Case Manager's Don't Know Anything

[mike's angel]

Hello all.....
Mike was moved to a different unit after he was thrown in the hole for "touching" his teachers hand (it was cold out and she was scanning his ID, he accidentally touched her because he was shivering), not intentional, not sexual, she said she felt offended, well they threw him in the hole for 20 days and his points went up (which I was told he really should be moved to a different prison). He has a new case manager and went to talk to her about getting into TC Programs in Colorado. She said he had to be 9 months to his PED. Well, he and I both have been told by numerous people that he has to be 4 years, which he is. He HAS to have these classes and is getting very frustrated because his case manager is so stupid. Any suggestions? He is stuck in Oklahoma because of the prison there being too crowded. He feels like he's running into a brick wall every day. AGGHHHH.....why would they have someone working there that doesn't know shit?

[irshnrse]

Mikes--what are TC programs?

[mike's angel]

Theraputic something...they are treatment classes he has to take for his crime.

[irshnrse]

Do you know how many classes he has to take?
That sucks that they would put him somewhere that doesn't even offer what he needs.

[mike's angel]

He has to take Phase I and Phase II, but he has to be on a waiting list and he can't even get on one. He case manager doesn't even know the rules of time frame to when he can start taking the classes. I think the case managers in Oklahoma are there in Oklahoma, I don't think they are the ones from Colorado. All I know is they don't know anything and it's frustrating!!!!

[galgrif]

My son communicated vary rarely with his case manager until it was time to go home. He did let him know when he was scheduled for class. At my son's request (I never considered it anyway) I never called him.

[mike's angel]

Well, we'll see how things go. He's very frustrated...he is very happy that I'm doing things out here to help, but unfortunately, there isn't a whole I can do. It'll be okay...it has to be, right??? I get to see him for the first time in 22 years on July 14th!!! I'm SO excited!!!!!!!

[irshnrse]

I'm sure that is frustrating. My husband's case manager comes down and talks to him every now and then. I don't really know how his situation works with your man being here in OK. My husband has a case manager in CO and OK.

[irshnrse]

It's bound to be alright mikes!!
Yea for the visit!!! You will be visiting here in OK July 14th and I will be in CO visiting July 27 thru July 29th!! Are you super excited?

[mike's angel]

Yes, but I'm going to be a nervous wreck!!!! First of all, I've never been to a prison, second, I'm so afraid I'm going to do something wrong and get into trouble. I know not to touch, and all that, but I worry. It's a 17 hour drive for me. I'm going to Greeley to pick up his parents and brother then we are driving all night to get to Sayre by visiting hours. He's afraid I'll be disappointed when I see him, but I'm sure the recent photo I have of him isn't that different! I can't wait....I'll be so anxious, I told him I'll probably forget to breath and pass out! Now that would be my luck. What's it like in the visiting room? They say visiting is from 8 to 5, does that mean 9 hours or does that mean we have to leave at lunch time? AGGHHH! So how long has it been since you saw your sweetie? Damn, too bad yours wasn't back in OK and mine wasn't in CO....too bad we couldn't arrange that to happen. Now that would be nice, huh? Take care and keep in touch!

[irshnrse]

My situation is ALOT different! We visit behind glass. We can only visit in 3 hours sessions and we only get 4 of those sessions every 3 months. Sooo, I saw him in April and I will see him in July.

[mike's angel]

Oh that's right, I forgot, sorry about that! I should be very thankful!!! I won't complain if I can't hold his hand! That's a bummer.....I don't know how you do it.

[irshnrse]

That's alright! LOL. I just do it because I have to! It's that light at the end of the tunnel that helps us through.

[mike's angel]

When does your get parole? When is his release date?

[irshnrse]

Right now he has 20 State and 30 Federal running. When the state paroles him he will go to the Feds for the remainder of his sentence with them. He has been in just over 3 years and will be up for state parole in 2010; no idea on the Federal, usually 87% of the sentence. We are asking the state to parole him early though and since his Federal sentence is so long, I think they will do it. It is ridiculous for the state to continue paying Colorado to house him when they could just send him to the US Marshals and a Federal prison and pay nothing.

[mike's angel]

Yeah, doesn't make sense. I wonder why they keep half of them. My half brother committed vehicular manslaughter and only received 9 years! He killed two people. I don't understand how the system works. I hope to someday!

[odoc_mouse]

TC is a program that means Therapeutic Community. It is a very good program and is run 24/7. The inmates have to learn how to live as people in a normal law abiding community live. Meaning that they hold each other and themselves accountable for their thoughts and actions. They learn through a system called "rewards/punishers" basically meaning that for every action there is a re-action or a consequence. It is designed to help them to move away from the thoughts and actions and areas that put them in prison in the first place. They also have to realize that they are the one's responsible for the crimes that they committed because they had a choice to do the right thing or the wrong thing. So many times doing wrong is the easiest thing to do and then, eventually, there are cosequences to pay.

I seriously doubt that you are getting the "whole" story on why your man was placed in the disciplinary unit. There are rules for every prison and the no touch policy is in effect at each of them. I don't buy the "shivering" story. However, if you believe that he has been mistreated in any way, you can contact your Private Prison Administrators there in Colorado and ask them to investigate the situation. They have a Contract Monitor who's job it is to investigate these types of allegations.

[Crone]

This sounds like a good program. It is too bad it couldn't be instituted when an offender is first incarcerated. After all, if we are going to do rehabilitation - if we want inmates to learn from their mistakes and re-enter society and be contributing members - why wait until just before they are released and have to unlearn everything they learned all those years they were incarcerated and felt like no one (state/warden/society) cared about them. Seems sort of like it is closing the bard door after the horses have already gone outside - but it is definitely better than nothing (at this point).

[onry]

TC is lockdown 23 hours a day at one of the privates that i know about. they are let out for an hour every day for showers, phone calls, ect. sometimes they actually let them out for exercise too, they have groups maybe once a week most times maybe not. It is a 6 months program that the inmate can't even get proof of completing when he is finished because it is NOT a DOC approved program.
This is just another way for them to keep them locked down and under more control that's all.

[odoc_mouse]

Crone, if you don't mind me saying, and I am not trying to start anything, but Onry is totally misrepresenting what the Therapeutic Community program is all about. It is NOT a lockdown situation. He is inciting people who do not know any better than to believe what he says and then worry about their loved one.

Therapeutic Community is a long-term program lasting from 12 months minimum, and supports the notion that long-term treatment has more impact on program participants than the traditional (28-30 day) programs.

The program is staffed by recovering addicts/ex-offenders as well as other professional treatment staff. The recovering addicts/ex-offenders serve as positive role models and have a powerful effect in inspiring and motivating the inmates participating in the program to overcome their addictions and become productive members of society.

The Therapeutic Community operates from the assumption that drug and alcohol addiction and criminal behavior are manifestations of severe alienation of self and society, and that through living in a community with a variety of intense interventions, an individual can learn to internalize pro-social behavior. Insight into one=s problems is gained through group and individual interaction. But learning through experience, failing and succeeding and experiencing the consequences, is considered to be the most potent influence toward achieving lasting change. A Therapeutic Community is a positive environment where people who have similar problems related to drug and alcohol addiction, learn to work and live together to improve their quality of life by learning to live a clean and sober lifestyle.

We focus on the process of developing pro-social values, honesty, responsibility, and accountability. We developed our philosophy, goals, and objectives to serve as a guiding light in the direction of achieving a new ADesign for Living.@ There are cardinal rules, basic rules, and house rules. Much emphasis is placed on peer pressure, which is often the catalyst that converts criticism and personal insight into positive change. Various strategies are utilized to modify behavior and provide treatment continuity as the resident makes progressive steps toward reintegration into his community.

We strive for personal growth through self-improvement, not to make people well, but for the maturing process. The Therapeutic Community is, in essence, a school for maturity and moral development. People in the Therapeutic Community (T.C.) are members, as in any family setting, not patients, as in an institution. This is a living community, or family, with a style of living that promotes a high level of member interaction and participation that facilitates the unity within the program. Very high expectations are set and the members of the community are encouraged to appreciate the effort and the outcome.

This is a highly structured environment with defined boundaries, both moral and ethical. It employs community-imposed sanctions and penalties as well as earned rewards and incentives. It is set up like a large family, with the program staff representing the Aparent,@ or authority figures. There is a chain of command that must be followed. It is a hierarchy, with all residents striving to earn a more responsible assignment and earned privileges in the Therapeutic Community. Residents move up in the program structure by displaying positive attitudes, exceptional job performance, active participation in group and program activities, and complying with rules. Recognition for continual success and personal improvement can be a vital growth mechanism.

Being a part of something greater than ourselves is an especially important factor that facilitates personal growth. The Therapeutic Community (T.C.) is a model for helping people attain personal growth through the use of positive peer pressure, group sharing, self-help philosophy, role modeling, learning through experience, and setting high standards and expectations.
Therapeutic Community is a three-phase program consisting of the following phases:

Phase I - Orientation (90-120 days) - 30 Achievement Credits:
Orientation phase residents are required to attend orientation classes where they are taught the program rules and T.C. concepts. They must complete daily homework assignments, pass two orientation phase written tests, and write their life story before being moved into Phase II. In this phase, a formal treatment plan is established by T.C. staff for each resident.

Phase II - Community Class (180 days +) - 30 Achievement Credits:
This is the primary treatment phase. Residents in this phase are taught group dynamics and are assigned to a therapy group. They attend numerous lectures on basic living skills and are exposed to a variety of therapeutic activities. They are required to prepare and present two ten-minute seminars on recovery topics to their peers and must also complete a life map which is their life from birth to present. They must spend a minimum of two hours per week in relating chairs with various T.C. residents. Community class residents must pass a community class written test and be interviewed and approved by the T.C. staff before advancement into Phase III.

Phase III - Senior Phase (90-180 days) - 30 Achievement Credits:
This phase is designed to prepare the resident to re-enter society and/or Aftercare or Internship, and enhance his ability to apply the newly acquired skills in a practical way so that he can continue to live and maintain a drug-free lifestyle.

He will be exposed to a variety of recovery topics, including the 12 steps of AA and NA, relapse prevention, and recovery dynamics. He will be assigned to a primary therapy group which will focus on re-entry issues. He will be required to keep a daily feelings journal and be assigned as a big brother, working closely with new residents, orienting them to the program. He will be provided with various re-entry educational classes including employment skills, budgeting money, positive addictions, and AIDS prevention. During this phase, he will be assisted by treatment staff in developing a comprehensive after-care treatment plan. After completing all the requirements of Phase III, including a written test, completion of graduation papers, a 15-minute clean speech, and approval by T.C. staff, he will be eligible for graduation.

Internship
Resident interns play an important role in assisting the treatment staff in the overall operations of the program. This is a very responsible position of leadership within the T.C. To become an intern in T.C., a resident must be a program graduate and demonstrate a strong commitment to T.C. and the process of recovery. He must have leadership abilities and be viewed as an outstanding role-model in all aspects of the program. To become an intern, a resident can apply in writing after graduation. He must complete a standardized questionnaire which includes a personal evaluation of areas like leadership, decision making, and organizational skills. These are areas that are very important qualities for an intern to possess and it is important for the T.C. staff to be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the prospective intern. The final decision is made by the T.C. staff after an intensive personal interview is conducted.

After-Care Phase (In-House):

All residents who graduate from T.C. are placed in after-care status and remain in this phase of treatment until their release from custody. This phase of T.C. includes the following components: Mandatory institutional NA/AA meeting attendance, participation in regularly scheduled support groups, exposure to lectures by treatment staff on recovery dynamics, and relapse prevention. Other activities include reading of daily meditations and Abig book@ studies (the 12 steps).

This is what the TC is and these inmates are kept separate from the general population yard, not as punishment, and not lockeddown 23 hours a day. They eat, sleep and attend classes and work together to build brotherly relationships to help them raise each other's spirits and efforts to live the right life. The separation also helps them to stay away from those who might otherwise tempt them to go back to their old wrong way of life that put them in prison in the first place. Separation from other offenders is a must for successful immersion into and for this program to be effective. This is an excellent program and really holds them accountable for their actions, inappropriate behaviors and thoughts, and words. It strives to boost their esteem and moral and reinforces living by society's norms, not their perceived normal behaviors. They get feedback through rewards and punishers, which is how we generally raise kids. If a child is good, he is rewarded, if he is not, he is sanctioned in some way.

You'd be surprised just how inexpensive this program is and how valuable it is not only to the inmate, but to socieity as a whole because it has the potential to reduce recidivism and the revolving doors that many go through throughout their lives.

[mike's angel]

Wow....sounds like a great program!!! Thanks for all that information. So where is Phase I, II and III located? It sounds like it is in a faiclity, which one? Since I put this thread in, he has been communicating with his Case Manager and things are going well. She apparently misunderstood what he was talking about....they have their "poop in a group" now.....but again thanks for all the information and look forward to you answering my questions.

[odoc_mouse]

There are TC programs in just about any facility in Oklahoma, just not sure about how the private prisons do their thing. I dislike private prisons because they do not train or pay their staff enough, nor do they screen them as well as regular state corrections.

You never know just what kind of staff person you will get in a private prison, even though the administrator or higher ups are all definitely ex-DOC staffers from all states.

Mike would need to ask his case manager about the entire program and what he needs to do to get in it. Usually, in state corrections, they have all three phases at the higher securities, or they put phase one at a minimum and let the person progress to a community level facility for the next phases.

If worked properly, this program is one of the best programs going in corrections today. It holds the guys/gals accountable for everything they do or say, which is like society as a whole today. They also help them break from the mindset that they are "snitching, or ratting" someone out when they do "pull-ups" on each other in front of the whole "family". The really great thing about the program is that if "punishers" are used, generally it is the "family" who sets the punishment. As well...the best thing is that they do "rewards" and acknowledge the good things that each other do and put emphasis on the good more than the bad.

[mike's angel]

Oh, okay, thank you. I thought maybe you were talking about a specific facility that has a program. I'll tell him to talk to his case manager about this when I talk to him next week. Again thanks for all your help.