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<blockquote data-quote="Copabanana" data-source="post: 710231" data-attributes="member: 18958"><p>I worked in prison mental health over a 25 year period. I happen to feel that I was an excellent doctor and a good person. I was not the only one.</p><p>Prison differs from state to state. But there should be protective custody available. What is called a "Protective Custody" yard. (I put the letters p and c and it turned into "perfect child." Smiling here.)</p><p></p><p>Only inmates who are in danger or who have been threatened by other inmates are in these yards. This is the yard they place ex-cops for example who are at great risk of attack on regular yards. Or Transgender people. Or gang dropouts or sex offenders. These yards are generally far less violent with a more laid back "ambience." Prisoners are motivated to stay on these yards because in general it is easier and safer to do time here. If your son feels at risk based upon objective factors (as opposed to paranoid due to a mental illness) or he has been attacked he need only report this to custody staff or to mental health staff....and he should be moved immediately to one of these yards. At least that is how it is done in my own state. He will be interviewed by custody staff. I do not know if he needs to give names. I don't think so. Jabber who is a correctional counselor who has posted here on your thread will know how to do this.</p><p></p><p>In my state there is huge concern about prison sexual attack and employees are extremely conscientious about reporting attack, protecting prisoners, treating them, and moving them to a safe environment. In fact we receive specialized training on what to do. There have been huge lawsuits against the State for failing to adequately protect prisoners. This is very motivating to a person--to avoid this kind of problem--let alone the moral and ethical aspects.</p><p></p><p>I agree with Jabber about the isolation working against him. In prison more than anywhere else one needs "homies," to walk with. To walk the yard, to go to chow. To talk to. While not uncommon, the fear, exacerbated by isolation can lead to mental illness or make it worse.</p><p></p><p>I would suggest that your son sign up for chapel, for the library, for AA or NA. He could well meet other inmates that will share interests. Depending on the custody level and yards there are groups of inmates who play sports or are gamers, there are those who play cards, or play chess. There are artists...they teach eachother crafts. Some inmates walk laps around the yard, or work out individually. (About 20 years ago I met a Russian born prisoner who said he had lost like 100 pounds walking laps. I remember him because he had been a pawn shop owner and he told me the bargains to be had buying gold jewelry in pawnshops and what brands to buy. Honestly. You meet everybody in prison: physicians, lawyers, rabbis, priests. The only profession I have not met is a mortician. I cannot remember anybody who worked in a mortuary. And did you know? They have very high job satisfaction. But that is another story.)</p><p></p><p>There are positive and recreational activities that happen...not just abuse and predation. Yes there are those, but they have to be faced. Hiding makes it worse. Like it does everything else. And I have to tell you, from my perspective, there are some good people that end up in prison. It is way too easy to make a horrible mistake.</p><p></p><p>I would urge him to reach out to mental health. I forgot to mention and will add here that in my state there are what are called levels of care for the mentally ill. The seriously mentally ill (in addition to individual therapy and psychiatry) are given 15 hours or more of weekly groups which can be specifically geared to symptoms or can be recreational in nature such as exercise, movies, art, writing, yoga, etc. They can be educational groups, as well: such as parenting, or men's issues. These groups make the time go by and give life focus and meaning, which is their point; as well as imparting specific life skills and coping mechanisms to get through time...and life, too.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Copabanana, post: 710231, member: 18958"] I worked in prison mental health over a 25 year period. I happen to feel that I was an excellent doctor and a good person. I was not the only one. Prison differs from state to state. But there should be protective custody available. What is called a "Protective Custody" yard. (I put the letters p and c and it turned into "perfect child." Smiling here.) Only inmates who are in danger or who have been threatened by other inmates are in these yards. This is the yard they place ex-cops for example who are at great risk of attack on regular yards. Or Transgender people. Or gang dropouts or sex offenders. These yards are generally far less violent with a more laid back "ambience." Prisoners are motivated to stay on these yards because in general it is easier and safer to do time here. If your son feels at risk based upon objective factors (as opposed to paranoid due to a mental illness) or he has been attacked he need only report this to custody staff or to mental health staff....and he should be moved immediately to one of these yards. At least that is how it is done in my own state. He will be interviewed by custody staff. I do not know if he needs to give names. I don't think so. Jabber who is a correctional counselor who has posted here on your thread will know how to do this. In my state there is huge concern about prison sexual attack and employees are extremely conscientious about reporting attack, protecting prisoners, treating them, and moving them to a safe environment. In fact we receive specialized training on what to do. There have been huge lawsuits against the State for failing to adequately protect prisoners. This is very motivating to a person--to avoid this kind of problem--let alone the moral and ethical aspects. I agree with Jabber about the isolation working against him. In prison more than anywhere else one needs "homies," to walk with. To walk the yard, to go to chow. To talk to. While not uncommon, the fear, exacerbated by isolation can lead to mental illness or make it worse. I would suggest that your son sign up for chapel, for the library, for AA or NA. He could well meet other inmates that will share interests. Depending on the custody level and yards there are groups of inmates who play sports or are gamers, there are those who play cards, or play chess. There are artists...they teach eachother crafts. Some inmates walk laps around the yard, or work out individually. (About 20 years ago I met a Russian born prisoner who said he had lost like 100 pounds walking laps. I remember him because he had been a pawn shop owner and he told me the bargains to be had buying gold jewelry in pawnshops and what brands to buy. Honestly. You meet everybody in prison: physicians, lawyers, rabbis, priests. The only profession I have not met is a mortician. I cannot remember anybody who worked in a mortuary. And did you know? They have very high job satisfaction. But that is another story.) There are positive and recreational activities that happen...not just abuse and predation. Yes there are those, but they have to be faced. Hiding makes it worse. Like it does everything else. And I have to tell you, from my perspective, there are some good people that end up in prison. It is way too easy to make a horrible mistake. I would urge him to reach out to mental health. I forgot to mention and will add here that in my state there are what are called levels of care for the mentally ill. The seriously mentally ill (in addition to individual therapy and psychiatry) are given 15 hours or more of weekly groups which can be specifically geared to symptoms or can be recreational in nature such as exercise, movies, art, writing, yoga, etc. They can be educational groups, as well: such as parenting, or men's issues. These groups make the time go by and give life focus and meaning, which is their point; as well as imparting specific life skills and coping mechanisms to get through time...and life, too. [/QUOTE]
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