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Illinois' South Holland Police Department: Discriminatory Practices, Harassment, Intimidation and Retaliation

Update: August 18, 2008
 
On Saturday, August 16, 2008 at approximately 10:20 pm, I picked up a copy of the South Holland Traffic Crash Report. To my amazement Officer Burrow added another traffic charge. The additional charge is "Improper overtaking/passing...." I do not have an additional ticket for this charge. Officer Burrow may have stepped over the line with this one. There is no end to the discriminatory practices and retaliation of the South Holland Police Department. They will not prevail. I have submitted all documentation to my insurance agent, along with the photos taken at the scene. I will litigate this issue to the full extent of the law. 

August 13, 2008

Mr. Warren Millsaps
Chief of Police, South Holland
16220 Wausau Ave.
South Holland, Illinois 60473

Mr. Millsaps:

On August 13, 2008 I, Fred Nance Jr., was involved in an automobile accident. Officer K. Burrow Star #129 responded to the call I made to the South Holland Police Department. When Officer Burrow arrived upon the scene I gave him my driver’s license and insurance card. Officer Burrow asked me for my phone number. Officer Burrow wrote my phone number on my insurance card. This was inappropriate. Officer Burrow issued me a ticket, which states “Fail to reduce speed to avoid accident.” There was no reduction in speed needed for this incident. We were only driving about 5 miles an hour. This is a bogus ticket.

I explained to Officer Burrow the following about the car accident: As I came around the bend in the road on Thornwood drive approaching the stop sign, a Dodge Caravan was stopped at the turn in the bend. The Dodge did not have its emergency blinkers on. I could not go around the Dodge at the time because another car was coming in the opposite direction.

When the other car went by, I was about to turn out and pass the “parked” Dodge. I blew my horn. The Dodge began to move. I turned back behind the Dodge. I began to move. The Dodge stopped again. I stopped my car. I blew my horn for the second time. The Dodge started moving again. I started moving again to turn out to pass the Dodge. All of sudden, the Dodge came to a dead stop again. This is when the front bumper passenger side of my vehicle hit the rear driver’s side bumper of the Dodge. The Dodge was about 30 to 40 feet from the stop sign. I took photos of the accident scene with my cell phone.

The driver of the Dodge got out of her car. This driver had her cell phone in her hand. The driver of the Dodge had been on her cell phone during these events. The driver of the Dodge lives in this complex. The driver of Dodge called her husband to come to the scene of the accident. When the husband came over to talk to her about the accident she informed him she was talking on her cell phone to someone when the accident occurred. The driver of the Dodge did not have an earpiece for her cell phone. She was talking on the cell phone and caused the accident.

I took pictures of the accident scene, that is, the position of the cars involved, where the cars had damage, the area between the Dodge and the stop sign, and the area of space I described above where the stop-and-go action occurred. The pictures will be faxed with this letter to South Holland Police Department Chief Millsaps.

When I objected to this ticket and refused to accept it from Officer Burrow, Officer Burrow through it in my car window. I informed Officer Burrow I had a AAA bond card, as I told him to give me my driver’s license. I informed Officer Burrow that when he decided to write me a ticket he was supposed to ask me if I had a bond card before taking my driver’s license. Officer Burrow told me don’t tell him how to do his job. I informed Officer Burrow if he was doing his job he would not have taken my driver’s license before asking me if I had a bond card. I informed Officer Burrow I know my rights.

Officer Burrow told me I would have come to the police station if I wanted my driver’s license because I was causing a disturbance. My wife drove up at this time. I told Officer Burrow I was not going to the South Holland Police Department to get my driver’s license. Officer Burrow decided to take my bond card but would not give me my driver’s license stating he had to check out if he could accept my bond card. I went to my car to get paper and pen to write information about this incident. After making me wait for several minutes, I had to go to Officer Burrow’s police car, and wait again before he gave me my driver’s license.

Officer Burrow should have given both drivers a ticket, if he was going to issue tickets. Officer Burrow was not on the scene when the accident occurred. The only person giving Officer Burrow information about this accident was the driver of the Dodge Caravan and me. If Officer Burrow says he got information from someone else, he is lying.

I called the duty officer, Lt. Becka. I informed Lt. Becka of the issues, stating Officer Burrow wrote me a bogus ticket retaliating and threatening me because of my complaints about the South Holland Police Department and him in past writings. I asked Lt. Becka how did he spell his name for the record. Lt. Becka immediately told me that I should know how to spell his name since I have written his name in past complaints.

On March 18, 2005 I was involved in a 3-car accident where there were no tickets given by the officer for the South Holland Police Department. I complained because the driver that caused the accident was “white” and should have received a ticket. My car and the other driver of the 3rd car are “black.” The “white” police officer for the South Holland Police Department decided not to issue the “white” female driver a ticket. When the case was settled the “white” driver was found negligent and the cause of the accident. I filed a formal complaint about this issue with the South Holland Police Department. I never received a reply from the South Holland Police Department on the complaint written on or about March 18, 2005.

This is part of what I wrote to Chief Millsaps on or about March 18, 2005:

On March 18, 2005 I was involved in a three-car accident at 170th and Langley. Involved in the car accident was a white woman (Denise Lenting) and her passenger (Bonita Vasquez) driving a Toyota Camry, license plate number 3472264; a black woman (Mary Ambrose) and her son (Sullivan Ambrose age 14) driving a Lexus, license plate number 2720486; and my car (Fred Nance, a black man) driving a Nissan Altima, license plate number 1268347.

There was an outside witness to the accident, Ms. Laura Clemons, license plate number C936809, telephone number 708-331-2291. As the Toyota came off of Langley to proceed onto 170th Street, Ms. Clemons blew her car horn continuously attempting to alert the Toyota driver to the oncoming traffic, the Lexus and Nissan. The Toyota ignored the warning.

The Lexus and Nissan driver gave the above information to Officer Kremski (white). Officer Kemski ignored the information about Ms. Clemons stating that if she was a witness she should have stayed on the scene. I asked him why would she have to stay on the scene if she gave her information up freely to be contacted by SHPD. I asked Officer Kremski doesn’t he do an investigation into the facts of the matter. He informed me that he only questions people on the scene about car accidents.

I asked him why didn’t he issue tickets so that a fact-finder, such as the courts, could get testimony and seek all witnesses. Officer Kremski informed me that because of his past experiences with traffic court and people not showing up has discouraged him from giving tickets at the scene of accidents. This is ludicrous.

The South Holland police officer involved in the March 18, 2005 issue was Kremski, ID #106. I have written about this police officer many times coming to my house harassing and intimidating me (see documents I submitted to you on February 11, 2005). As with Officer Kremski, I have written many times about Officer Burrow harassing and intimidating me coming to my home.

Therefore, I am submitting this as a formal complaint against the South Holland Police Department. The ticket I received was bogus and I should not have received it especially, if Officer Burrow was not going to issue the other driver a ticket.

Respectfully submitted,

Fred Nance Jr.

cc:

http://clickforjusticeandequality2.blogspot.com/

http://clickforjusticeandequality.wordpress.com/

http://click.townhall.com/

 
 

This case was also dismissed, after I wasted my day and time going to court for it. Chief Millsaps never answered this letter.

January 2, 2008

Mr. Warren Millsaps

Chief of Police, South Holland
16220 Wausau Ave.
South Holland, Illinois 60473

Re:       Racial Profiling – Harassment – Intimidation

Mr. Millsaps:

I, Fred L Nance Jr., am an African American. The racial profiling by the South Holland Police Department (SHPD) continues. On December 31, 2007, Officer Pedric of the SHPD issued a traffic citation to me for improper lane usage on Cottage Grove. This ticket was bogus and inappropriate.

As you know, there is only one lane of travel in each direction of travel going North and South on Cottage Grove between 170th Street and 162nd Street. If a person wants to make a left turn, they must cross the double lines and enter the lane for turning. If a person decides, after crossing the double lines to make this left turn, they want to return to the lane of original travel, they must cross the double lines again to enter their original lane of travel.

Officer Pedric, who is white, decided to stop me and tell me I misused the turning lane to pass another car on the road. This is not true. After entering the turning lane, I decided to get back into the original lane of travel. Officer Pedric did not ask me why I entered the turning lane in the first place. Officer Pedric told me I entered the turning lane to pass the car in front of me.

I was traveling North on Cottage Grove from 170th Street, when a car turned into Cottage Grove from a side street in front of me. This car turned into Cottage Grove where I would have had an accident if I did not go into the turning lane. After going into the turning lane, I came out of the turning lane and re-entered my original lane of travel proceeding on my course. This is when Officer Pedric came upon me with his squad car and stopped me. Officer Pedric did not stop the other car that was driven by the “white” driver.

While Officer Pedric was writing my traffic citation, 2 other squad cars appeared on the scene. It is my belief because of previous written complaints about racial profiling and disparate/indifferent treatment of African Americans by SHPD, I was targeted by SHPD. I asked Officer Pedric for the other “white” Officers names and badge numbers. Officer Pedric refused to give me their names and badge numbers. I wrote the officers license plates numbers and car identification numbers down. They are Car #14 M146676 and Car #10 M153782, both “white” officers.

I went to SHPD on December 31, 2008 (a few hours after the incident) to report this incident. I asked to speak to the duty commander. I was informed he or she was out in the street on duty. I left a message requesting a call. I never received a call from the duty commander or SHPD.

Therefore, I am suggesting SHPD targets African Americans for traffic citations, especially those who complain about their other “professional” practices. I am suggesting Officer Pedric called in my name and I am in their system marked as a person of interest if I am ever stopped or approached about any police matters in South Holland. I am suggesting SHPD has a monthly ticket quota to assist in municipal revenue. I am suggesting SHPD does not adhere to public policy regarding racial profiling and harasses its citizens through intimidation, coercion and threats.

I have contested this ticket and will appear in a court of law. Contesting this ticket will cost me employment hours/work days and will become a financial burden to litigate. This financial burden is meant to create disparity and indifferent treatment toward African Americans in South Holland, Illinois.

Racism is alive and well in South Holland, Illinois, and in many other parts of Illinois. Illinois may be the most racist State in the Union. The South Holland Police Department is not racially motivated toward equality for all just because they hire African Americans on its police force. I am suggesting they hire African Americans on their police force for political purposes and because of present laws regarding hiring quotas for African Americans.

Fred L Nance Jr., ABD, MA, CADC, NCRS

cc:

Mr. DeGraff, Mayor Village of South Holland

http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/

http://click.townhall.com/

P.S.

See other complaints about the South Holland Police Department on my website at http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/

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Obama and McCain: What is your plan for reducing recidivism in the United States? How can the Second Chance Act of 2007 overcome this dilemma?

 

August 12, 2008

What is your plan for reducing recidivism? What can we do with the Second Chance Act of 2007 to overcome this dilemma?

The 2008 Pew report suggests 1 in 100 Americans are incarcerated. Most of this incarceration is due to recidivism.

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich suggests his “Sheridan Project” is a National Model to reduce recidivism. The Sheridan Project at Sheridan Correctional Center is being run by a nefarious mob of AFSCME Local 31 union members, employees of the Illinois Department of Corrections who have racial discriminatory practices and disparities, and WestCare Foundation, Inc. employees who practice indifferent treatment.

Governor Blagojevich appointed a committee of State employees and community activist who developed and created a report called “Inside Out: A plan to reduce recidivism and improve public safety.” I think we can throw this out the window also. This has 2 major flaws. It includes the Sheridan Project and did not anticipate Governor Blagojevich’s budget cuts for fiscal year 2008-2009.

Governor Blagojevich has cut community-based substance abuse and alcohol services, along with their aftercare programs, which is supposed to support the Sheridan Project. Governor Blagojevich has cut these programs by 50% or more. Governor Blagojevich has cut his Sheridan Project’s substance abuse services by only 10%. What do we need with substance abuse services in prison when there will be no aftercare services in our communities?

What Governor Blagojevich has done is unleashed the dilemma of substance abuse and alcoholism upon the communities of Illinois attempting to persuade other Illinois lawmakers to go his way with the Illinois budget. Is this nefarious or what?

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IDOC Roger Walker & Deanne Benos: Request for rational basis on adverse employment action

 

July 30, 2008

Illinois Department of Corrections
Mr. Roger E. Walker Jr., Director
1301 Concordia Court
Springfield, Illinois 62794-9277
 
Illinois Department of Corrections
Ms. Deanne E. Benos, Assistant Director
1301 Concordia Court
Springfield, Illinois 62794-9277
 
James R. Thompson Center
100 West Randolph Street
Chicago, Illinois 60601

CERTIFIED MAIL

Mr. Walker:

The Illinois Department of Corrections has not offered a rational basis for locking out Fred Nance Jr., which was an adverse employment action on or about May 14, 2008.

On May 1, 2006 I began working at Sheridan Correctional Center (Sheridan) as a counselor III for Gateway Foundation, Inc. (Gateway) On or about November 1, 2006, Gateway relinquished their counseling contract with the State of Illinois at Sheridan. On or about November 1, 2006, WestCare Foundation, Inc. (WestCare) began providing counseling services at Sheridan.

On Mother’s Day, May 12, 2008, Mr. Stanley Brooks, WestCare Director, called me while I was having dinner with my mother stating Warden Michael Rothwell had locked me out of Sheridan. I asked Mr. Brooks if Warden Rothwell gave a reason for the lockout. Mr. Brooks informed me he was not given a reason for the lockout.

On or about May 15, 2008 I received a letter from WestCare dated May 14, 2008 stating, in part, “…Please let this letter serve as a notification that your employment with WestCare is being terminated, effective May 14, 2008, due to the determination of the Illinois Department of Corrections to issue an Administrative Lockout of your security clearance at Sheridan Correctional Facility. As you are aware, it is a requirement of employment that you maintain an active security clearance to enter the facility….” (WestCare letter attached)

Sir, please provide a basis and cause, along with supporting documentation, for the Administrative Lockout of the security clearance for Fred Nance Jr.

Respectfully submitted,

Fred L Nance Jr.

cc:

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/
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Federal Bureau of Prisons: The Second Chance Act of 2007 and The Sheridan Project

Update: July 27, 2008 

The budget cuts Governor Blagojevich has implemented will increase recidivism in Illinois. On or about July 3, 2008, meetings were held in Chicago at the Thompson building and in Springfield at the Stratton building about these budget cuts. Some of the budget cuts effect special populations, such as domestic violence, jail diversion and reentry, TANF, male re-unification initiative, female criminal justice, ATC work release, mental illness and substance abuse and youth services. Other non-core/non-treatment dollars would be eliminated or reduced by 50% or more.

Governor Blagojevich has proposed that $55 million dollars be removed from the recovery and treatment community. This budget cut will also lose $55 million dollars from the Federal government, which is matching dollars. This loss of $110 million dollars to programs that for years have been providing substance abuse recovery and treatment services in Illinois will not reduce recidivism, but rather, will create more reentry into our jail and prison systems. This will also create more crime in our communities because there will be no service for those who are addicted to drugs and alcohol, which will also be serviced by more criminal thinking and behaving.

To support the above, on or about July 10, 2008 the Illinois Alcohol and Drug Dependence Association reports Governor Blagojevich made good on his threat to make line item vetoes and reductions to the proposed fiscal year 2009 budget. Without any rationale, he slashed the addiction treatment services line from $86,599 million to $43,299 million, a 50% reduction. He also eliminated the 2.78 million form the welfare reform project and the 9.05 million to treat special populations. The cuts to our existing treatment service system total $55,129 million. He also vetoed the $3 million increase approved by the General Assembly this past session.

The Sheridan Project at Sheridan Correctional Center is Governor Blagojevich’s proposed model for the country, to which he claims, will reduce recidivism. Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich suggests the Sheridan Project at Sheridan Correctional Center is working to reduce recidivism. Only 10% of the 3 million+ allocated to Sheridan Correctional Center has been designated to be cut by Governor Blagojevich. What makes Governor Blagojevich think his “pet” project will reduce recidivism by keeping Sheridan Correctional Center open with prevention and intervention services slashed, along with aftercare being diminished? This is an outrage.


Update: July 22, 2008

Governor Blagojevich seems to be mum on budget cuts in Illinois. Will he cut the budget of his "National Model", the Sheridan project at Sheridan Correctional Center? WestCare Foundation, Inc. has the contract to provide counseling services to inmates at Sheridan Correctional Center. WestCare's contract total in Illinois for fiscal year 2008 is $3,900,000.00.

Update: July 17, 2008
 
An essay on "Institutional Racism and Indifferent Treatment in the Criminal Justice System and the Illinois Department of Corrections" coming soon.

July 8, 2008
 
Federal Bureau of Prisons
VaNessa P. Adams, Senior Deputy Assistant Director
Central Office – Program Review Division
320 First Street NW
Washington, DC 20534

CERTIFIED MAIL DELIVERY

Re:       The Second Chance Act of 2007 – Illinois’ Sheridan Correctional Center

Ms. Adams:

I, Fred L Nance Jr., am writing this letter suggesting the Federal Bureau of Prisons consider rescind or reduce any funding and/or deny any future funding to Governor Blagojevich’s Sheridan Project in Illinois. I base this suggestion upon the content of this letter, the letter written to Governor Blagojevich on May 12, 2008 (attached), the letter written to President George W. Bush on May 16, 2008 (attached) and all statements written by me on my blogs, and public news and community websites. The letters attached demonstrate a program lacking integrity, honesty, restorative justice and a true reduction in recidivism. The Sheridan Project does not and will not reduce recidivism. The Sheridan Project data provided to support a reduction in recidivism is manipulated.

The Second Chance Act of 2007 (“The Act”) has a total annual authorization of $165 Million Dollars. A brief purpose of “The Act”, as it relates to Sheridan Correctional Center (Sheridan), is to break the cycle of criminal recidivism and to provide offenders in prisons…with educational, literacy, vocational and job placement services to facilitate re-entry into the community. Sheridan does not provide “meaningful and adequate” services to meet the criteria of “The Act”. The lack of services mentioned here provided to the inmates of Sheridan mirror my experiences illustrated in the letter I presented to Governor Blagojevich dated May 12, 2008, which has been ignored by his administration.

WestCare Foundation, Inc., the company contracted at Sheridan to provide counseling services to the inmates, hired a black male Director Harold Parker. Mr. Parker attempted innovative changes to Sheridan to provide optimal and comprehensive services to the inmates, promoting restorative justice, a reduction in recidivism, and staff adjustment and assimilation to the cultural differences and similarities of inmates and peers. Sheridan Correctional Center and WestCare Foundation, Inc. management forced Mr. Parker to relinquish his employment at Sheridan.

On April 9, 2008 President Bush signed into law the Second Chance Act of 2007. On July 9, 2008 provisions related to the Bureau of Prisons will take effect. On October 9, 2008 “The Act” will take effect. The U.S. Department of Justice will have jurisdiction over all the programs except Section 212. The U.S. Department of Labor will have jurisdiction over Section 212.

The taxpayers, who are paying the $165 Million Dollar bill for “The Act”, are hoping the Second Chance Act of 2007 will reduce recidivism. The taxpayers would hope the people implementing the funds and those entities providing the services are not practicing racial disparities and indifferent treatment. Criminal thinking and behaving happens in and outside of jail. Criminals cannot watch criminals.

Therefore, I hope this brief letter does not fall on deaf ears. I believe there is integrity, honesty and sincerity in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. I believe the U.S. Department of Justice wants to reduce recidivism. I believe in reducing recidivism. I am a product of the Second Chance Act of 2007.

I have been treated by the Illinois Department of Corrections and WestCare Foundation, Inc. as if “The Act” does not exist. If I am treated as illustrated in the letters attached, with what I have accomplished in the last 16 years, the past- present- and future inmate population at Sheridan will produce just what they see in the ones who are guarding and counseling them, which is criminal thinking and behaving.

The Sheridan Project is not reducing recidivism. A lot of people talk to me that provide services to previous Sheridan residents. A parole officer attempted to share with a group of social service professionals at a meeting I attended that Sheridan was manipulating the data to suggest a reduction in recidivism. The parole officer tried present his evidence based allegation. He met strong opposition to his statements from a TASC provider at Sheridan who attended the meeting. I question people who refuse to examine empirical data.

When I was working at Sheridan, no employee in the institution matched my academic achievements and empirical experiences. I was ignored, dishonored and disgraced for attempting to provide comprehensive and optimal service toward restorative justice and reducing recidivism. The Second Chance Act of 2007 suggests a theory of comprehensive and optimal services toward restorative justice and reducing recidivism.

Respectfully submitted,

Fred L Nance Jr., ABD, MA, CADC, NCRS

cc:

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Black in America

Watch this program on Wednesday, July 23rd & Thursday, July 24th, 2008 on CNN. http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2008/black.in.america/
 
Why Is It???
Marian Wright Edelman
Why is it that a Black Man can create a tiny piece called a filament (electric light - Lewis Latimer) that allows people to see in the dark; but can't be seen fit to lead a country to the true light?

Why is it that a Black Man can create an instrument (clock - Benjamin Banneker) that all people use to tell time; but people don't think it is time for him to run a country?

Why is it that a Black Man can design a place for the high authorities to meet in & a place for the President to live in (The Capitol & the White House - Phillip Reid (a slave) & Pierre L'Enfant); but not good enough to lead these meetings or live in himself?

Why is it that a Black Man was brilliant enough to do the first open heart surgery (Dr. Daniel Hale Williams) and show the world how to get and preserve plasma (Dr. Charles Drew); but not good enough to put a program in place where everyone can afford this surgery?

Why is it that a Black Man was creative enough to design an instrument (traffic light - Garrett Morgan) to bring multiple people (traffic) to a halt; but not seen creative enough to design a plan to bring all this unnecessary and worthless fighting between countries to an end?

Why is it that a Black Man could create the soles (shoes - Jan Matzeliger) that people Walk on everyday; but not seen good enough to fill the shoes of a bad president?

Why is it that a Black Man was smart enough & brave enough to teach himself (Frederick Douglas & Thomas Fuller - both slaves) and others how to read, write and/or calculate math; but not seen (as) smart enough and bold enough to calculate a platform to be President to a country that sure needs another first by us?

So you see my Brothers and Sisters what I am saying is let us not forget our past, which led us to our present and can definitely be the backbone to our future. We were good enough, smart enough, creative enough, and bold enough then, so let us all give Obama the chance to show that we are still these things and more.

We all are as strong as our weakest link, so don't be that weak link that denies our people that chance to show we still can OVERCOME & BE THE FIRST

Anyone who denies racial stereotypes exist is living in another country, world. The reason racism exist is because we are in denial. Read Dr. Claud Anderson's "Dirty Little Secrets: About black history, its heroes and other troublemakers", then examine the United States treatment of blacks, and you will find racism and inequality still at its roots.

cut and paste in your browser: http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2008/01/21/opinions/opinions04.txt

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The Sheridan Project - Sheridan Correctional Center: Illinois Correctional Officers’ Employment Security and Restorative Justice

 
Update: July 17, 2008
 
An essay on "Institutional Racism and Indifferent Treatment in the Criminal Justice System and the Illinois Department of Corrections" coming soon.

The Sheridan Project: Sheridan Correctional Center

Illinois Correctional Officers’ Employment Security and Restorative Justice

Essay by Fred L Nance Jr.

July 7, 2008

I, Fred L Nance Jr., was incarcerated in January of 1992. At the end of my incarceration in 1994, I was housed in the East Moline correctional center. This correctional center housed males only. The building I was housed in also housed the visiting room for all inmates. One weekend day, while exiting this building, I saw a young black woman coming up the walkway, approaching the stairway with 2 small black children. Apparently, they were going to visit an inmate.

There were 2 white correctional officers standing at the entrance to the building. As the young black woman approached the entrance to the building, one correctional officer stated to the other in a loud tone “I know my kids will have a job because these children visiting their daddy will be taking their place one day.” The young black woman heard this remark and her face and body language displayed outraged, as she grabbed the little black children and pulled them closer to her. The behavior illustrated and demonstrated by these correctional officers at East Moline mirrors the behavior of the correctional officers at Sheridan Correctional Center (Sheridan) in 2008.

When I became a supervisor for WestCare Foundation, Inc. at Sheridan Correctional Center, my workdays were Tuesday through Saturday. One Saturday I had lunch with a white Chaplin who worked at Sheridan. This Chaplin gave me a brief overview of how and why Illinois prisons were built on farmlands. For the purposes of this essay on job security, I will elaborate only on this part.

The Chaplin stated Illinois farmers were offered a chance to sell or lease their land to the State of Illinois for profits that far exceeded what the land was worth. Illinois farmers were informed they could also have employment watching and caring for inmates like they watched and cared for their livestock. Illinois farmers were told it would be much easier watching inmates than farming. Illinois farmers were told not only could they have “lifetime” employment, but that their children’s children would have “lifetime” employment also. Illinois farmers were told and it is true that they would have life and health insurance that they could not afford to have working farmland because the State would pay for it. Of course, you know there are no “black” farmers in Illinois.

To guarantee this nepotistic employment, entities like the union AFSCME Local 31was taken to task. It is mandatory for all correctional officers, except those exempt because of job classification, to join AFSCME Local 31. AFSCME Local 31 defends any and all charges/complaints against correctional officers to protect this employment, no matter if they are guilty or not and no matter the cost to Illinois taxpayers. This is definitively job security, for the immediate family, relatives and friends of those who owned farmland where the Illinois government decided to build its prison systems.

WestCare Foundation, Inc. is a human/social service agency based in Las Vegas Nevada. This company acquired the Illinois contract to provide addiction counseling services at Sheridan. This company partnered with Amity Foundation, Inc. to provide a curriculum for these counseling services. Amity also comes from the Western geographical area of our country. Amity’s drug and alcohol curriculum addresses this addiction but it does not address restorative justice. Drug and alcohol addiction is only a small part of the problem of criminal thinking and behaving.

Restorative Justice is commonly known as a theory of criminal justice that focuses on crime as an act against another individual or community rather than the state. The victim plays a major role in the process and may receive some type of restitution from the offender. Today, however, "Restorative justice is a broad term which encompasses a growing social movement to institutionalize peaceful approaches to harm, problem-solving and violations of legal and human rights. These range from international peacemaking tribunals such as the South Africa Truth and Reconciliation Commission to innovations within the criminal justice system, schools, social services and communities. Rather than privileging the law, professionals and the state, restorative resolutions engage those who are harmed, wrongdoers and their affected communities in search of solutions that promote repair, reconciliation and the rebuilding of relationships. Restorative justice seeks to build partnerships to reestablish mutual responsibility for constructive responses to wrongdoing within our communities. Restorative approaches seek a balanced approach to the needs of the victim, wrongdoer and community through processes that preserve the safety and dignity of all. Illinois has adopted restorative justice in their juvenile justice system. This is the first thing a person must understand who practices criminal thinking and behaving.

There is no “real” restorative justice in the Amity curriculum. The curriculum is about inmates getting in touch with their feelings and how those feelings affect their relationships. This curriculum is basically created by criminals for criminals. What do you think it will be about? With this mindset, the inmate is led to believe it is all about them and not their victim. Victim empathy should come first. Victim empathy cannot be last, because the victim was last in the assault or crime. If there is no victim empathy first, there is no restorative justice. In addition, this curriculum lends itself to good data for program longevity. If a person’s negative behavior is not challenged, the person will have the tendency to give a “good” report to the system that condones and supports the behavior. This is how the “Sheridan Project” data is manipulated.

A “real” addictions counselor would constantly have problems with an inmate in lifestyle change if the inmate thinks it is all about them. The selfish attitudes that led to criminal thinking and behaving remain because there is no restorative justice. The reason some counselors at Sheridan may not have problems with inmates is because they are not “real” counselors. They may have some “book” sense about addictions but they have no experiences with “real” addicts. This is going to be common because of ones cultural identity. This is not a bad thing. One only knows what one knows. If one has not been exposed to a cultural issue, they will not know the cultural issue. Regarding criminal thinking and behaving, you know it best if you have lived it.

While I was at Sheridan and under the WestCare regime, the counselors being hired are what they call “career” change employees. These employees have no clue to what “real” addiction counseling is all about. WestCare hires the people mentioned above in the “job security” section of this essay. They put them with the inmates. Then they train them in the Amity curriculum. Many of the “new” employees are scared out of their minds. Therefore, the inmates act out in ways where their selfishness continues to promote their criminal thinking and behaving.

If the Amity curriculum does not have restorative justice, when does restoration appear? If WestCare contractual obligations with the State of Illinois are to provide counseling with professional addiction counselors how does this happen if they are not hiring professional counselors?

The Second Chance Act of 2007 (The Act) solves the WestCare employment problem, but they fail to utilize it. It also solves IDOC’s problem with giving clearance to professional addictions counselors. The Act was signed into law on April 9, 2008 by President George W. Bush. It is a piece of legislation that should be enforced and implemented. You do not have to vote on it. It is there. The Act is a modest, commonsense response to the increasing number of people who return to their communities from prison and jail. The Act ensures the transition people make from prison or jail to the community is safe and successful. The Act produces people like me, who have made a safe and successful transition from a life of criminal thinking and behaving to achievements that far exceed the norms of restorative justice and victim empathy. The Act provides a solution to the reduction in recidivism.

Many of the professional counselors in substance abuse and alcohol are previous addicts, who may have been incarcerated or have members of their families who were addicted to drugs, alcohol or incarcerated. The Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) does not give clearance to those professional counselors. This may be WestCare’s dilemma. WestCare’s hands could be tied by the administration of IDOC. This in no way negates WestCare from having a curriculum that reflects restorative justice and victim empathy. If they claim to have it, the curriculum should illustrate and demonstrate “clear” evidence of it. This “clear” evidence should also be illustrated and demonstrated in inmate instruction by the counselors.

On May 19, 2008 at St. Leonard’s House honoring some recent parolees from his Sheridan Project, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich announced historic reductions in repeat crimes by ex-offenders and a slower rate of growth in the state's prison population. Joined by law enforcement officials, community leaders, faith-based leaders and state officials, Governor Blagojevich announced that statewide reforms have led to historic reductions in crimes by former offenders and significant savings for taxpayers. An intensive effort launched by the Governor in fiscal year 2004 to provide incarcerated offenders and parolees with access to education, job training, substance abuse treatment and counseling has led to the lowest conviction rate among parolees in state history, a 23% reduction in arrests among the general parolee population, and a 40% reduction in repeat incarceration among parolees with substance abuse histories who graduated from the Sheridan Drug and Reentry Program (The Sheridan Project). The drop in recidivism has saved the State an estimated $64 million in incarceration costs since 2004. The data to produce these numbers may have been manipulated.

In addition, IDOC Director Roger E. Walker Jr. stated “I was very proud to have my department helping to lead this process. Until we began to implement the Governor's plan, we were only experiencing increases in prison admissions and recidivism….” Deanne Benos, Assistant Director of IDOC, offered this statement “Ultimately, this is an issue about public safety and communities. We have made tremendous progress in driving down recidivism rates among our parole population in recent years….” With the notion of job security as mentioned above, what makes Governor Blagojevich, Mr. Walker and Ms. Benos believe IDOC personnel will buy into reducing recidivism? It is not going to happen. Not with the present system IDOC has in place, as illustrated in my other writings. Reducing recidivism will mean a loss in employment. The people who auctioned off their land for job security are not trying to reduce recidivism.

If Governor Blagojevich, IDOC Director Walker and IDOC Assistant Director Ms. Benos statements are true, then why did they condone and enforce Warden Michael Rothwell’s locking me out of Sheridan Correctional Center? Why are they condoning and enforcing WestCare Foundation, Inc. decision to terminate my employment because of this lockout, as WestCare has stated in their termination letter to me? It took 4 requests for me to become a supervisor with WestCare. I filed many grievances with WestCare about this supervisory issue, which were ignored. There is no staff working with WestCare at Sheridan Correctional Center who has the academic standing I have. There is no staff working with WestCare at Sheridan Correctional Center who has the experiences I have academically, professionally and socially. It is my belief WestCare terminated my services with this 3rd illegal lockout to avoid having to promote me to a higher status within the system, along with tenets of race, age and sex disparities and indifferent treatment by both IDOC and WestCare.

I am an expert, practicing restorative justice and victim empathy daily. I was incarcerated in January of 1992 for drug related criminal activity. I did not have a G.E.D. when I was incarcerated. By the time I was released in December of 1994 I had started my Bachelor degree program at Roosevelt University. In September of 1997 I received my Bachelor degree from Roosevelt University in Social Science. In September of 1999 I received my Master degree from Roosevelt University in Community Counseling. I am presently a PhD candidate at Walden University. I will receive my PhD in Human Services with a focus on Social Policy Analysis and Planning in the fall of 2008. I have been increasing my academic standing for the last 16 years. My Curriculum Vitae illustrates and demonstrates my achievements academically, socially and empathetically. Do I meet the criteria to which Governor Blagojevich, Roger Walker and Deanne Benos offer as successful reentry and reduction in recidivism? I am the Second Chance Act of 2007. If WestCare and Amity are promoting restorative justice and victim empathy, where is mine?

On another note but which may have similarities to the subject matter here: The Illinois prison systems or “captivity chambers” are not built in communities where crime occurs. For example, there are many vacant lots in the city of Chicago where a prison system may stimulate the economy of that area and would act as a “revitalization stimulus” to offset criminal thinking and behaving. One such area is the Honorable Congressman Danny K. Davis’ 7th Congressional District, where the statistics suggest a majority of inmates being released on parole from the Illinois Department of Corrections are being paroled to the 7th Congressional District.

This is another story in the “naked” city. I will write later about this dilemma.

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Illinois Governor Blagojevich and his "Corrupt" Regime: Roger Walker, Deanne Benos, Michael Rothwell and WestCare Foundation's Leslie Balonick

Update: July 22, 2008

Governor Blagojevich seems to be mum on budget cuts in Illinois. Will he cut the budget of his "National Model", the Sheridan project at Sheridan Correctional Center? WestCare Foundation, Inc. has the contract to provide counseling services to inmates at Sheridan Correctional Center. WestCare's contract total in Illinois for fiscal year 2008 is $3,900,000.00.

Update: July 18, 2008

July 18, 2008
Illinois Department of Human Rights
Mr. Thomas F. Roeser, Pre-Investigations
100 West Randolph Street, Suite 10-100
Chicago, Illinois 60601

Re:       Nance v Westcare Foundation, Inc., Control No. 090714051

            Nance v State of Illinois Department of Corrections, Control No. 090714051

Mr. Roeser:

On July 17, 2008 I received correspondence from the Illinois Department of Human Rights stating “The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Illinois Department of Human Rights (Department) are parties to a cooperative agreement. Under this agreement, when you filed your charge of discrimination with the EEOC it was automatically filed with the Department. The Department is keeping a copy of your EEOC charge on file to preserve jurisdiction under Illinois law. This letter is to inform you that you may proceed with your charge at the Department. This does not affect the processing of your charge at EEOC. If you wish to proceed with the Department, you must notify the Department in writing of your decision, either by mail or in person, within 35 days of receipt of this letter. Please include the Control Number indicated above on the letter you send to the Department regarding this charge…As stated above, this letter does not affect the processing of your charge at the EEOC, and does not apply to any settlement of this charge the parties have made with the EEOC.”

On or about July 21, 2008 I will submit this letter/correspondence requesting to proceed with my charge at the Department, as long as it does not negate the processing or jurisdiction of EEOC to prosecute and/or litigate my charges against Westcare Foundation, Inc. and the Illinois Department of Corrections. This request embraces the cooperative agreement with the Department and EEOC, preserving jurisdiction for both the Department and EEOC.

Respectfully submitted,

Fred L Nance Jr., ABD, MA, CADC, NCRS

cc:



Update: July 17, 2008
 
An essay on "Institutional Racism and Indifferent Treatment in the Criminal Justice System and the Illinois Department of Corrections" coming soon.

Update: July 5, 2008
 
I posted my letters to Governor Blagojevich and President Bush on MSNBC's Newsvine. MSNBC has been producing a documentary on prisons in the United States. The latest documentary is called "Lockup: Holman Correctional Facility." The documentary producer, Hillary Heath, discusses her filming inside maximum security prison in Alabama. Go to http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/ and click on "C.L.I.C.K.'s Newsvine Website" in the upper right hand corner.
 
Update: July 2, 2008
 
I submitted my writings by fax to the following:
 
Mr. Speaker:

This program should have its budget reviewed. The program itself should be reviewed. I have posted this information on my blogs at http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/ and http://click.townhall.com/
I will post an update alerting the public that I have sent this fax to you and Mr. Jack Franks.
cc:
 
Jack Franks, Illinois Representative of the 63rd District and Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan of the 22nd District


Update: July 1, 2008
 
Criminals are watching criminals at Sheridan Correctional Center. Criminals are governing criminals under the auspices of the Sheridan Project. They are violating contractual protocols, policies and procedures
 
Did you know that WestCare Foundation, Inc. is not held to the same contractual standards as Gateway Foundation, Inc. when they held the contract with the State of Illinois to provide counseling to the inmate/clients at Sheridan Correctional Center.
 
During the last WestCare audit, Deanne Benos and her crew allowed WestCare 60 days for treatment plan reviews. It is my understanding that the contract dictates and suggests all treatment plan reviews for inmates/clients are due every 30 days. This is a double standard being used. This standard was used to assure the contract and monies continued to flourish at Sheridan Correctional Center.
 
During the strike of 2006 at Sheridan Correctional Center, AFSCME Local 31 crucified Gateway in the newspapers, to the media and to Springfield stating how Gateway could not fulfill its duties according to the contract. One of AFSCME's issues was the inmate/client's treatment plan reviews not being completed according to the contract. I guess it is about who you know.
 
I will discuss this further in my essay this month.

Update: June 30, 2008
 
This program will describe Governor Blagojevich's Sheridan Project at Sheridan Correctional Center. These are the type of individuals who are in control of this project.
 
Did you know that companies in the US have said they would hire a white man with a felony record and no high school education BEFORE they would hire a black man with NO criminal record and a 4-year degree?
 
On July 23 at 9pm and July 24 at 9pm, CNN will premier a series, 'Black in America with Soledad O'Brien' and I personally challenge you to watch it WITH your children, especially your sons, if you have any, uninterrupted.
 
The aforemention statistic and many others will be revealed during the series. A friend of mine had the privilege of meeting with Soledad O'Brien and actually SEEING this premier, and what she saw brought tears to her eyes and anguish, frustration, and a sense of helplessness to her soul.
 
On July 23, 2008 the series will focus on Women and Families and July 24, 2008 is dedicated entirely to the plight of the Black Man in America. PLEASE watch and internalize what you see and hear; no matter HOW disturbing the information revealed...you can (and will) thank me later.


Update: June 29, 2008
 
In July 2008, I will discuss in a brief essay the Sheridan Project’s dilemma with job security and restorative justice. The central question for AFSCME Local 31’s employees of Sheridan Correctional Center is why would they buy into Governor Blagojevich’s Sheridan Project if it will mean a loss of employment in the future for immediate family, relatives and friends? The central question for the contractor WestCare Foundation, Inc. is where is “adequate and meaningful” restorative justice in their curriculum? When I answer these 2 questions, the readers should see why the Second Chance Act of 2007 is needed and should be a valuable tool toward reducing recidivism. The primary purpose of the Second Chance Act of 2007 is reducing recidivism. To accomplish this purpose, aftercare begins at incarceration and ends with restorative justice.
 
I will assign a definition to and elaborate on “job security” for AFSCME Local 31’s employees. I will define and suggest the “lack of” restorative justice at Sheridan Correctional Center. I will suggest solutions for job security, such as “transferrable skills.” I will suggest alternative “routes of administration” for restorative justice, such as “culturally specific” paradigms for counselors and family therapist. I will suggest how the Second Chance Act of 2007 responds to this dilemma. I am an expert in this matter. I am the Second Chance Act of 2007.

Update: June 24, 2008
 
On June 24, 2008 I received a response from President George Bush, by way of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The letter, dated June 23, 2008, states as follows:
 
Dear Mr. Nance:
 
This is in response to your May 19, 2008 letter addressed to President Bush with a copy of the letter sent to Congressman Danny K. Davis. The President has asked this office to respond directly to you regarding the charges of discrimination that you filed against WestCare Foundation and the Illinois Department of Corrections with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC Charge Nos. 440-2008-05507 and 440-2008-05788).
 
Both of the above-referenced charges are currently under investigation. The documents which you enclosed with your letter will be associated with your charge files and will be given appropriate consideration in the course of our investigation. At the time final action is taken on your charges, the reasons for the action will be explained to you. Please be assured that all of the information which you have provided will be carefully considered.
 
If you have any further questions about the processing of your charges, you may contact....
 
We hope this information is helpful to you.
 
Sincerely,
 
John P. Rowe
District Director
 
cc: Congressman Danny K. Davis

Update: June 24, 2008
 
This was posted on the State Journal-Register, Springfield Illinois
 
"Happily" Former IDOC Employee/AFSCME Member
6/23/2008 4:09:08 PM
To the poster who said if state employees goofed off all the inmates would walk out, well I spent 3 years working for IDOC, in an institution. There are some good people that work for IDOC, but there are a good majority more who should be ashamed that they cash a check every two weeks. There were people I worked with that should have been in prison and not guarding inmates. I spent 6 months on 11-7 shift and 75% of the people on 11-7 either spent the whole night, hiding, sleeping (usually both), playing cards listing to radios in towers, I could go on and on but you could generalize it as goofing off. As for AFSCME, they are a joke....

Update: June 23, 2008
 
I received a letter dated June 5, 2008 from the Illinois Department of Human Rights stating "Your letter to Governor Blagojevich was referred to the Department of Human Rights for a response...In your letter you stated that you have filed a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). I would suggest that you forward the information in your letter to EEOC and continue to let them investigate your charges." This letter was signed by Brent A. Harzman, Acting Manager. It was forwarded and copied to Rocco Claps, Betsy Ebeling and the Governor's Office of Citizen Action. This is what you call passing the buck.
 
Passing the buck while I wait for an investigation and results, continues to destroy my family and I because we are without income due to the nepotism, racism and basic indifferent treatment from the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC), that is, Warden Michael Rothwell, Deanne Benos and Roger Walker. Nothwithstanding, WestCare employees mentioned in my letters to President Bush and Rod Blagojevich, specifically, Leslie Balonick, Sandy Smith and a host of others including AFSCME Local 31 employees, such as Correctional Officers Forsyth and Churchill.
 
Passing the buck continues to destroy the aspirations illustrated on my company's website at www.clickservices.org/.
 
Governor Blagojevich is refusing to address the issue. The Governor had no problem getting up in front of people praising the Sheridan Project on May 19, 2008, but refuses to address the racism, indifferent treatment and corruption by criminals monitoring criminals at Sheridan Correctional Center. If criminals are monitoring and teaching criminals, then recidivism is not being reduced. It is being reinforced. It is also called "Job Security" for correctional officers.
 
"Job Security" for the correctional officers at "Sheridan Correctional Center" is in opposition to reducing recidivism. Sheridan could not be considered the "model" for the country. Have we, as a country, gone mad? This is another subject I will address in the near future.
 
When I attended the press conference of May 19, 2008 I gave Deanne Benos, Illinois Department of Corrections Assistant Director, copies my letters to Governor Blagojevich and President George Bush. She has not responded to the charges in the letters. In my original paper on May 12, 2008 to Governor Blagojevich, I copied Roger Walker, Director of the Illinois Department of Corrections. Mr. Walker has not responded.
 
Benos and Walker had no problem praising the "accomplishments" of the Sheridan Project on May 19, 2008, but they refuse to address the issues I raise of my unsubstantiated, racially motivated and obvious indifferent treatment of being lockout at Sheridan. I would imagine Roger Walker and Deanne Benos have to give their approval of my lockout. If they do not give their approval, I guess this "rogue" administration at Sheridan Correctional Center can do what they want.
 
I guess Mr. Walker and Ms. Benos missed the part that I received my unemployment benefits, which means "my termination/lockout" does not have misconduct attached to it. If there was no misconduct attached to my lockout, why am I locked out from my employment?

Update: June 17, 2008

On May 19, 2008, Governor Blagojevich gave his "State of the Sheridan Project" report to a press conference. Did I miss something or did he address the employment that was taken from me by the Sheridan Project? I am part of the team that produced his outcomes. Yet, I was discarded without notice or reason when Warden Michael Rothwell snatched my security clearance and the contractual company I worked for at Sheridan Correctional Center, WestCare Foundation, Inc., terminated my employment. The letters I wrote to President Bush and Governor Blagojevich were also sent to the Director of the Illinois Department of Corrections, Roger Walker, and to Illinois Department of Corrections Assistant Director Deanne Benos. No one has responded to my letters. They should tell the whole story.

This is a partial statement posted on the Illinois Department of Corrections webpage.

Gov. Blagojevich announces historic reduction in repeat crimes by ex-offenders, slower rate of growth in state's prison population New statistics show major progress from Governor's comprehensive effort to reduce recidivism Releases Community Safety & Reentry Commission report and plan to continue work as new stats show Chicago's murder and violent crime rates on the rise CHICAGO - May 19, 2008 - Joined by law enforcement officials, community leaders, faith-based leaders and state officials, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today announced that statewide reforms have led to historic reductions in crimes by former offenders and significant savings for taxpayers. An intensive effort launched by the Governor in fiscal year 2004 to provide incarcerated offenders and parolees with access to education, job training, substance abuse treatment and counseling has led to the lowest conviction rate among parolees in state history, a 23% reduction in arrests among the general parolee population, and a 40% reduction in repeat incarceration among parolees with substance abuse histories who graduated from the Sheridan Drug and Reentry Program. The drop in recidivism has saved the State an estimated $64 million in incarceration costs since 2004.

“I was very proud to have my department helping to lead this process. Until we began to implement the Governor's plan, we were only experiencing increases in prison admissions, the prison population and recidivism rates. As a former Sheriff, I will say that did not help improve public safety. I strongly support the approach we have taken, and am looking forward to continuing our work to implement the Governor's report,” said IDOC Director Roger E. Walker Jr.

“The State of Illinois is leading the nation in its efforts to reduce crime and recidivism. It is not common that a state can reduce both technical violation rates, new conviction rates and arrest rates statewide. This is the type of progress that has required tremendous leadership by Gov. Blagojevich and partnerships among both corrections and social service officials,” said Joan Petersilia, Professor Criminology, University of California, Irvine, and author of the book “When Prisoners Come Home”.

“Ultimately, this is an issue about public safety and communities. We have made tremendous progress in driving down recidivism rates among our parole population in recent years, largely due to the fact that the Governor provided early, greatly needed resources to invest in several of the report recommendations that are helping us to achieve a stronger balance between strengthening supervision and strengthening community capacity,” said Illinois Department of Corrections Assistant Director Deanne Benos. “We are looking forward to implementation of more of the recommendations.” End of statement.

What about what happens behind the scenes to contractual employees at Sheridan? Who addresses the injustices, racism and indifferent treatment. This is not the model for the rest of the nation. The model must be comprehensive and optimal. It must treat its employees, whether state or contractual, with respect and honor. How can people with criminal thinking and behaving correct others with the same dilemma?

Lets not forget about the adverse position taken by Warden Michael Rothwell when he locked me out the first time during the AFSCME strike when he refused to let me cross the picket line. Warden Rothwell and AFSCME are sleeping together in an adverse way to the Sheridan Project. They forced the contractual employer at the time, Gateway Foundation, Inc., to suffer providing services to the populace for which "The Sheridan Project" is supposed to have been created just so AFSCME could unionize the employees of Gateway. This did not serve the Sheridan Project. It only brought shame, as it does now under the leadership of Warden Rothwell.

Update: June 9, 2008
 
The Illinois Department of Employment Security, Harvey office manager, states they will release my unemployment benefits today. The Harvey office manager says she asked WestCare Foundation, Inc. for documentation to support my termination for misconduct. The Harvey office manager states my unemployment benefits have been held up because she was waiting for documentation to support my termination for misconduct.  The Harvey office manager reports the documentation she was waiting for has not arrived. Therefore, she will release my unemployment benefits today.
 
Well, guess what. There is no documentation to support my termination from WestCare Foundation, Inc. for misconduct or any other abusive or neglectful conduct. My security clearance was bogusly taken and I was "locked out" of Sheridan Correctional Center by Warden Michael Rothwell and the Illinois Department of Corrections. I have been discriminated against. I have been harassed, intimidated and retaliated against by the Illinois Department of Corrections and WestCare Foundation, Inc.

Update: June 4, 2008
 
Illinois’ Sheridan Project
 
How did the Sheridan Project get funding from the Violent Offender Incarceration and Truth-in-Sentencing Incentive Grants (VOI/TIS) Program? Illinois had some funds left from their grant, and decided to allocate these funds to the Sheridan Project. Is it appropriate for Illinois to use this funding for the Sheridan Project?
 
The eligibility structure for the Sheridan project is fairly unique in the nation because it takes on a medium security population, and because it takes on offenders with three lengths of sentences – 6-9 months, 9-12 months and 12-24 months.  Most facilities in the nation take on only a smaller, minimum security population, and a more specific sentence period.  Sheridan is taking on the 6-9 month population because they tend to cycle in-and-out of prisons for short periods of time and never truly gain access to a consistent set of drug treatment services either in prison or in the community.  The project is taking on the 9-12 month population because that is projected to be the most effective length of time for an offender to successfully experience a therapeutic model treatment program.  Finally, the program has chosen to continue the program for the 12-24 month population in order to graduate those staying beyond 12 months into a more intensive vocational, job placement and reentry life skills set of programs.
 
The goal of the VOI/TIS grant program is to assist states in holding violent offenders accountable by expanding prison space for such offenders and ensuring that they serve a substantial portion of their sentence. This program, created under Title II, Subtitle A of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (the Crime Act), Pub. L. 103-322, as amended, is administered by the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Corrections Program Office (CPO).
 
The Truth-in-Sentencing Program (TIS) provides incentives to those states that require Part 1 violent offenders to serve at least 85 percent of the sentence imposed by the courts. Part I violent crime, as defined by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Uniform Crime Reports, means murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.
 
The Second Chance Act of 2007 and the Sheridan Project
 
The Illinois Department of Corrections, specifically, Governor Blagojevich's Sheridan Project will expect to get some of the Total Annual Authorization of $165 Million dollars allocated to "The Second Chance Act of 2007" signed into law by President Bush on April 9, 2008. The Governor's Sheridan Project should not get any of this money.
 
"The Second Chance Act of 2007" will take effect 180 days after the President signed the bill, which is October 9, 2008. Provisions related to the Bureau of Prisons will take effect 90 days after the President's signature, which is July 9, 2008. The grants are supposed to be competitive, but we have to remember Antoin "Tony" Rezko.
 
Provisions of the "Act" relating to Governor Blagojevich's Sheridan Project are: Demonstration grants providing grants to states and local governments that may be used to promote the safe and successful reintegration into the community of individuals who have been incarcerated. Allowable uses of funds include employment services, substance abuse treatment, housing, family programming, mentoring, victims services, and methods to improve release and revocation decisions using risk-assessment tools; Mentoring grants providing grants to nonprofit organizations that may be used for mentoring adult offenders or offering transitional services for reintegration into the community; Offender Reentry substance abuse treatment grant to "improve the availability of drug treatment to offenders in prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities; and Family drug treatment programs, which authorizes grants to states, local governments, and Indian tribes to develop and implement family-based treatment programs for incarcerated parents who have minor children.
 
Any entity or company operating as demonstrated below should not be receiving these funds.
 
Update: June 3, 2008
 
On June 2, 2008 I received my copy of the receipt for the certified mail sent to President George Bush on this issue. There has not been a response from Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich or Mr. Roger Walker, Director of the Illinois Department of Corrections on why I was "locked out" of Sheridan Correctional Center and why my "security clearance" was taken away from me.

Update: May 26, 2008
 
President George Bush's Certified Mail was received at the White House on May 22, 2008 at 5:04 AM. 
 
May 19, 2008
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
 
Re: The Second Chance Act, the Illinois Department of Corrections-Sheridan Correctional Center and WestCare Foundation, Inc.
 
Mr. President:
 
On or about April 9, 2008, you signed into law “The Second Chance Act.” Sir, I am “The Second Chance Act.”
 
I was locked out of Sheridan Correctional Center (Sheridan) by Warden Michael Rothwell and the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). My “Illinois Contract” employer, WestCare Foundation, Inc. (WestCare), terminated my employment suggesting the termination is due to IDOC locking me out from my employment.
 
I have filed a claim of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against IDOC and WestCare. I am sending you the following documents to suggest the conspiracy, discrimination and nefarious acts of IDOC and WestCare against me and “The Second Chance Act of 2007.”
 
The documents are as follows:
 
State of Illinois-Labor Dispute Appeal Recommended Decision, dated November 29, 2006
 
State of Illinois-Labor Dispute Appeal Decision of the Director of Employment Security, dated December 22, 2006
 
WestCare Employee Discussion Report suggesting a sexual harassment charge by Melinda Gubbels and creating a hostile environment charge by Kyra Peters, dated November 8, 2007
 
Letter to WestCare’s Human Resource Senior Vice President Michael Shields, dated November 8, 2007, regarding Discussion Report dated November 8, 2007
 
Advocacy Letter to the Honorable Congressman Danny Davis, dated November 15, 2007
 
Letter to Michael Shields regarding the WestCare Employee Discussion Report of November 8, 2007, dated November 16, 2007 regarding Ms. Melinda Gubbels false charges of sexual harassment against me
 
E-mail to Stanley Brooks and Michael Shields regarding the WestCare Employee Discussion Report Conference of November 16, 2007, dated November 16, 2007
 
WestCare Employee Discussion Report finding me innocent of the false charges brought against me by Melinda Gubbels and Kyra Peters leading to my 2nd lockout from Sheridan, but alleging other “communication” charges against me, dated November 16, 2007
 
Letter to EEOC to supplement my charge of Discrimination, dated November 19, 2007
 
Letter to the Honorable Governor of Illinois, Rod R. Blagojevich, regarding my “experiences” at Sheridan, dated May 12, 2008
 
EEOC amended charge and additional charge against IDOC and WestCare, dated May 12, 2008
 
Termination of Employment letter from WestCare, dated May 14, 2008
 
Fred L Nance Jr. Curriculum Vitae and cover letter to a “new” employer, dated May 14, 2008
 
Sir, there may not be anything you can do about my situation. Nevertheless, I thought it imperative to send this letter to inform you and your committee of how “The Second Chance Act of 2007” is carried out by the Illinois Department of Corrections, specifically, Sheridan Correctional Center and WestCare Foundation, Inc.
 
The Second Chance Act of 2007 is meant to reduce recidivism. It appears Sheridan and WestCare may not be part of this reduction process if they continue to operate in the manner spoken of in my writings. Recidivism can be reduced. I am a part of this reduction, but my rehabilitation did not come from IDOC or WestCare. My rehabilitation came from understanding what honesty, integrity and truth is all about.
 
Respectfully submitted,
 
Fred Nance Jr., ABD, MA, CADC, NCRS
 
cc:
 
The Honorable Congressman Danny Davis
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/

Update: May 23, 2008
 
WestCare is hiring people for the Sheridan Project who have no clinical skills, who are totally inexperienced with this population in providing counseling services and who know nothing about a prison population. These individuals are coming from the surrounding community areas of the prison or are friends of family who currently work at Sheridan, in some capacity. The lack of clinical skills demonstrated by these new "hires" creates chaos with the inmates. Therefore, it may be up to the supervisor or some other true "clinician" to take up the slack created by this non-clinician.
 
The clinical manager, Laurie Berry (white, female), who does the trainings of new hires brought a guy (white, male) to the unit I was supervising one day asking me to brief the person on how the program operated at Sheridan. As I was talking about the different aspects of the program to the "possible" new hire, he informed me he knew nothing about counseling and wanted to know if he took this job would I teach him what he needed to know to survive. Of course, I told him I would teach him if he was assigned to the building I supervised. This guy was dressed in jeans, a plaid cotton shirt, and work boots, looking like he had just come out of the corn fields.
 
As of January 1, 2008, Illinois imposed a ban on smoking in many public areas, this included Sheridan. WestCare supervisor Leroy Robinson (black, male) had a WestCare employee named Ron (white, male) bringing cigarettes into Sheridan giving them to the inmates along with  cigarette lighters. Before Sheridan officials could exact punishment on him, Ron walked out of the institution leaving a resignation letter with Leroy Robinson. Leroy Robinson did not know what was going on in his building. I reported this same guy on an earlier date to my Director, Stanley Brooks, stating that he threatened to "beat me up" because I made a statement in the dining hall one evening about the Barak Obama campaign. I was talking about the Obama campaign with a supporter of the campaign, which was supervisor Paul Kubiak (white, male). While Paul and I were talking about the political and racial issues, Ron sitting next to us, looked at me, and told me if we were outside I would hurt you. Paul and I looked at each other in amazement. 

I informed my Director, Stanley Brooks, that I smelled cigarette smoke in the Sally Port (bathroom) area in C25. I also informed him I did not want to fill out an "incident report" because Warden Michael Rothwell and his correctional officers would retaliate against me if I did. The only individuals using this bathroom in C25 is WestCare and IDOC staff. Therefore, the only way to report this violation was to inform my Director, which is what I did.
 
On May 19, 2008, I attended a press given by Governor Blagojevich at St. Leonard's House. At this press conference, Governor Blagojevich and other Illinois State dignitaries presented an analysis of the Sheridan Project. A report and manual was presented called "Inside Out: A plan to reduce recidivism and improve public safety." As I read the "Executive Summary", some interesting language appeared suggesting this panel may be aware of the difficulties I faced at Sheridan. Terms and phrases such as "building capacity of the community...to ensure a safe and well-supervised reentry", "IDOC...reconfigure certain processes to refocus its efforts on successful reentry", and "promoting culture change" were written in this manual.
 
Under the title "Serving the Sentence: Prison-Based Reentry Preparation", the phrase "promoting culture change" was interesting to me because of my present situation with this "lockout." This training program for IDOC personnel  "promoting culture change" states, in part, "...the message should be that prison safety and security should remain the primary focus...Balanced and restorative justice community principles should be piloted through these programs." I promoted these concepts at Sheridan. This is "exactly" what I was punished for at Sheridan.
 
I was constantly reprimanded and punished for telling inmates not to get things twisted at Sheridan. I informed every inmate in the buildings I supervised that "it is jail first, then it is a program." WestCare promotes "program fir