Fifth Letter from Prison, by Lee Gutierrez, Guest Blogger: A New Light Shining

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Fifth Letter from Prison: 

A New Light Shining

by Lee Gutierrez, Guest Blogger

This is the fifth letter of Lee's from prison 

that we're publishing with his permission.   
He wrote it from from a new
 prison, during which transfer we were unable to communicate. Lee's first four letters were among the most read posts ever 

on prisonist.org:

Inner Surrender, Inner Suffering

The Night Before Prison

 In Prison for the Holidays

Letter From Prison
 

Dear Jeff, 

YES, yes, 'Houston we have contact!" Your response to XXX's email was appreciated.  I really didn't expect to hear from you. It's comforting to know I am still in your thoughts....

Wow, I've been incarcerated for 2 years, 7 months, time is passing. This weekend my son [almost 3 years old] is coming for a visit, my folks are coming North now that spring has arrived. I haven't seen his angelic face in 6 weeks, I can't wait.  He is growing in leaps and bounds, he has my heart. 

In September of last year my transfer went through.  I dropped down to a medium classification in July, 2015 but they wouldn't confirm it. In late August there was a gang war, in two days there were seven cuttings.   We were in lock-down for a week.  Once lock-down was over, they shipped about 30 inmates out at once.  "The place that has no name" is a horrific place.  Murders, cuttings, suicide, overdoses, 5 dead in one year, all hidden from the public. There is a hell on earth. 

I have so much emotion within me, so much fear, anger and resentment. That leg of my journey may be past me, but the emotion scares linger...damage has been done, I don't know if it will ever heal. There is so much pain inside that needs to come out, to be expelled from my spirit, to be shared with others.  I have no time now to focus on this task...

My Appeal, what a challenge... [redacted]

Currently to keep my mind busy I enrolled into a certificate course of Paralegal studies.  Studying law and researching the case has piqued my interest.  I plan to send an updated resume to law firms in Manhattan and Long Island... If you have any thoughts on this subject, that would be appreciated. 

Jeff, I am in good spirits, my Lord is providing strength and hope. He has given me the opportunity to rebuild my relationships, believing that I am loved and needed. I wish all the mates in prison could see the light the way I do. 

Going forward I will be writing down my thoughts again and sending them to you as I perfect them.  You are very kind to say that my articles are still being read. May you and your blessed family have an uplifting spring.  Rejoice in the work you are doing and celebrate life each day.

Your friend, 

Lee 

__________

Donations

We are grateful for all donations this past year to our Ministries. These donations enable us to grow, reach out and serve this community for which there is far too little understanding, compassion, empathy and accurate information.  Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc. is a CT Religious Corp. with 501c3 status -

all donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. We hope you will consider making a donation to our appeal this year.  Donations can be made by credit card/PayPal here, at the "Donate" button on on our site, prisonist.org or by sending your check payable to: "Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc." P.O. Box 1232, Weston, Connecticut 06883.  We have enclosed an addressed envelope for your use. Thank you.

__________ 

 

If you, a friend or a family member are experiencing a white-collar or nonviolent incarceration issue, please contact us and we will promptly send you an information package by mail, email or via Dropbox.

The darkest days of a person's life can be a

time of renewal and hope

__________

Progressive Prison Project/  

Innocent Spouse & Children Project

Rev. Jeff Grant, JD, M Div, Minister/Director
jgrant@prisonist.org
(o) 203-769-1096
(m) 203-339-5887
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Lynn Springer, Founding Advocate, Innocent Spouse & Children Project
lspringer@prisonist.org

(203) 536-5508

George Bresnan, Advocate, Ex-Pats
gbresnan@prisonist.org
(203) 609-5088

Jim Gabal, Development
jgabal@prisonist.org
(203) 858-2865

Babz Rawls Ivy, Media Contact
mediababz@gmail.com

 

 

The Unnamed Victims of White-Collar Crime: The Family, By Ken Citarella, Esq., Former Prosecutor & Guest Blogger

Prisonist.org: Blogs, Guest Blogs 

& News Concerning National and

International Criminal Justice Themes

The Unnamed Victims of 

White-Collar Crime: The Family

By Ken Citarella, Esq. 

Former Prosecutor & Guest Blogger 

Ken and I were law school classmates from 1978 - 1981.  When we learned about Ken's own spiritual & faith journey, we asked him to guest blog for prisonist.org - Jeff

__________

I was a prosecutor in Westchester County, NY, for more than 25 years.  For almost all that time, I specialized in investigating and prosecuting white collar crime: embezzlements, swindles, investment fraud, corruption, forgery, etc.  Restitution was a constant theme.  I always wanted to get the stolen funds returned to the victim.  The difference between a prison sentence or probation often hung in the balance.  It did not take me long, however, to recognize the unintended and unnamed victims of the defendant’s crime.  It was his (at least 99% of the time his rather than her) family.  

Oddly, enough it was the defense attorneys who represented those I convicted who introduced me to these people.  During the course of plea negotiations or sentencing argument in court, defense counsel often commented on how incarceration would harm the defendant’s family.  I never doubted that was true, but always objected that it was relevant to the sentencing.  After all, I argued, the defendant was not really concerned about his family when he committed his crimes, why was he suddenly and conveniently concerned about them when it might keep him out of prison?  It was disingenuous to use sympathy for his family as a barrier to a justified incarceration.

Of course, and particularly in the state system (as opposed to the federal), not all those convicted of white collar crimes go to prison.  But even during a term of probation, the white collar probationer will most likely be paying restitution to his victims, which means that some of whatever he is then earning legitimately is diverted from his family to his victims.  He continues to hurt his family even as he hopefully rehabilitates into socially acceptable behavior.

That was where my job ended.  After all, I was a prosecutor and not a social worker.  Although it was very rare, I did have continuing contact with some defendants.  Indeed, some even thanked me for convicting them, since it was the forceful redirection they needed to reform.  But over time, the plight of the victimized family remained with me just as did the more recognized status of the crime victim.  Moreover, the state had Victim Services offices that could assist crime victims recover from the harm done to them; the family did not.

Our criminal justice system will never be perfect.  But how hard could it be to allow the family that has lost husband, father, income and perhaps home as well to have a place to go to register their need for assistance and receive guidance?  Society should care for all the victims of a crime.

Oddly enough, Jeff Grant and I were law school classmates.

Ken Citarella

Ken left the District Attorney’s Office in 2008.  Since then he has continued to investigate economic crime and corruption in the private investigation industry.  Ken is also a Postulant for ordination to the Diaconate in the Episcopal Diocese of New York.

__________

Progressive Prison Project/

Innocent Spouse & Children Project

 

Rev. Jeff Grant, JD, M Div, Minister/Director
jgrant@prisonist.org

(o) 203-769-1096

(m) 203-339-5887

Twitter
Facebook
Linked In
Pinterest
Google+ 

Tumblr

Lynn Springer, Founding Advocate, Innocent Spouse & Children Project
lspringer@prisonist.org

(203) 536-5508

George Bresnan, Advocate, Ex-Pats
gbresnan@prisonist.org
(203) 609-5088

Jim Gabal, Development
jgabal@prisonist.org
(203) 858-2865

Babz Rawls Ivy, Media Contact
mediababz@gmail.com
(203) 645-9278   

DONATIONS

 
We are grateful for donations from individuals, religious groups, charities, foundations and the like. Donations can be made by credit card/PayPal, or by sending your check payable to: “Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc.” P.O. Box 1232, Weston, Connecticut 06883. Progressive Prison Project/Innocent Spouse & Children Project are missions of Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc. We are a CT Religious Corp. with 501c3 status - all donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. Thank you for your support and generosity.

If transformation and redemption matter to you, a friend or a family member with a white-collar or nonviolent incarceration issue, please contact us and we will promptly send you an information package by mail, email or via Dropbox. The darkest days of a person's life can be a time of renewal and hope.