Some years ago I published “Walls, Wire, Bars and Souls“, a memoir of my service as a prison chaplain. Many of the realities of prison life are grim and unappealing, but there are flashes of humor even inside the walls that can relieve the tension. Here’s one incident, as narrated in that book. A large… Continue reading Saturday snippet: Sam the Sex God
Tag: Prison
Social services and prisons: is there a cause-and-effect relationship?
I was struck by two articles, written on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean, that I came across within the past few days. I think that in isolation, each is self-explanatory; but when read together, the synergy between them is clear. The first article is from the New York Post, and is titled “Social services… Continue reading Social services and prisons: is there a cause-and-effect relationship?
Suicide??? YGTBSM!!!
So, according to news reports, Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide last night . . . while on suicide watch in prison. Yeah. Right. Folks, I served as a Federal prison chaplain. I was trained in exactly the same way as a corrections officer, alongside them in the same training institution, because there would be times when… Continue reading Suicide??? YGTBSM!!!
What to do with hard-core terrorist prisoners?
That problem is rearing its head in the Middle East right now – but it’s likely to impact many countries, sooner or later. Strategy Page reports: In northeast Syria the U.S. backed SDF (Kurdish led Syrian Defense Forces rebels) have a growing problem with ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) wives (and their… Continue reading What to do with hard-core terrorist prisoners?
A sad, lonely end for a very dangerous man
I’m not sure how many of my readers are familiar with the story of Thomas Silverstein. He was convicted of multiple murders while behind bars, and as a result spent the last 35 years of his life in almost continuous solitary confinement. He died in hospital in Colorado last month. Silverstein was profiled in Pete… Continue reading A sad, lonely end for a very dangerous man
The “American Taliban” and a justice system that can no longer protect us
I note that the so-called “American Taliban”, John Walker Lindh, is scheduled to be released from prison tomorrow, May 23rd. Criticism is being leveled at the Bureau of Prisons (where I worked as a chaplain for some years) over his release. “We must consider the security and safety implications for our citizens and communities who… Continue reading The “American Taliban” and a justice system that can no longer protect us
With evidence like that, why bother with the trial?
I’m normally a strong believer in the rule of law, particularly the Sixth Amendment to the US constitution, guaranteeing a fair trial to those accused of a crime. Without that, who can ever be assured of real justice, rather than partisanship, bias and bribed judges and juries? Nevertheless, in a few particularly egregious cases, the… Continue reading With evidence like that, why bother with the trial?
Heh
Received via e-mail, from a reader whose name I can’t make out from his e-mail address. Clickit to biggit. Peter
Saw that coming . . .
Readers will recall the murder of Whitey Bulger a few weeks ago. As I predicted, this is going to end up in the courts – as it probably should. Mr. Brennan says he is preparing to sue the government on behalf of Bulger’s estate for wrongful death and negligence to find out why authorities sent… Continue reading Saw that coming . . .
The Whitey Bulger murder: looking bad for the Bureau of Prisons
I’m sure readers are aware of the murder of 89-year-old convict Whitey Bulger at a Federal high-security penitentiary in West Virginia. That was bad enough, and his death has highlighted some serious errors in the way the prison handled his admission. (You’ll recall that I was a chaplain at a Federal high-security penitentiary, and know… Continue reading The Whitey Bulger murder: looking bad for the Bureau of Prisons