con in recovery, may be running for Sheriff of Worcester County – again. (We interviewed him in 2004 and endorsed him in his run for sheriff. Back then, we were newer at the game, and Beshai’s talk of seeing the Big House with an insider’s perspective, intrigued us.)

Maybe we have grown wiser … . Don’t get me wrong. I love “Heat of the Night” with Rod Steiger as the old timey sheriff sporting cool aviator glasses and crumby Southern-style hangups.

Frank Beshai would be more at home in “Heat of the Night” than in the Worcester County House of Correction. Beshai would make a great TV/movie sheriff.

But this is 2010 and we’d like to think of Worcester County as a fairly progressive place. A place where we need ideas, experience and … electability. Frank Beshai – during an Oct. 2010 InCity Times interview for his run for the District 3 City Councilor seat – seemed a little … out of it. Weird. A tad creepy. He was just, I don’t know, out to lunch … or out of ideas. Just pushing a turn-the-bums- (read: incumbents)-out ethos.

While it’s OK to be a protest candidate, it is not OK to seem ancient, exhausted, grasping for ideas to hang your brain on … . This is the Frank Beshai of 2010.

While it is nice to know Beshai turned his life around, a “reborn” guy does not make a great sheriff. Beshai should give up politics (he’s been trying to get elected to anything for years) and maybe start a rehab program for ex-offenders, with a Christian twist.

This is probably Frank’s destiny.

Pray on it, Frank.