|
Comment on this article |
View comments |
Email this Feature
|
|
News :: Crime & Police |
|
THE HEAVY HAND AT THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY JAIL |
Current rating: 0 |
by Sandra Ahten
Email: spiritofsandra (nospam) hotmail.com (unverified!) |
13 Dec 2004
|
(Read: Three Jail Suicides in Champaign County -- for background)
Hopefully part of the reason that Champaign County court system is so backed up, has been alleviated in the replacement of John Piland as states attorney. But the fact is, that it is backed up, and so, many of those who are being held in the Champaign County jail are people who are awaiting trial. They have not been found guilty. Those that are innocent and guilty alike are subject to days, months, and more in the Champaign County jail.
The conditions at the jail are for those who are guilty and for those who are innocent --. primarily it is for those who are *poor.* Those who have money can pay their bond --which allows them to be released from jail pending their trial. In many ways conditions at the Champaign County jail are much harsher than those in the state and federal prisons. The conditions could be characterized as inhumane. At the least, they are much more confining than they need to be and certainly lead to problems that might exacerbate mental health deterioration and / or depression.
Listen to Dec 13 IMCRadio News for this story with interviews with families of inmates. |
For instance the prisoners at the downtown jail facility do not have “yard.” They have no access to have any way to exercise or get fresh air. At the satellite jail there is a basketball court in an atrium that prisoners can use if the weather has been completely dry.
The prisoners have limited access to phone calls and those calls that they can make must be made collect. They can not have a phone card, or memorize a phone card number to call. The collect phone calls are a “for profit” measure that Champaign County, like many other penal institutions have taken to help balance the budget on the backs of the poor and are extremely expensive. These collect calls are at a even higher rate than normal collect calls.
Inmates families often rack up several hundred dollars of phone calls in the first month of incarceration. If they get behind on their phone bills, they have to prepay their phone bills before there can be collect calls accepted from the jail.
The inmates can not have books sent to them by their families. They must come from a publisher, which is of course just another barrier in inconvenience, cost, and time delay.
Inmates also report that there is drug use at the jail among staff.
THE MOST UNREASONABLE RULES
Probably the most unreasonable rules are the rules for visiting. There are two visiting sessions per week at each jail facility. An inmate can have a maximum of 20 minutes of visits during this time, for a total of 40 minutes per week. If there is more than one visitor, the time is split up. In prisons the visitors can usually have a four hour visit. It is logical, that in county jail, the need for communication with family is even greater, because of the crisis nature of the circumstances-- having legal matters as well as family decisions to be made – and in addition trying to work through emotions, such as distress and yet offer support.
Routinely visitors have to wait in line up to 3 hours for the twenty minute visit. So, even the twenty minute visits might not be able to be held, if the family member or friend has a job or other obligations that prevent them from spending all this time in line.
The reason that people have to wait in line – and the wait is usually three hours -- is because there is a maximum number of visitors total that the jail allows on any given visiting day. Currently that number is 50. So, even if visiting hours are from 1-3pm, if 50 visitors have been processed, then the visiting time is over. I personally witnessed a woman and her 5 children who had driven down from Chicago. She arrived at visiting hours at the downtown jail a half hour before visiting hours were scheduled to be over. No one was waiting -- and yet the officer calmly sitting behind the desk in the visiting room with nothing obvious to do turned the woman away.
People routinely arrive 3 hours before visiting hours start so that they can be assured a visit with their incarcerated family member or friend. In addition the visitors often have to wait outside, they have to form and monitor their own line, and someone among them has to organize a sign up sheet so they know who got their first. Although things usually go smoothly, occasionally someone leaves to get something to eat, care for a child, or someone jumps ahead in line and it causes disruptions. If there are any disruptions the visitors are threatened that visitation will be cancelled. It has been know to happen.
The pre-visiting hour lines are not allowed to form in the actual waiting room. The lines are often outside and have no seating, even for people with disabilities who have difficulty standing.
In fact the whole visiting scenario is a process that is conducive to discouraging visits. It seems to be designed that way.
RECAP
The Champaign County Jail has had 3 suicides in the past 6 months. This is approximately 30% of suicides that will take place in all Illinois city and county jails this year. The investigation of this possible criminal abnormality has been relegated to the Urbana City Police to act as the outside investigators.
The Sheriff, Daniel Walch, who is responsible for the administration of the jail indicates that his solution is to watch the prisoners more closely, make some undisclosed structural change that will make it harder to physically commit suicide, and provide a brochure to family members and other inmates telling them how to recognize indications of suicidal thoughts or actions.
In the mean time, conditions at the jail and for visiting are extremely detrimental to mental health of the prisoners.
Time is ripe for change. At the very least a true outside body must investigate to find the cause of the spike in suicides and visiting hours at the jail must be made reasonable.
If you are a concerned citizen here are some actions you can take.
1) Call the Sheriff and let him know of your concern. 217-384-1204
2) Call county board members and let them know of your concern. To access the list of county board members go to www.champaigncountyclerk.com
3) Attend the next meeting of the Champaign County Board. Due to the holidays the next meeting is this Thursday Dec 16th at 7pm at Brookens Administration Building, 1776 E. Washington Street in Urbana. That is on Washington east of Philo road. The public input period is at the beginning of the meeting.
4) Organize. If you are interested in becoming involved in a group to organize to make changes leave your email in response to this email. Attend the AWARE (Anti War Anti Racsm Effort) meeting next Sunday at 5pm at the IMC, 218 W. Main Street, Urbana
It is up to concerned citizens who do NOT know anyone in jail. It is too much of a burden to expect the family members of inmates to insist on making changes. The sheriff says he has never had complaints about the visiting hours. That is because when you have a loved one in jail, you can’t complai, for fear of what the repercussions might be for the prisoners. |
This work is in the public domain. |
Comments
|
Re: THE HEAVY HAND AT THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY JAIL |
by Local Yocal
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
17 Dec 2004
|
|
The county board reached an agreement with the sheriff's department for 2% pay increases for 2004, 2005, and 2006. Representing a 6% total. The County Board is still in negotiations with those jailhouse guards. |
|
Re: THE HEAVY HAND AT THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY JAIL |
by Anna Epelbaum
aepelbaum (nospam) yahoo.com (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
18 Dec 2004
|
Where does this campaign lead? Is it the saving of money by the reduction of payment to jail guards, which would be strange as their job is difficult and risky ?
Is it supposed to lead to global amnesty to reduce population of surrounding jails and prisons? This kind of action is usually providing the great increase of criminal occurrences in the same surrounding.
I am also wondering whether ‘Local Vocal’ is this link of IMC in News Gazette (as News Gazette hasn't paid for its web domain, the archive articles are unreachable for regular people without special connection to its staff). At that point, I am very curious remembering that after the appearance of my first article about my husband's achievements 'The Past, The Present...", one reporter from this newspaper contacted us immediately, but then started to delay communication and in response to our expression of dissatisfaction with these delays, he presented his opinion that we (I and my husband, both of whom never had criminal background) ARE VERY VIOLENT PEOPLE !
So, the main thing, which I am wondering about, is whether the goal of this current campaign is to affix labels of criminal activities where they don't belong and to release those, who are the real danger and threat to society for some political purposes, and whether this previous comment is looking for financial reasons to start such campaign. Maybe, you think,- I am too cautious, but I based my conclusions on my own experience of the communication with IMC connections to News Gazette, and one never can be too cautious. |
|
Re: THE HEAVY HAND AT THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY JAIL |
by Local Yocal
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
19 Dec 2004
|
Anna,
As usual, your paranoid world-view continues to hatch plots that don't exist. You think the News-Gazette archives are unreachable unless you have connections to staff? Here, www.news-gazette.com
Search the archives yourself.
As for your belief that my postings are somehow suggesting the jailhouse guards are not to be paid, that I support releasing prisoners to "surrounding" areas, and I seek money to advance a campaign toward releasing those prisoners, all I can say to all that is you are a very imaginative woman. I suppose without your comments, many would not have someone to argue with, which you get enormous pleasure doing. Here: argue with this: you are a genius who is the only one who knows the truth and you have successfully exposed the intellectuals here what hypocrites they are and it's you, and only you, who has been victimized in this county. Woe to all of us for not recognizing your vision and plight. |
|
Re: THE HEAVY HAND AT THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY JAIL |
by Anna Epelbaum
aepelbaum (nospam) yahoo.com (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
20 Dec 2004
|
Your posting is simply hysterical. I am no genius, in difference with my husband (I think that he is, his achievement is proving it). I happened, however, to have a number of different abilities, which enable me to produce and to comprehend a number of not ordinary things. That is why I was able to understand my husband and to help him to be understood around the world. I have all reasons to be suspicious and unhappy with the treatment, which my husband's achievement and career's developments have in this country. The IMC and News Gazette treatments are the part of it. I belong to intellectual elite not only because I was born in this environment (my first husband whom I married at the age of 18, and later divorced, is now the distinguished professor of CALTECH, which is pretty exquisite position for someone who was born and educated not in the USA). I have a number of pretty noticeable publications of my own. Maybe, just maybe, instead of senseless barking at me, which doesn't sound more reasonable because you are teaming up together, you would try to coexist with me to the mutual behalf, ah? Once more, I am not the greatest victim in this country, but my husband is. I chose to have my current very difficult existence instead of the quite professorship of my own in some reasonable college, as you can see by the content of my chapter ("A New Publication"), though I didn't expect at the time the full extent of prejudices and resistance, which I unknowingly called on myself.
It is really dull to argue with your members and to promote obvious things about my degrees and other, though not very distinguished but real and obvious rewards. It is exactly the same as to repeat one thousand time the truth of "the great discovery" that 'two times two is equal to four".
My goal here is TO PROMOTE AND TO GIVE DUE CREDIT TO MY HUSBAND AND HIS FUTURE. It should be also the goal of your IMC establishment. IF IT IS NOT, THEN YOU ARE A BUNCH OF HYPOCRITES, whichever reason(s) you have to be such bunch. This conclusion is obvious and simple!
So, if your IMC leading members need to have a mutual enemy to unify themselves and can't do it without such mutual enemy, then either choose another person (I am a very unreasonable choice) or, which would be much better, annul this approach of the necessity to have a mutual victim for proper functioning, as it looks like the obvious cannibalism and discredits the very ground of your establishment as the advertised leader in Civil Rights and Humanity. |
|
Re: THE HEAVY HAND AT THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY JAIL |
by Local Yocal
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
20 Dec 2004
|
|
Patient is unable to comprehend sarcasm. Suffers from grandiose ideas about herself, and places enormous expectations on others to satisfy her egotistical needs. Continues to believe people are out to get her and has an overblown sense of importance. She remains unable to understand the purpose of this site and cannot function properly within its sets of rules, choosing to insult and falsely accuse others which she feels has been done to her. It would seem she harbors a grudge against others she believes to have perscecuted her, despite evidence to the contrary. She has an incessant demand for others to hail her and her husband. Apparently, patient believes she is entitled to financial compensation and mistakenly believes the IMC is her ticket to fame and fortune. While claiming to have only one goal in her civic interactions, to promote her husband's achievements, patient often writes tangential and disparaging comments on a wide variety of postings unrelated to her prime concern. She has a tendency to miscomprehend large passages of text, and seems obsessed with the identities of the user names and maintains a constant fantasy that all messages on this site revolve around her. She is also given to creating conspiracy scenarios and imagining untrue plots that support her delusions. It is therefore prescribed, patient be limited in her use of the computer and looking at the IMC site as it seems to exacerbate her symptoms and seems to agitate her greatly. She is addicted to this behavior, however, for it seems to gratify her need for attention and her role playing as the victim satisfies her need to feel like she is a champion of freedom against great odds. Sadly missing from all her rantings are the quiet comments from her husband, whose achievements are well recognized, appreciated, and would be better received had he better representation. |
|
Re: THE HEAVY HAND AT THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY JAIL |
by Anna Epelbaum
aepelbaum (nospam) yahoo.com (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
20 Dec 2004
|
Oh, 'Local Vocal' you are the best illustration of the popular Russian anecdote about the doctor in mental hospital, who was complaining that two patients (each in his/her turn) had arrogance to tell her that they are Napoleon I, when everyone in the world knows that Napoleon was and is her-herself.
What do you want 'crazy doctor'? It is NOT YOUR WEB. You DIDN'T PAY a penny to pour you comments here, and essential part of them is the obvious crap, as it is mirroring your sick personality. You can give me financial support if you want to (I am sure that you'd die before you let even anything of what I deserve reach to me, assuming that it would be in your power, and it is NOT IN YOUR POWER) or can, but, believe you me, I have not expected it from you or anybody on this web. I DON’T HAVE ENORMOUS pretensions. Everything I “pretend” to have I HAVE FULLY DOCUMENTED rights to have. I, in difference with majority on the web, didn't judge somebody's article when I HAVE NO OFFICIAL EXPERTISE TO DO IT, etc..
In the case of attempts of uneducated and often illiterate people to judge something seriously above their level the society is usually suffering heavily, that is why there are laws against such unqualified judgments, and actions on the basis of such judgments.
Maybe, just violations of these laws lead you to jail at the first place, as you admitted in your other comments, I don't know.
However, in short, you obviously in need of heavy medical treatment whether you can or can't afford it, and whether you want or not want to have it. Until you are out of your current ill opinion that you are Napoleon (or somebody even more substantial), I am having nothing to talk to you about. I have no training to handle communication with mentally sick people, and I wouldn’t even try. I made previous efforts because I have not realized that you are deeply sick. Now I see it clearly. So, take care, maybe your decease is treatable. Who knows? |
|
Re: THE HEAVY HAND AT THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY JAIL |
by Local Yocal
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
20 Dec 2004
|
|
Anna, You are the best and the smartest. I am completely outwitted and cannot hope to discuss police and jail matters with someone of your impeccable intellect. Good very luck to you. |
|
Re: THE HEAVY HAND AT THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY JAIL |
by Anna Epelbaum
aepelbaum (nospam) yahoo.com (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
21 Dec 2004
|
As I wrote in my previous comment, I can't continue discussion with 'Local Vocal'. However, I think that she is a colored female, and I wanted to tell other colored females that I never was and is their enemy at any point of view. As a matter of fact, what I have been doing was and is on the behalf of the complete racial equality and, therefore, on their behalf, and on behalf of their children.
I was and is much more unreasonable choice to unify against than any person (male or female) who has been brought up here and sucked the attitude of racial inequality and White superiority with his/her mother’s milk. I am sure though that it is not smart to unify against any person you can reach out to, and such person, sure, can't be a real source of any of your problems. Right now mandatory draft -mobilization is practically "knocking at the gate", and, in my opinion (forgive me, if I am wrong), it should be the most important topic. So, dealing with all others, participants should watch carefully whether they are not deliberately manipulated into "opening doors" for this fast upcoming (I think) mobilization. |
|
Re: THE HEAVY HAND AT THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY JAIL |
by goodriddancegipper
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
21 Dec 2004
|
Anna:
If I may suggest something, although I don't think you mean any harm by it, you may want to use alternative words to "colored" to discuss people of color. "Black," "African American," "Latino/a," "Asian," whichever applies best would work, largely because "colored" carries a heavy load in this country with its connections to segregated society, and the white power structure that heavily enforced it while using this term. In sum, "colored" was a very derogatory term used to delineate whites from non-whites.
Just a suggestion. |
|
Re: THE HEAVY HAND AT THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY JAIL |
by citizen
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
24 Dec 2004
|
Local Yocal.."those jailhouse guards"?? What an intersting way to say it. You can't even comprehend what type of job they have. It is a very stressful position. And working for a county government they are often under funded, under staffed, under trained and as "jailers" they aren't respected. They do the best with what they have. Many are professionals that make carreers out of a job that others say they wouldn't do for a million dollars. Go spend a week with them and try to figure out how they survive. The conditions of county jails are governed by the Illinois County Jail Standards and Champaign County is one of the best at following those standards. There are several factors for people commiting suicide, but it would be outrageous to blame the "jailers" for it. How can you even suggest that anyone other than the person commiting suicide is responsible. If that is the case watch the news because I'm going to blame you for the next suicide outside of the jail walls. What kind of responsibilities are you putting on a person to ask them make them liable for somone killing themselves. You better be ready to pay that person a LOT of money considering it is an impossible job. From the press reports not one of the 3 that commited suicide gave any indications that they were thinking of killing themselves. The inmates are checked at LEAST every 15 minutes...I would assume it would take considerably less time to kill yourself.
I would double check the numbers on the suicides too. Listen to a scanner or read the paper...suicides are up everywhere and I'm sure that there will be more than 10 in illinois jails this year...I hope not!! If you have ever toured the old "downtown" jail you will see that it was built in another era of correctional instutions. The only correction would be to tear it down and add on the satellite jail. Are you willing to contribute to that cost.
Your issue with phone calls...I put a lot of thought into this issue. I'm not sure how many prisioners are in a "block" but can you imagine if the phone calls were free? It would only take a week before some "thug" deemed that the phone was his or they would become gang controlled. Even more problems would exist. I think the current phone rates are very high and should decrease. Hopefully this will be resolved.
The visitation time should increase and should be all week long. I know if I was in jail I would want a visitor and it would be terrible if they were turned away because of some stupid 50 visitor rule. If there is still time availiabe during the visitation period I think you should still be able to visit.
This is an awesome forum to post concerns about this issue and I am glad that Ms. Ahten started it, but WHY are you people using it to argue. It doesn't help the cause when people witness you acting like a couple of idiots . The real issue is OUR county jail and what WE need to do to make it better.
I have heard several people state that if you don't want to be locked behind bars...don't want to pay high phone bills, lose your job, possibly lose your family and go to prison for a substantial amount of time...THEN don't commit crimes. A part of me agrees that if you don't like the consequences you should not commit the crime, BUT I am better than that and realize that there are innocent people in jail or are in there for a petty offense.
Last but not least...your claim that the "jailers" are using drugs. That is just a poor attempt to discredit the individuals who are willing to take a job that nobody else wants and acutally be proud of it. Can you imagine what it must be like to take a fellow human being and lock them in a cage? How could you get a mindset to overlook how depressing that responsibility would be? Obviously your time spent at the jail indicates that you associate with a criminal element so I would assume that your information is coming from them. If they have proof of drug use they should come forward with it and I would agree with that 100%, but don't make accusations you can't prove. |
|
Re: THE HEAVY HAND AT THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY JAIL |
by cittizen
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
24 Dec 2004
|
|
goodriddancegipper...get over it. What alternative would you suggest?? If that is all you are going to contribute to this topic please turn off your computer. If your feelings were hurt then I would have to tell you how upset I am that you are overjoyed about the "gipper" being dead. Can a bleeding heart liberal please give me a hug. |
|
Re: THE HEAVY HAND AT THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY JAIL |
by goodriddancegipper
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
24 Dec 2004
|
citizen:
If all you have to contribute are obtuse generalizations about others' backgrounds, snotty comments and name-calling, then please donate your computer to someone who can more successfully use it and this bandwidth to which it can connect. My comment was made with several other job deadlines to make, rendering my ability to post something lengthier nearly impossible. I have posted on a similar topic elsewhere on this forum, but not surprisingly you must not have been paying any attention. How, by the way, do you contribute to "this awesome forum" being more than "acting like a couple of idiots" when you yourself post your name-calling screed? Talk about driving discourse into the gutter.
For the record--as if a dullard like yourself actually deserves responses, but I'll humor you--I'm not "overjoyed" Reagan's dead. I just think that considering his horrible track record on a number of issues--human rights. women, AIDS, foreign polcy especially in Central and South America, just to name a few--I don't miss Reagan in the slightest. If your feelings are hurt by my using this moniker, too bad. Stay on the topic, live up to your own words, and pay less attention to minutiae.
Happy Holidays, everyone! |
|
Re: THE HEAVY HAND AT THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY JAIL |
by citizen
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
24 Dec 2004
|
goodriddance gipper. Point taken. I was out of line for attacking you. Just a bit frustrated from the conversations of Local Yocal and Anna Epelbaum. Hopefully they will get along in the future. Some of my generalizations could be considered fact if you could really look into the issue. It is obvious that this forum is not for anyone who might disagree with some of its topics. I do lke it and it is great someone is taking a stand on some of these issues.
Once again I apoligize to you and I meant no harm. |
|
Re: THE HEAVY HAND AT THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY JAIL |
by goodriddancegipper
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
24 Dec 2004
|
citizen:
Your apology is taken and accepted in its own right, and perhaps with each of us, and others, willing to share some much-needed Holiday spirit. My using the name has to do only with my deep-seated objections to many of Reagan's policies and the deleterious effects I believe they had, but certainly not toward others who were or are Reagan supporters. I'm willing to admit that I at times underestimate the degree to which the name may tweak the nose of Reagnites, but that's honestly not my intention.
I understand your frustrations about the way in which conversations go on this site. Sometimes these things happen, and are best observed from a distance. On occasion, I know I have not helped matters. That's why my post toward Anna needed to be taken within a broader context, one with its own argumentative history. While critiquing Anna's terminology, I was urging her to use alternative terms, which I did list, as nicely as possible because in the past we have been at each other's digital throats, so to speak. I'd rather avoid that, not simply because being substantive in posts is always more constructive and preferable and speaks to one's credibility, but also because when I get attacked, I at times respond venomously and, while with all due humility I'm quite good at that, I don't like it. Nor do I like that side of myself, and like to keep it in the cave as much as possible, where it belongs.
In the spirit of the season, an this applies to myself as much as anyone else, let's at worst agree to disagree. At best, let's disagree if we must in intelligent, diplomatic fashion by incorporating as much information, as much logic, as much diplomacy, as much understanding of what might be informing others' views as possible in order to persuade rather than denounce.
If we can all do that, we can not only have meaningful dialogues on a huge variety of issues on this wonderful site, but we can also utilize this site democratically and fruitfully, which in my estimation seems to be its purpose. People on it are usually open to discussion and disagreement when done diplomatically.
Let's all strive to do that. I offer my own apology for any harsh commentary, any failure to be diplomatic, or to follow the plea I listed above in the past. I'll do my best to remedy this in the future, and to foster the kind of climate in the future that I described above.
citizen, let's shake hands and move on in peace. |
|
Re: THE HEAVY HAND AT THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY JAIL |
by citizen
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
25 Dec 2004
|
Back to the subject. I had a few minutes this morning so I decided to pay a visit to the county jail to see how it is operated..naturally it was from the visitation window, but I learned quite a bit. The visitation is ran quite civil although there is always the chance of some major problems. The officers were very professional and kind. I can see the possibility of agitation when dealing with the public especially in that situation. Nobody wants to be in jail or visiting anyone there, but that is the situation they are in. From converstaions with several visitors it appeared that the visitation had been run in a different manner in the past and it's rules were quite outdated. It was more like herding cattle and not a nice needed visit. The visitors remarked about how nice the changes were. The staff appeared to be intersted in what the visitors had to say and wanted to make sure everyone that was there received a visit. We can assume that the concern is related to the publicity that the jails are receiving, but every officer is different and there is always a bad apple in the bunch. I have worked with addicts in the past and I know it is often hard to detect in the early stages, but I don't believe that any of the officers I met were drug addicts although they are a lively and energetic bunch I'm sure they have a few beers every now and then.The type of job they have can often lead to being desentisized to the needs of the public or the inmates in their care. They see a lot and they have to deal with people incarcerated on petty offenses to murders. I would think that they treat them all with the highest security level to protect themselves. I'm not making excuses for them, but it must be a tough job. All I know Local Yocal is that you would have to pay me quite a bit of money to work in that environment.
From the outside appearance the jail does not seem to be designed to allow the comforts of a state ran prison and I doubt that the tax payers would cough up enough money to make it like one. The average person on the street does not care about the inmates and their attitude is "if they don't like it..then don't commit the crime". Most of us here know that is not the answer. If you read the papers there are a large number of people in prison or jail who are innocent or can solve their criminal activities with a little help or guidance.
There are several reasons why someone would kill themselves and the #1 on top of the list is because they wanted to die. If you really care about what is going on at the jail then donate some time or money to organizations that help inmates. There are several out there. Maybe donate some books to help keep their minds off their problems or assist their families who are left to fend for themselves while the bread winner is out of work and in jail. It appeared from my visit that that is probably the #1 concern of the inmates.
I belive that there should be an outside source to help guide the Sheriff's Office in how they handle their inmates. I believe that everyone in Champaign County is responsible on how the inmates are treated and their conditions so we should all have a voice. |
|
Re: THE HEAVY HAND AT THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY JAIL |
by Local Yocal
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
26 Dec 2004
|
To Citizen,
Excellent points about the guards and I prefer my critique about the criminal justice system be aimed at the politicians who make the laws, and the lawyers who fail to research a case accurately.
There are two groups of people who are too silent about the conditions in the streets and the conditions in the jails: police officers and correctional employees. They have a legitimate stake in how things get decided and if things are becoming dangerous and overcrowded, it is they who should be the most loud about our laws and the legal community's poor judgments.
I will write more to your thoughts Citizen, I don't have time now, however, for now I don't remember declaring that County Correctional employees are doing drugs. If you could explain where I said that, please let me know. What I would say, is that there are few (and I think the Champaign County jail is the rare exception) state prisons that are drug free. Drugs get into the state prisons somehow. One example was Erwin Small, of 1989 Flying Illinios Basketball fame, be sentenced to jail for 5 years for bring drugs to the Danville Correctional Center while he worked as a guard there. I've been told that guards will do whatever is necessary to keep the peace in prison, including drug running and even allowing conjugal visits for gang members and the women who love them. I completely agree that if things are bad for the inmates, they are also bad for the correctional employees. I do not accuse guards, on the whole, as doing drugs. I do not blame them for the suicides in our jail. The suicides are blamed at this point, until I learn better information, on the laws and the lawyers who were willing to crush the defendants with harsh sentences and a prison system we have long lost control over. Thank you, Citizen, for your thoughts, which are extremely valid points. |
|
Re: THE HEAVY HAND AT THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY JAIL |
by Local Yocal
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
27 Dec 2004
|
A few additional points: A Rand study released in 1999, discovered that 75% of inmates in State Prisons across the country used drugs during their time behind bars. Taxpayers should be up in arms over such a condition. We send people to prison for drugs where they go to do more drugs. Any wonder why the recidivism rates hover around 50%?
Some other facts: Our state prisons release 600,000 people per year to our streets, nationwide.
13 million people in our country have been convicted of a felony.
5.6 million adults in our country are in prison or have been in prison at some point in their lives.
Upon conviction, felons usually lose the right to vote, parental rights, drivers' licenses, student loans, and residency in public housing.
Drug convictions, the most common reason to be sentenced to prison, can cause a lifetime ban for food stamps and welfare in some states.
There were 200,000 people in prison in 1973. Now there are over 2 million.
Every law enforcement agency in America, including ours, admit the drug trade has gone unabated since the rise in incarceration.
The cost of housing an inmate in prison is usually $20,000 a year. Nationwide, the total cost of our corrections system is $50 Billion dollars per year.
There were 13,900 correctional employees in the state of Illinois in 2003. There was a push to get 15,000 correctional employees.
In 1980, Illinois had about 13,000 prison inmates.
In 2001, Illinois' prison population had reached 47,579. Currently the prison population is about 45,000. Illinois Correction officials estimate there is space for 30,400.
On May 26, 2004 at 9:30a.m. in Courtroom A at the Champaign County Courthouse, the felony docket call was 395, 87 of which were drug cases (22%). 129 were crimes of violence.
Conspicuously absent from the crime stats is the lack of information available from a certain town with a preemminent Big Ten University in it.
Where am I going with all this information? I'm not sure myself. I would say that a overwhelmed public defender's office, unable to research a case for lack of time; and a horrid prison system contributed greatly to the reasons the 3 committed suicide in our county jail.
Again, Citizen, I do not blame correctional employees for conditions in the prisons. |
|
Re: THE HEAVY HAND AT THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY JAIL |
by Anna Epelbaum
aepelbaum (nospam) yahoo.com (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
27 Dec 2004
|
It is really amazing to watch these comments' development. In the beginning of these topics' consideration, I posted the comment where I wrote that to consider this topic from its root system, it would be necessary to take first of all care of minority's (in particular) and poverty level community members (in general) education. The comment was (as I think) not even hidden ('policy violation' )but deleted. And now the main topic in consideration is THE INCREASE OF INMATES' population, which is the direct implication of the fact that WITHOUT PROPER EDUCATION majority of youngsters have no other way to earn decent wages than to go into criminal activities. Isn't the only logical and senseful approach to this problem to take serious care of majority's educational opportunities and simply change the quality of teaching in majority of schools, instead of accusing jail guards in DOING THEIR JOB?
I think that the answer is crystal clear, and that is why this comment (I suspect) would be either deleted or hidden with the code 'policy violation'. I wonder also what name of this 'policy", which I am violating, is ? Could anyone answer? Maybe, this is the prohibition of ANY LOGICAL THINKING, ah? |
|
Re: THE HEAVY HAND AT THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY JAIL |
by citizen
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
28 Dec 2004
|
|
Local Yocal....regarding the drug statement. I was refering to Ms. Ahten. I thought Local Yocal was the name she used on this board. Sorry for the confusion. |
|
Re: THE HEAVY HAND AT THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY JAIL |
by citizen
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
28 Dec 2004
|
I guess I refer to the guards because I have talked to a few of them from different county jails. When a suicide or injury happens while an inmate is in their care they take it personally even when the incident was totally out of their hands. The few I have talked to in Champaign County talked of officers going into a sort of depression after these incidents even if they were not around when it happened. They state that regardless of what the public thinks they do care about the inmates and have a bond that an ordinary citizen wouldn't understand. Some officers said that with the amount of overtime they have to work they are actually with the inmates more than they are with their own family. This is especially true for the guards that work the 2nd or 3rd shifts. The guards see all negative statments in the press as a personal attack on them.
I agree 100% with the statments that we need to speed up the process in the judical system. Former inmates that I have talked to say that time in the county jail is the hardest time to do and often they will plead guilty on a case just to get out of the county jail and into a prison where they will probably be released sooner than on a case that they fought in the courts. What I was told is that they could spend a year in county jail fighting a case that a white county jury will probably find them guilty on regardless if they are actually innocent or not....if they plead guilty after being in jail for a month they might only be in the prison for 12-18 months...and 18 months in a prison is far better than a year in county jail. The reason is that county jails are not designed for long term incarceration although it is happening. Look at Eric Daniels. He was locked in solitary confinement for YEARS....I would think that the years of solitary confinement probably caused a mental state that made him think it was a good idea to stab an officer. If he had been in a state prison he probably would not have done that.
One of the problems with jail is that when someone is incarcerated for a long period of time they will lose their jobs, possessions, and sometimes family. Add a long prison sentence to that and what else do they have to live for. We must show them that their is a light at the end of the tunnel and all is not lost. Help them keep contact with their families...allow them to rebuild their lives and offer them education that will set them on a road to a job other than a short order cook or laborer. There are some very bright people that are locked up in our prisons that have never had the opportunity to show us what they can really do. There is another side to that coin too, but that can be a discussion for another time. |
|
Re: THE HEAVY HAND AT THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY JAIL |
by Local Yocal
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
28 Dec 2004
|
Public defender changes sought
Published Online Sep 8, 2003
By MARY SCHENK
News-Gazette Staff Writer
URBANA - Champaign County's presiding judge is suggesting a rather sweeping change in the way poor people accused of felony crimes are represented.
Judge J.G. Townsend has proposed hiring two more full-time public defenders and doing away with the contracts now held by four local attorneys to represent indigent clients.
"It is the case that we simply cannot continue to offer an appropriate level of representation for defendants in felonies without finding a way to devote a considerable amount more time to it," Townsend said.
"It's real clear from observing in the courtroom, from talking to lawyers who have the contracts now, that we would have to add probably at least two contracts or find some other way to try to deal with the added numbers and the complexity of felony cases. We believe that by adding full-time people to the public defender's office, and without spending any additional money, we can accomplish what we hope to accomplish."
The Finance Committee of the county board heard the proposal Wednesday, endorsed it, and agreed to send it on to the full county board Sept. 18 for consideration as part of the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which starts Dec. 1.
Townsend said he consulted with the judges who handle criminal cases, Public Defender Randy Rosenbaum, the four felony contract attorneys, and "a wide variety of representatives involved in the court system" before making up his mind.
If the board agrees to the change, it will amend a system that's been in place for almost nine years.
In 1994, in what was billed as a cost-cutting measure, a Republican-controlled county board reduced the number of full-time public defenders from eight to five and hired four attorneys on contract to handle about 80 percent of the felony caseload. Democrats opposed the proposal, which left the public defender's office with a full-time public defender and five full-time assistants to handle some felonies, and all the misdemeanor, juvenile and traffic cases.
Currently, the lowest paid assistant in the public defender's office earns $39,430 while the highest paid assistant makes $61,425. The contract attorneys are paid $36,000 a year - for a total of $144,000 - and earn no benefits.
Townsend's proposal calls for hiring two senior felony assistants at salaries, including benefits, of about $60,000 and $65,000. He also proposed an additional contract for $18,000 for a private attorney to represent clients in cases where the public defender has a conflict.
With expenses for each new public defender and the conflict contract, the total for the new system comes to $146,851 per year, Townsend estimated.
Barbara Wysocki, chairwoman of the Finance Committee, and a member of the Democratic majority on the board, said she won't predict what the board will do but she's ready to return to the fully staffed public defender's office.
"I think there are probably efficiencies to be gained by relying on public defenders rather than private attorneys who have to look out for their own business as well as almost be on call for these kinds of cases," she said.
"As I understand it, sometimes cases are put on hold because they can't find an attorney. I've heard of situations where a contract lawyer barely had five minutes to introduce himself to a client (before a court hearing). I don't think that's justice, particularly for people who need it more than others because of their financial circumstances," Wysocki said.
But the four attorneys who now hold the contracts believe the county is getting quite a bargain for its buck. And admittedly, they like the ready-made work and the financial security that the contracts bring.
All of them at one time worked as assistant public defenders in Champaign County.
"They don't have to pay benefits or overhead like a secretary," said Walter Ding.
Ding, who has an office in Champaign, and Urbana attorney Diana Lenik, have each held a contract continuously since they were first awarded in December 1994.
"Over the years, it's developed into an efficient system. All the contract attorneys work well with each other. We cover for each other. It does work pretty smoothly," he said.
Lenik agreed and said a return to the old ways may mean the loss of a great deal of experience.
"You may be trading lawyers with lots of knowledge and experience for lawyers just out of school a few years. The people who do this work now are extremely experienced and really know what they're doing. Someone out of school 20 years is less likely to take a starting or midlevel job in the public defender's office," she said.
"Historically, assistant public defenders, because the pay is relatively low, are relatively inexperienced attorneys," said Bruce Ratcliffe, an Urbana attorney who currently holds one of the contracts.
David Rumley, an Urbana attorney who has the fourth contract, said a move to put all the public defenders in-house could cause more frequent problems with conflicts of interest since the public defender's office typically cannot represent more than one client in a multiple-defendant case.
There's rarely a case with so many defendants that all of them can't be fairly represented by the public defender and the contract attorneys, he noted.
All four agree that the contract gives them a steady source of income, but because of the volume of the work, they end up earning far less per case than they could with private clients.
"I've never sat down and done the numbers on it. It's never been about the numbers or how much I get per case," said Ding. "I enjoy the work, the people, being at the courthouse."
And he admits he gets spinoff private business from clients he's represented under the contracts.
John Taylor, an Urbana attorney who gave up his contract to Ratcliffe earlier this year, said he was handling about 125 felony cases a month, a typical caseload.
"It worked out to $126.72 per case," he said, adding that he met most of his private clients at the jail while working with his court-appointed clients. "If a guy can come up with a $200 retainer, I'm already getting paid more than on the contract."
But Taylor said it wasn't the money that motivated him to give up the contract.
"I got out because arraignment court and petitions to revoke probation took too much time out of my trial practice," said Taylor, who typically tried more cases to juries than the other contract attorneys.
"I'll give them a trial for cheap but I'll give them a good trial," he said, adding that the two years and three months he held the contract were the best years of the 24 he's been practicing law.
That said, Taylor is a proponent of a return to having all the court-appointed attorneys under the auspices of the public defender.
"There would be more accountability. Because of other obligations, contract attorneys can't be in every courtroom," he said. "On the other hand, I can't think of a better system to throw somebody into to learn how to be a better lawyer."
Of the four contract lawyers, all say they spend differing amounts of time on their court-appointed cases.
Lenik estimated 40 to 45 percent of her time, admitting she delegates initial interviewing of clients to an assistant. For Ratcliffe, it's "probably 85 to 90 percent."
Ding estimates 65 percent of his time is spent on contract work, while Rumley said he has to "work very hard to spend only 70 percent of my time with the contract."
"It's not getting any less," Rumley said. "There doesn't seem to be any effort among judges to allow us to manage our time any better. The demands (for court appearances) seem to increase rather than decrease."
Rosenbaum, the public defender who serves at the pleasure of the circuit judges, said he believes that efficiencies can be accomplished even though there will be fewer bodies handling felonies.
"If this is all you do, a lot of what you do can be streamlined," he said. "I think many people are believers that there should be a strong central public defender's office. Most attorneys and the public feel that way. In the long run, it's a good solution." |
|
Re: THE HEAVY HAND AT THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY JAIL |
by Local Yocal
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
28 Dec 2004
|
"About 40 of the 280 or so current jail inmates are on "watch" for medical, mental health or suicide issues, Walsh said.
In addition, Walsh said he asked the mental health officials to prepare a brochure or letter for inmates and their family members, giving some information on what to look for in behavior that might indicate a person wants to harm himself.
Officials are asking relatives and friends of inmates and fellow inmates themselves to inform the jail if the inmates make any comments indicating possible problems, Walsh said.
"It would really help if people would let us know," he said, adding they can call the jail at 384-1243 with any such information."
News-Gazette, Dec. 8, 2004
Here's the problem: Sheriff Dan Walsh considers the suicides to be the result of "mental illness". He is entitled to his opinion and it's hard not to imagine someone who wants to committ suicide as anything else but mentally ill. What's interesting is that in the cases of Terrell Layfield, Joseph Beavers, and Marcus Edwards- the 3 suicides in the jail this year- NO PUBLIC DEFENDERS represented their clients as unfit to stand trial, nor as having a mental disease in all their court proceedings. In considerations of sentences, no consideration was given whether prison was an appropriate placement or would prison cause inordinant stress on their client's mental condition.
Now if there is nothing mentally wrong with these men at trial, how can Walsh suddenly claim they are mentally ill when they act out on what? mental illness? while in jail.
Or was it depression derived from believing there existed no hope after being misrepresented in court and facing the cruelties of the state prisons?
I just don't think you can seperate the legal services for the indigent from the stress inmates face in our County Jail. Champaign County has been in cost-cutting mode when it comes to legal representation for the poor since Rick Winkel served on the County Board in 1994. Part of this sad story is how inmates feel about their legal representation and the perception that low income and minorities are targeted for harsh sentences. If you are uncomfortable with the racial implications then consider the 18 year old Marcus Edwards, accused of residential burglary with the 21 year old Luther Head (Illinois Basketball player) accused of the same crime in November '03. Luther Head even admitted doing it by having an attorney pay the victims compensation before the crime was leaked to the Chicago Sun-Times. The legal services Marcus Edwards received compared to that of Luther Head is telling. |
|
Re: THE HEAVY HAND AT THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY JAIL |
by Local Yocal
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
28 Dec 2004
|
UI players won't face criminal charges
Published Online Nov 24, 2003
By BRETT DAWSON
News-Gazette Staff Writer
URBANA - University of Illinois basketball players were involved in a residential break-in earlier this month, but will not face criminal charges stemming from the incident.
Champaign County State's Attorney John Piland said this morning that, based on the request of the victims, his office will not pursue charges against anyone involved in a break-in that took place early the morning of Nov. 2 on Gregory Street near the UI campus.
"As we stand here now, the victims have recovered all of the property - or the value of the property - that was taken from them," Piland said at a news conference at the Champaign County Courthouse. "They have determined upon receiving that property that they do not wish to press charges, and I've indicated to them that we would respect those wishes."
Piland said that UI basketball players weren't the only people involved in the break-in, but he declined to discuss specifics, saying more details will be available in police reports that will be made available to the public, "very, very soon."
Those reports were not immediately available this morning.
Piland didn't name specific Illinois players, but last week, the father of a UI student who was one of the victims of the break-in said that Luther Head and Aaron Spears, who currently are serving four-game suspensions for a violation of team rules, were involved.
Another Illinois player, Richard McBride, also is serving a four-game suspension, though it's unclear whether his violation is related to that of Head and Spears.
Today's announcement that charges will not be pursued doesn't necessarily close the case, Piland said. Although the five victims in the case - all UI students - signed statements saying they didn't wish to press for charges and hadn't been coerced into that decision, Piland said the victims have the option of changing their minds.
But given the fact that the property returned to the victims would have been used as evidence in the case, Piland said, the prosecution's case would be significantly weaker if it were to proceed later.
Piland said that police reports on the break-in were given to Illinois athletics officials on Friday, and that prior to receiving those reports, the university was operating without some significant details in the case.
"They have not had the police reports," Piland said. "Those are being made available to them. I think it would be improper, frankly, for university officials to make disciplinary decisions based upon rumor or what they read in a press or news account."
Illinois coach Bruce Weber said that no information received last week will have an impact on the suspensions of Head, Spears or McBride.
"I cannot comment on anything," Weber said this morning. "They violated team rules, they're serving their suspension. Nothing has changed at all." |
|
Re: THE HEAVY HAND AT THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY JAIL |
by Local Yocal
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
28 Dec 2004
|
03-31-04 JRK/DLE
RE: EDWARDS MARCUS B
People appear by LAWRENCE SOLAVA. Defendant appears in custody and is arraigned. Public Defender is appoined and J. Maher appears as instanter. Cause is set for Preliminary Hearing on 4/20/2004 at 3:15 PM in Courtroom F. See Expanded Record. Defendant's Bond fixed in the amount of $25000. ROR denied.
04-15-04
RE: EDWARDS MARCUS B
Indictment returned in open Court in 02 Counts.
04-20-04
RE: EDWARDS MARCUS B
People appear by K. GRIFFITH.
Defendant appears personally together with appointed counsel, D. APPLEMAN on behalf of the PUBLIC DEFENDER. Deft. waives reading of
the Indictment, enters a plea of not guilty and requests a trial by jury. Cause set for Pre-trial 05/26/2004 at 02:30 PM in Courtroom A. Pre-Trial Orders entered. See ORDERS. See Expanded Record.
Defendant's Bond to continue.
05-13-04 CRIMINL/EV Discovery on file.
05-26-04 RE: MARCUS EDWARDS
Appearance of the States Attorney. Suggestion that the Defendant is in custody. Motion by Defendant for continuance. Motion allotted for hearing 5/27/2004 at 9:30 AM in Courtroom F.
05-27-04 RE: MARCUS EDWARDS
Appearance of the SA. Appearance of the Defendant in custody and by counsel. Matter called for hearing on Defendant's Motion for Continuance. Motion allowed without objection. Trial setting this term vacated. Matter continued for trial during the JULY/2004 and for pre-trial 6/23/2004 at 9:30 AM.
06-17-04
RE: EDWARDS MARCUS B
Request by Deft.for pre-plea TASC suitability report entered this date.
06-23-04 RE: MARCUS EDWARDS
Matter allotted for plea 7/09/2004 at 9:00 AM in Courtroom B before Honorable T. J. Difanis .
07-09-04
RE: EDWARDS MARCUS B
Appearance of the People by WILLIAM GASTON .
Appearance of the Defendant personally and by
counsel ROSENBAUM, RANDALL .
Defendant advised as to the nature of the proceedings, the charges and the possible penalties that may be imposed and the Court finds that the Defendant understands the same. Finding
Defendant knowingly, understandingly and voluntarily waives rights and enters a plea of guilty to Count 01 of the charging instrument.
Finding Defendant is guilty of the offense of RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY
ST: 0720 ILCS 00050/19-3(a) OF: 1120000
as charged.
Judgement entered in favor of the People and against the defendant on finding of guilt and for costs.
COUNT II TO BE DISMISSED AT SENTENCING.
Cause allotted for sentencing hearing 08/06/2004 at 11:30 AM in Courtroom B. Champaign County Court Services Department is to prepare a pre-sentence report and file a copy of the same.
Cause No. 04-CF-470 to be dismissed pursuant to plea agreement at the sentencing hearing.
Written Judgement Order entered. See ORDER.
07-12-04
RE: EDWARDS MARCUS B
People appear by K. SWAILS. Defendant does not appear, nor anyone on Deft.'s behalf. On motion of the People, cause dismissed. Bond Released. Warrant, if any, QUASHED.
8/6/2004 HEARING VACATED.
07-02-04 CRIMINL/EV TASC Assessment on file. |
|
Re: THE HEAVY HAND AT THE CHAMPAIGN COUNTY JAIL |
by Twymenia Layfield
tthurmond (nospam) nwbc.edu (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
08 Mar 2005
|
TO ALL THE CITIZEN IN CHAMPAIGN WHO HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.
PEOPLE WHO THINK A GUARD WAS DOING THEIR JOB WHY DID THEY LET MY HUSBAND HANG FOR MORE THEN 2 HOUR. THAT IS BULLSHIT. NOW THE JOB PEOPLE PICK FOR THEM SELF HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH INMATES. NOW THEY WANTED TO BE GUARDS AND GUARDING MEANS WATCHING AND PROTECTING. AN THE INMATES ARE PART OF THEIR JOB. I FEEL THEY HAD ALOT TO DO WITH MY HUSBAND DEATH. I CANT SPEAK FOR THE OTHER FAMILIES BUT I CAN SPEAK FOR RELL. WHEN I WENT TO VEIW MY HUSBAND BODY IT LOOK LIKE A 500 POUND MAN HAD STOOD ON HIS NECK. HIS NECK WAS AS THIN AS PAPER WHY BECAUSE WELL AFTER HE PASS HE STILL HANGING NOT 15 NOT 20 NOT 30 NOT 45 MINUTES WILL OVER AND HOUR. NO ONE STILL CHECK. EVEN CHAMPAIGN COUNTY SHEIFF SAID THEY WAS NOT DOING THEIR JOBS WHEN IT CAME TO RELL DEATH. BUT I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW WHOEVER READ. THIS JAIL IS NOT THE ANSWER FOR EVERYONE. THE SHOULD BE MORE PROGRAM AND DIFFERENT HELP FOR THE INMATES THAT LIE ABOUT THEIR NAME NOT 66 MONTHS IN THE JOINT. BECAUSE I DO THINK EVERYONE LIE. IF YOU DONT YOU HAVE. |
|
