Friday, June 29, 2012
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Nails News
As previously reported here, this World Series level ballplayer has had serious financial and criminal problems leading to convictions for fraud. He is doing time. Now we learn Lenny "Nails" Dyskstra has pleaded no contest to criminal charges for indecent exposure. It seems this scrappy ex-centerfielder for the Phils and the Mets felt is necessary to expose his gentials to some broad he met thru Craigslist. This goes beyond "say it ain't so."
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Welcome from Yahoo!
I started Jon’s Jail Journal back in February 2004 to expose the conditions in the jail with the highest death rate in America run by Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Dead rats in the food, cockroaches crawling in our ears at night, and guards as well as gang members murdering the prisoners. Smuggled out of the jail, my writing turned the international media spotlight on the conditions. Click here and scroll down to the bottom to read my 2004 entries.
Video of Aryan Brother prison gang member murdering an inmate in Sheriff Joe's jail:
After I was sent from the jail to prison, I started writing more about the characters, ranging from Mafia hit men like Two Tonys to men who think they’re women, such as Xena, a six-and-a-half foot transsexual who almost bled to death attempting to cut “her” man parts off. Click here for a full list of the prisoners at Jon's Jail Journal and links to their extreme stories.
Since my release, a book has been published about my time in the jail, Hard Time, and I tell my story to student audiences in the hope they don’t make the same mistakes I did. Almost daily, I get feedback from students, teachers and parents of students.
I continue to campaign against Sheriff Joe and hopefully he will lose this year’s election. Click here for my tips on surviving his jail.
Throughout my incarceration, I was blessed to have the support of my wonderful family. Here's a video of my mum doing a rare talk at a school:
Shaun Attwood
Read It,Know It,Live It.
My Lacrosse coaching days are over for now. But when one of the guys I used to coach with posted this on FB...I had to post it here. As a former volunteer coach, I wish this sign was emblazoned on the gate of every field upon which our kids play competitive sports. This sign offers excellent directives that are well stated.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Another Father's Day Weekend
This year once again found my son and I in Annapolis,Maryland for a Lacrosse tournament on Father's day weekend. My boy is playing attack for Philly Fever and there was a full slate of 5 games on the schedule. We hustled down Friday evening as I had promised the lad a fine steak dinner on the eve of the first day of the tournament. He is a fairly picky eater but he loves steak and potatos. So, I had reserved a table at Lewnes in Annapolis.
I am not a big fan of steak houses in general. This is primarily because I feel that if I am going to lay out $45.00 for an entree....I want something creative and a little exotic, more of a fine dining experience where someone has slaved over a veal bone demi glace or the like. I have a fine Butcher nearby and can buy dry-aged prime and grill it up as well if not better than any of the Mexican or Dominican kids some Ruth's Chris or Morton's has flinging meat over a gas broiler for less than fair wages. But I digress.
The kid wanted steak and he was about to embark on a 5 game weekend and he was with his old man...so to the steak house we went. Also, I prefer a local joint over some chain like Capitol Grill or the Palm....so Lewenes fit perfectly. In addition, it was a father's day kind of thing to do....a boy and his dad gorging on red meat and fried 'taters.
Lewnes did a fine job. I began with a tomato and onion salad over greens with blue cheese and vinagrette. The kid wolfed down the bread. I had a delicious Old Fashioned to begin and the kid guzzled iced tea.
We discussed the various cuts of meat on the menu and the mertis and structure of each. He went with the NY Strip. I had the 8 Oz. filet with Bernaise on the side. The lighting was soft, the colors in the room were masculine and comfortable and the food was delicious. Lewnes has a "French Fry" which is just somewhere between a potato chip and a fry...crisp yet crunchy and flat...outstanding. My young lacrosse player was certainly carb-loading at this meal.
After the fine dinner and pleasant discussion about topics ranging from the Naval Academy to why I elected not to got to West Point when recruited to play lacrosse there, to current movies, to the upcoming release of the Hobbit and a bit of Presidential election politics...we walked Annapolis for a bit then headed back to the Hotel. The Westin is Annapolis is centrally located and very well appointed. We retired to the room, watched a Christian Bales vehicle called :The Flower of War" and turned in. Incidentally, this movie is an interesting story about incidents based on fact that occurred in 1937 during the Japanesse "Rape of Nanking." My son and I both enjoyed it very much.
On Saturday we rose, breakfasted and then it was all lacrosse all day...and the next. A great few days with my son....a wonderful Father's Day.
Friday, June 22, 2012
The Verdict
The reputation of a University besmirched. The legacy of Coach Paterno tarnished and sullied beyond comprehension. The lives of numerous abused young men devastated. A trial that was followed nationwide. Sexual predation, arrogance, and cover-ups to protect a football team.. This has been a horrific constellation of circumstances. Tonite a jury of Sandusky's peers has found him guilty of 45 of 48 counts of criminal sexual conduct.
Good luck in prison Jerry....you deviant and reprehensible pederast. You were a football coach and traded on that position to satisfy your abhorrent sexual appetites. A supposed "father figure" to disenfranchised young boys....you were and are in truth a repugnant sodomite. Now you will experience a different position in sport. You will be a "catcher." You will likely feel the horror and psychological injury of being sexually abused in prison. However, you may somehow be spared that trauma if you receive a "shiv" in the sternum from a fellow inmate.Pedophiles typically do not have an easy time of it in the Joint. You should have spared your family and your victims months ago and put a revolver in your mouth and delivered a bullet through your palate and into your twisted brain.
Good luck in prison Jerry....you deviant and reprehensible pederast. You were a football coach and traded on that position to satisfy your abhorrent sexual appetites. A supposed "father figure" to disenfranchised young boys....you were and are in truth a repugnant sodomite. Now you will experience a different position in sport. You will be a "catcher." You will likely feel the horror and psychological injury of being sexually abused in prison. However, you may somehow be spared that trauma if you receive a "shiv" in the sternum from a fellow inmate.Pedophiles typically do not have an easy time of it in the Joint. You should have spared your family and your victims months ago and put a revolver in your mouth and delivered a bullet through your palate and into your twisted brain.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Medical Issues (Part 13 by Lifer Renee)
Renee – Only a teenager, she received a 60-year sentence. Sixteen years later, Renee is writing from Perryville prison in Goodyear, Arizona, providing a rare and unique insight into a women's prison.
A month and a half pass still no EMG medical appointment. Finally, I signed for an offsite medical appointment. Again with the shackles, belly chains and handcuffs, I was paraded in front of the public in the waiting room.
Whoever said an EMG test doesn’t hurt was lying. The needles and shocks of electricity wiped me out by the time it was over. Again the doctor couldn’t give me the results. Again I had to wait the DOC.
Two weeks passed and I waited. Finally, I signed to see the doctor once more in his cramped office. All he told me was he’s sending me for a surgery consultation to discuss my options. He asked if the gabapentin he prescribed was working for me.
“What can I do?” I asked. “What is wrong with me?”
“All I can do with you at this point is to help manage your pain, and send you to the surgeon to discuss your options.”
I was waiting, yet again, for another medical appointment that I hope will give me some answers. At all costs I don’t want surgery as I am scared to death of 1) it being my neck and spine 2) the post care provided by prison. Needless to say, I have become a bit lazy. The medication makes me sleepy all the time but I don’t hurt as much. I’m not even working out, nor doing yoga as I’m really scared I might hurt myself more. Next week I plan on changing my work hours and starting a new routine as I’m in a bit of a rut. This week will be a long week at work as we had a 4 day weekend, which means a 4 day work week, which turns into 10 hour days. I’m not looking forward to it, but in a way I am as it takes me out of prison mentally, and with someone with as many things going on as me that is a blessing.
I have hired an attorney to review case, Kimerer and Derrick in Phoenix. They have been reviewing my case for 10 months now. No word yet if I have a chance of getting released but who knows. I met my personal goal to save the dollars to find and retain a lawyer and pray for a miracle. I’ve put in a lot of work for a second chance, but like everything else these days, I wait.
Shaun Attwood
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Good Point
Working in Center City Philadelphia, I spend a fair amount of time walking the sidewalks to and from Court or the parking garage. Frequently, one is behind various urban youth who deem it cool to have pants riding below the ass...exposing the underpants. This phenomena has been discussed ad nauseum and we know the genesis of this sartorial abomination: Prison.
Monday, June 18, 2012
From The New Yorker
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Fifty Shades of Grey Insanity at My Manchester Waterstones Book Signing
At the Trafford Centre yesterday, I told our team that we were there not to break sales records, but to have fun - as my philosophy this year is not to not expect too much, and to be happy with the way things are. I'm lucky because I have a passion for being a writer and a speaker. With the pressure off, we still sold 120 copies of Hard Time. We also met some great people as you can see in the pics - can you spot the mechanical cockroach in one of them?
Earlier in the day, we were actually beating sales of Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James, but it didn't last long. Never have I seen mass hysteria for a book in Waterstones. It reminded me of videos of female fan frenzy towards The Beatles in the sixties. Waterstones was inundated with women zigzagging around, eyes darting in search of the book, homing in and forming clusters around the stand, sparking up conversations:
"Here it is!" a woman screamed, pointing at piles of Fifty Shades.
"Every single book store in Manchester has sold out except for Waterstone's!" a woman yelled, triumphantly snatching a copy.
"Everyone's got it. I've got to have it!"
Every other person I looked at was clutching a copy. Capitalising on the madness, Mum approached men dragged in by women, thrust Hard Time in their faces, and said, "Here's one for men, and it's a better read."
Hoping to glean insight on book promotion, we asked women why they were buying Fifty Shades. Answers included:
"I don't even know what it's about, but I've just got to have it."
"This is the one everyone's talking about!"
"My friend's pressuring me into reading it."
"But what's the attraction?" Mum asked.
"It's girly porn," a woman replied.
We watched in awe as an assistant trailed back and forth with stacks of books replenishing the shelves. He said his branch was selling hundreds of copies a day, and this was happening all over the country at approximately 2000 Waterstones. He added, "The writing is absolute crap, but we're not complaining because of the record sales."
Fifty Shades is number 1 on Amazon UK and USA, and the runners up are other books from the trilogy.
Click here for the previous signing blog.
Shaun Attwood
At the Trafford Centre yesterday, I told our team that we were there not to break sales records, but to have fun - as my philosophy this year is not to not expect too much, and to be happy with the way things are. I'm lucky because I have a passion for being a writer and a speaker. With the pressure off, we still sold 120 copies of Hard Time. We also met some great people as you can see in the pics - can you spot the mechanical cockroach in one of them?
Earlier in the day, we were actually beating sales of Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James, but it didn't last long. Never have I seen mass hysteria for a book in Waterstones. It reminded me of videos of female fan frenzy towards The Beatles in the sixties. Waterstones was inundated with women zigzagging around, eyes darting in search of the book, homing in and forming clusters around the stand, sparking up conversations:
"Here it is!" a woman screamed, pointing at piles of Fifty Shades.
"Every single book store in Manchester has sold out except for Waterstone's!" a woman yelled, triumphantly snatching a copy.
"Everyone's got it. I've got to have it!"
Every other person I looked at was clutching a copy. Capitalising on the madness, Mum approached men dragged in by women, thrust Hard Time in their faces, and said, "Here's one for men, and it's a better read."
Hoping to glean insight on book promotion, we asked women why they were buying Fifty Shades. Answers included:
"I don't even know what it's about, but I've just got to have it."
"This is the one everyone's talking about!"
"My friend's pressuring me into reading it."
"But what's the attraction?" Mum asked.
"It's girly porn," a woman replied.
We watched in awe as an assistant trailed back and forth with stacks of books replenishing the shelves. He said his branch was selling hundreds of copies a day, and this was happening all over the country at approximately 2000 Waterstones. He added, "The writing is absolute crap, but we're not complaining because of the record sales."
Fifty Shades is number 1 on Amazon UK and USA, and the runners up are other books from the trilogy.
The team: Emily, Lydia and Iain |
Cockroach hand-stamp |
This woman is an old school raver from clubs I partied at such as The State in Liverpool, and The Konspiracy in Manchester |
Click here for the previous signing blog.
Shaun Attwood
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Cook-Out
You get the invite: "Come over for a cook-out." Some will say Barbecue. Some call it just grilling. Then you get there and suffer through poorly prepared and over- cooked burgers that some rookie Suburbanite has pressed down with the spatula to make things flame...yeah...press down...would not want those burgers moist and juicy or anything. Sub-par hot dogs rendered black from neglect on the back of the grill. Store bought 'tater salad swimming in too sweet mayo and a basket of chips greasing up a paper towel. Over cooked corn and and iceberg with bottled dressing. Not the scene from vacation with Eddie cooking "Helper" and the kid swirling Kool Aide with her arm....but not too far.
Now, I like a burger over charcoal and do a mean one. I select top quality white corn and cook for max of 5 minutes. I am not saying that traditional cook-out fare sucks, it is usually poor execution.
I am a fan of dogs and ribs and chicken. I have a large charcoal unit on the patio and I worship at the altar of meat and flame many evenings in Summer with Meyers's and tonic in or icy beer in hand and the Phillies on the radio. However, when we invite guests I often like to strive for something a bit on the higher end of the cook-out spectrum.
To wit, this Saturday I rose at 7:30 a.m. and was down on 9th street in South Philly to scour the Italian market for some serious flesh to dance above the coals. I entered Esposito's in search of Rib Veal chops. A minute of haggling at the counter brought me the old man...one of the owners...an Esposito. He remembered me from my Restaurant days, "You look like yer in the mood to break balls this morning...come ina back."
He and his blood spattered white coat led me into the butcher's room and he brought out the Veal. We talked about the thickness and color of the rack and how bad the Phillies are playing. He then had his guy cut me 8 gorgeous chops from the rib I selected. He wrapped them and hit me for 6 Jacksons. He also threw in a pound of grass fed ground beef gratis because I knew my shit and he wants me to come back.
I crossed the block and hit a veggie vendor for some white and red boiling potatoes and some arugula and radicchio. Then to DiBruno's to select appetizers from the stunning olive bar...pickled cippolino onions, stuffed artichoke hearts and fresh white anchovies in lemon and oil; some excellent cheese, Sopresetta salami and Sarcone's bread. Mission complete.
That evening I dazzled our guests with arugula and radicchio salad, Veal rib chops grilled over hard-wood charcoal and a French potato salad with scallions, Dijon/Champagne vinagrette and shallots. Pistachio macaroons from the Italian bakery completed the dinner. Sadly the Phillies lost in 10 innings.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
T-Bone Teaches a Crackhead Selling Stolen Goods a Lesson
I was just on the phone to T-Bone recording a message for students when a crackhead approached T-Bone and tried to sell him a stolen phone and credit card. T-Bone took control of the situation and taught the crackhead a lesson. Here’s the audio of T-Bone in action: Shaun Attwood
Persevering Prison Pages
Persevering Prison Pages is a blog run by my friend Shane (Shannon Clark), a prisoner in the Arizona Department of Corrections. He started PPP after I told him about Jon’s Jail Journal. As a direct punishment for blogging, Shane has been moved to five different prisons in the last year, and has lost his early release. The frequency of moves seriously disrupted Shane’s blogging. Despite the prison coming down hard on him, Shane continues to bravely expose what’s going on. With outside help, his first blog post in months just went up – about the corpse of a prisoner. I’ve posted a comment at PPP to show support for Shane, and I urge others to offer encouragement in the comments.
Shaun Attwood
Monday, June 11, 2012
Mike Jones vs Randall Bailey
Mike Jones is a Philadelphia fighter who we all thought was going to win the IBF welterweight belt on Saturday night. Suffice it to say,our predicitions were not accurate. Mike was upset by an opponent who no one thought had the stamina to hang into the later rounds. If you skip to the 10th/11th Rounds you will see the devestating straight right hand that stunned Jones and then the coup de grace uppercut that delivered the first KO of Jones career. It is a Everlast Boxing manual upper cut that crumpled Jones and sent him to the canvas. We hope this defeat will help Mike become a better fighter and he is young and destined for a Belt....but not this weekend.
Question Time: Yoga for Prison Recovery
A PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder) sufferer recently asked if I had residual trauma from the jail experience, and if so, how I deal with it. Fresh from prison, I was tense, edgy, and uptight. It took a year before I began to feel normal again. Here's what I looked like:
Now, I’m mostly happy and relaxed, but I still have nightmares. I recommended yoga for PTSD.
Now, I’m mostly happy and relaxed, but I still have nightmares. I recommended yoga for PTSD.
For many people, yoga brings to mind dozens of sweaty people in a studio, stretching into bizarre postures. But that’s only a small part. Yoga is a system of many parts developed over 1000’s of years for psychological well-being, not just physical development. Besides exercises, yoga provides ways to train the mind, and meditation is one of the most powerful. My Mum, who suffers from depression, uses Vipassana meditation. The initiation includes ten days of complete silence, and ten hours a day sat cross-legged meditating. When Vipassana was introduced to a high-security prison in Alabama tremendous transformation occurred in a variety of prisoners, including murderers. Below is a trailer for a documentary movie called the Dhamma Brothers about Vipassana at the Donaldson Correctional Facility, Bessemer, Alabama.
Most of the prison doctors I saw were happy to dole out medication, but I was lucky enough to run into Dr. O who prescribed plenty of yoga. Medication undoubtedly helps serious cases, but it seems so oversubscribed.
The weekend just gone, I participated in two days of yoga with an emphasis on meditation. Here’s what I posted to Facebook when I got home:
Just got home blissed out from two days of Isha Yoga at the ExCel Centre, London with 1000 yoga freaks and the hilarious yoga master Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev who flew in from India. Sadhguru had people laughing, crying and at the end, dancing like wild moonies.
I actually left the building in the pouring rain, wearing only flip-flops, shorts and a T-shirt, with my arms in the air, getting soaked to the bone, yelling, "Mother Nature embrace me!" :) Must have looked like I was on drugs. :) Who needs drugs when you've got yoga? :)
On a more serious note, during the morning meditation and breathing exercises on the second day, I flashed back to jail. The experience ran through my mind like a film on fast forward, even including the visuals I saw after meditating for hours on end in my cell back in 2003/2004. My face wouldn't stop contorting as if I were experiencing various emotional states in rapid succession. The tingling at the base of my spine built into an intense warm feeling that slowly rose through my torso and out of the top of my head. I shed a few tears. It was my trauma. I immediately felt lighter, and still do. I heard other loud emotional reactions – screaming, shouting, laughing – but afterwards those people looked joyous and said they felt unburdened.
Today, I woke up with Sadhguru's chanting in my brain. I had no nightmares last night, and I wonder if they've gone.
Today, I woke up with Sadhguru's chanting in my brain. I had no nightmares last night, and I wonder if they've gone.
The two day’s of yoga were part of a course called Inner Engineering by Sadhguru’s Isha Foundation, a non-profit organisation doing good work around the world. Isha holds the Guinness World Record for the most trees planted in a day with 700,000 saplings in Tamil Nadu.
We have the ability to heal ourselves with a powerful tool called the brain. Thanks to yoga, I’m learning to harness that power.
Shaun Attwood
Friday, June 8, 2012
Non-Adversarial Bird Interaction
Usually my posts having to do with birds involves shotguns and clouds of lead or steel pellets and death. This is not the case in the "off-season." During the Spring and Summer my wife and I enjoy providing refreshments to the myriad birds that live in the woods and fields near our house. I installed several birdhouses that my son and I built a few years back in the Cub Scouts and these dwellings see inhabitants and baby birds every year. We have feeders and baths and have daily visits from Cardinals, Yellow Finches, Junkos, Chickadees and the ubiquitous English Sparrow. There is some shooting involved...I punish thieving squirrels with a BB gun thru an upstairs window to keep those rapacious grey bastards from gobbling everything.
The most interesting of the winged dining guests is the Hummingbird. We stock these feeders with sugar syrup and these little wonders buzz in and out all afternoon. It really is a treat to watch them feed and then zip off like a lazer...their speed and maneuverability is amazing.
Shane Punished for Prison Blogging (by Shane)
Shane - Denied psychiatric medication by ValueOptions, Shane turned to illegal drugs financed by burglaries. For stealing a few hundred dollars worth of goods, he was sentenced to eleven years. Shane is the author of the blog Persevering Prison Pages.
Sorry it took so long to write. Arizona Department of Corrections (ADOC) is coming down hard on me because of my blogging. I’ve been moved around a lot. From Eagle Point to Barchey to Buckley to Stiner detention to Rast Unit. I suspect I’ll be here until Nov 15th, my release. Despite all of the disciplinary sanctions, moves and lack of blogging, I’m OK.
The blogs that upset ADOC are the ones about former Senate President Russell Pearce’s son, Josh Pearce and the one about the murder of Shannon Palmer.
Josh Pearce ended up at Eagle point. I asked him questions and showed him the blog about his dad. Shortly after that, a CO4 warned me about blogging inmates. A few weeks later, the same CO4 accused me of dealing/financing drugs, and I was moved to Barchy Unit.
Around the same time, I blogged the murder of Shannon Palmer and did an interview with the Phoenix New times for their article. Every disciplinary ticket I received I was found guilty, and given maximum punishment by the Disciplinary Captain. For the drug paraphernalia ticket, an inmate claimed possession and stated he committed the violation, yet I was still found guilty with maximum punishment.
ADOC can do whatever they want, I will be blogging soon. It is a violation of my freedom of speech for them to try and stop me like this.
Shane’s original blog about Shannon Palmer, a prisoner Shane was helping get his story out until his cellmate murdered him by slashing his throat and castrating him:
This week I learned that a mentally ill inmate who left Eagle Point Unit a couple of weeks ago was murdered while in a lock-down detention unit.
I knew the guy. Sharing first names, we had spoken on occasion. Shannon Palmer appeared to be a normal, polite person. Somewhat stand-offish, but harmless.
One day Shannon asked me if I would help him get his story out to the public. I agreed to listen and sat in my cell with him for nearly two hours as he told me his entire story, which he also told me he had written down and kept in his cell.
It was an extremely far-fetched conspiracy, which he told me I'd think it was. It involved the MCSO, Center for Missing and Exploited Children, CIA, US Military Black ops, and various other agencies who were after him. Men in suits of shimmering armor that cloak a person making them invisible. He believed these invisible assassins had been following him and were waiting outside the prison fence to kill him. He also believed he had been given an implant in his thigh by the CIA.
A couple of weeks ago he was just removed off of the yard here. Rumor has it that he was moved to detention for a "Psych Watch".
Based on news reports, and comments I heard from brown & orange shirts, Shannon's cellmate (another guy I know from Tucson's Manzanita Unit) cut his throat and castrated him.
I don't know exactly what happened, but I do know that there are multiple things that trouble me about this.
Shannon Palmer seemed severely paranoid and delusional. He needed psych help. He was put in detention, which is generally used for discipline or protection. He was put in a lock-down cell with another prisoner. He DIED! A horrible death...
Is ADOC so over-crowded and under-staffed that severely mentally ill prisoners aren't receiving adequate mental health care, protection from other prisoners and themselves, and simply ignored until blood is spilled?
I'm fairly certain Shannon Palmer was a minimum security inmate. I also suspect that his cellmate was not. Why did Mr. Palmer have a cellmate, let alone a higher security one?
How did he get his throat cut in a lock-down unit that doesn't allow shaving razors to be possessed by prisoners and is supposed to be a highly secure unit?
These are all questions that should be asked. Who will investigate this preventable murder?
Shane’s original blog about corrupt Senate President Russell Pearce’s background and sinister links to the prison-industrial complex:
Born June 23, 1947, Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce represents District 18, which covers most of Western and Central Mesa, and a small portion of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Previously, this Republican lawmaker also served in the Arizona House of Representatives, and is widely known for sponsoring legislation seeking to stop illegal immigration. Senator Pearce favors a strong border security policy. In January 2011, Sen. Pearce became the President of the Arizona State Senate.
Pearce grew up in a troubled and impoverished home. His father was an alcoholic. At times he would come home from school and find that the neighbors had left groceries for his family. However, his mother would always put the food aside, not accepting charity.
Initially, Pearce wanted to attend medical school, but his family wasn't able to afford it. Russell Pearce joined the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department. In time he became a highly decorated peace officer and even received the Medal of Valor for his 35 years of service. Pearce rose to the level of Second in Command, Chief Deputy Sheriff, under Joe Arpaio. Interestingly, Pearce claims credit for one of the most publicized and controversial actions of MCSO, under Arpaio's cruel reign, that of housing jail inmates in military-type tents. During his tenure with MCSO, Pearce investigated many violent crimes and was also the victim of a violent crime when he was shot in the chest while on duty. In 1994, Russell Pearce was appointed to the position of Director of the State Highway Safety Department.
In 1995, Pearce became the Director of the Arizona Motor Vehical Division. Two notable accomplishments he had as such were: 1) Bringing in IBM to create the first version of servicearizona.com, on online resource for Arizona citizens to update the MVD info and 2) Pearce enrolled Arizona in the then optional National Drivers Registry program, making collection of Social Security numbers for driver's licenses mandatory at the state level to comply with the federal program. According to Chris Moesor of the Arizona Republic, in his August 21, 1999 article, Russell Pearce was discharged from that position in 1999 after an investigation revealed he had been complicit in tampering with state driving records.
Russell Pearce is an advocate for the following positions:
1. Smaller and more efficient government
2. Using ID cards that link to Social Security numbers
3. Eliminating abuse of eminent domain
4. Tightening border security
5. Supporter of 2nd amendment in the context of US gun rights
6. Supporting private property rights
7. Improving education and discipline
8. Supporting Boy Scouts of America in their moral leadership goals
9. Supports traditional family values
10. Promoting pro-life views
11. Amending the Citizenship Clause of the 14th amendment to limit who can a citizen by birth on US soil
12. Supporting the Taxpayers Bill of Rights
13. Against judicial activism
14. Improving transportation
Additionally, Russell Pearce was a lead sponsor of Arizona's Senate Bill 1070 (SB-1070), which attracted nationwide attention after the Obama administration challenged the law, resulting in a federal court ruling that most of the law was unconstitutional. Pearce told gathering activists, "when you talk about jihad, that is exactly what Obama has against America, specifically the State of Arizona" (Los Angeles Times, January 17, 2011). It's also important to note that Russell Pearce has been criticized for drafting SB-1070 as a way to provide income for private prisons by incarcerating illegal immigrants. Pearce was linked to the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) through a December 2009 meeting with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, DC. It was at this meeting that Pearce and ALEC members, including CCA officials, wrote the document that would later, almost word for word, become SB-1070 in Arizona. This according to National Public Radio (NPR), October 28, 2010.
Russell Pearce now lives in Mesa, Arizona with his wife Luann. He is the father of five children, Dodi, Sean, Colten, Justin and Joshua. In February 2011, Mesa police arrested Joshua Pearce on two outstanding warrants connected to probation violations and failure to appear in court. Joshua Pearce had previous run-ins with the law and was granted probation for DUI. Recently he was taken into custody again.
With Senator Russell Pearce's extensive background in Arizona law enforcement, history of supporting Arizona's ineffective and arguably detrimental sentencing and corrections statues, and his oppositional stance on sentencing and corrections reform legislation in recent years, I'm curious to see whether his son receives the same treatment by the powers that be in his criminal justice travels or if Joshua will avoid the same "justice" the rest of us get and which his father supports, because of his father. I'm even more curious to know whether the recent changes in DUI laws in AZ got Senator Pearce's vote of approval.
Click here for Shane's previous blog
Pearce grew up in a troubled and impoverished home. His father was an alcoholic. At times he would come home from school and find that the neighbors had left groceries for his family. However, his mother would always put the food aside, not accepting charity.
Initially, Pearce wanted to attend medical school, but his family wasn't able to afford it. Russell Pearce joined the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department. In time he became a highly decorated peace officer and even received the Medal of Valor for his 35 years of service. Pearce rose to the level of Second in Command, Chief Deputy Sheriff, under Joe Arpaio. Interestingly, Pearce claims credit for one of the most publicized and controversial actions of MCSO, under Arpaio's cruel reign, that of housing jail inmates in military-type tents. During his tenure with MCSO, Pearce investigated many violent crimes and was also the victim of a violent crime when he was shot in the chest while on duty. In 1994, Russell Pearce was appointed to the position of Director of the State Highway Safety Department.
In 1995, Pearce became the Director of the Arizona Motor Vehical Division. Two notable accomplishments he had as such were: 1) Bringing in IBM to create the first version of servicearizona.com, on online resource for Arizona citizens to update the MVD info and 2) Pearce enrolled Arizona in the then optional National Drivers Registry program, making collection of Social Security numbers for driver's licenses mandatory at the state level to comply with the federal program. According to Chris Moesor of the Arizona Republic, in his August 21, 1999 article, Russell Pearce was discharged from that position in 1999 after an investigation revealed he had been complicit in tampering with state driving records.
Russell Pearce is an advocate for the following positions:
1. Smaller and more efficient government
2. Using ID cards that link to Social Security numbers
3. Eliminating abuse of eminent domain
4. Tightening border security
5. Supporter of 2nd amendment in the context of US gun rights
6. Supporting private property rights
7. Improving education and discipline
8. Supporting Boy Scouts of America in their moral leadership goals
9. Supports traditional family values
10. Promoting pro-life views
11. Amending the Citizenship Clause of the 14th amendment to limit who can a citizen by birth on US soil
12. Supporting the Taxpayers Bill of Rights
13. Against judicial activism
14. Improving transportation
Additionally, Russell Pearce was a lead sponsor of Arizona's Senate Bill 1070 (SB-1070), which attracted nationwide attention after the Obama administration challenged the law, resulting in a federal court ruling that most of the law was unconstitutional. Pearce told gathering activists, "when you talk about jihad, that is exactly what Obama has against America, specifically the State of Arizona" (Los Angeles Times, January 17, 2011). It's also important to note that Russell Pearce has been criticized for drafting SB-1070 as a way to provide income for private prisons by incarcerating illegal immigrants. Pearce was linked to the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) through a December 2009 meeting with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, DC. It was at this meeting that Pearce and ALEC members, including CCA officials, wrote the document that would later, almost word for word, become SB-1070 in Arizona. This according to National Public Radio (NPR), October 28, 2010.
Russell Pearce now lives in Mesa, Arizona with his wife Luann. He is the father of five children, Dodi, Sean, Colten, Justin and Joshua. In February 2011, Mesa police arrested Joshua Pearce on two outstanding warrants connected to probation violations and failure to appear in court. Joshua Pearce had previous run-ins with the law and was granted probation for DUI. Recently he was taken into custody again.
With Senator Russell Pearce's extensive background in Arizona law enforcement, history of supporting Arizona's ineffective and arguably detrimental sentencing and corrections statues, and his oppositional stance on sentencing and corrections reform legislation in recent years, I'm curious to see whether his son receives the same treatment by the powers that be in his criminal justice travels or if Joshua will avoid the same "justice" the rest of us get and which his father supports, because of his father. I'm even more curious to know whether the recent changes in DUI laws in AZ got Senator Pearce's vote of approval.
Shaun Attwood
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
The Longest Day
In a few short years all of the brave souls who lived through this day will be departed. There will be no more active memories providing details. We will have "Saving Private Ryan" and Cornelius Ryan's fine book to get a glimpse of the events and experience of that day. But we will not be able to speak to men like the one above, men who stood in landing craft when that ramp splashed into water and the Czech conscripts and Wehrmacht regulars ripped them to pieces with machine gun and mortar rounds,men who huddled behind the sea wall and bravely followed their officers and each other up the dunes under withering fire.
On this 68th anniversary of the landing I can barely conceptualize the dedication and courage of these men. I can only respect them.
On this 68th anniversary of the landing I can barely conceptualize the dedication and courage of these men. I can only respect them.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Tiger Woods Incredible Chip In Shot on the 16th Hole
I am not a big fan of Golf. I will watch the Masters, but I neither play nor follow the game. However, when you see something like this shot made by Tiger Woods you have to appreciate the expertise. Yeah, Tiger is not the brand name he used to be...what with bangin' the Denny's hostess, consorting with high-end hookers,divorce from the stunning Swedish hottie he somehow tired of, and gambling to excess with Charles and the boys...but his skill on the links is undeniable.
Normally I would not have seen this. On Sunday I was at the gym and the cable package which services the TVs on the cardio machines is limted at best. I could not even watch the Phillies. So I was watching the Rugby 7's being held here in Philadelphia. During a commercial I switched to the Golf Tournament just in time to see this astounding shot. All I could say was "Wow."
Question Time
Nav wrote:
Hi, I've seen one of your talks in one of my citizenship lessons at school about your experience in jail. I just wanted to ask you if American prisons are different to U.K prisons, and in what way, and ask how people cope in there. If prison actually is as daunting as it seems, and if people come out more violent or if they look at life differently. I've got to say I admire the way you've blogged your experience and stayed strong! It’s really nice how you've visited schools and shared your stories too.
My response:
Thanks for the questions. All prisons are different, but most are daunting. I have blogged the UK prison experience from the perspective of a young man, Chris:
And a woman, Andrea:
I'd say the major difference is that in the US the prisons are run by gangs like the Aryan Brotherhood and the Mexican Mafia divided by race. We are seeing some of that in the UK now, but not like in America. There seems to be more education and rehabilitation in the UK, whereas in America the emphasis is on punishment.
Some people come out of prison more violent. They join gangs. Violence and injecting drugs become a way of life. Some prisoners use the time wisely. They educate themselves and do good when they come out.
People have different ways of coping. For me, I read, did yoga, meditated, worked-out and wrote. Religion plays a big part for many people, such as T-Bone who turned to Christianity.
Shaun Attwood
Monday, June 4, 2012
Philly Boxer Mike Jones-Gunning for a World Title.
I have mentioned Mike Jones in prior posts. He is a local boxer with great talent and dedication. I have seen most of his fights live. I have met him several times and spoken to him about his craft. He is a gracious man and forgoes much of the cocky gangsta braggadocio we see and hear from other boxers.
This weekend he is fighting for a World Title. Tune in and cheer for this likeable and talented Philly Welterweight.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Devon
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