Inner Hell
Originally Posted on MySpace July 13, 2006, edited before posting on Fatheriam.com December 26, 2006.
The last horrible piece of the puzzle floated into my vision this week. It is now time to write, to share where we are and our future.
It is over two months since the parole hearing, and several weeks since I laid the foundation for this blog. Readers may wish to go back to my blogs of May 27th, May 28th, and June 4th.
When I entered the prison I was unaware of the lawsuit filed by the ACLU regarding overcrowding at Patricia’s prison. In response to this lawsuit, the parole board scheduled over fifty hearings on this single day. The jail itself was in crisis and did not believe they had the time to deal with the specifics of our case or to hear again from a victim that held their actions up before the public.
Finally, the parole board found itself under criticism once again for their involvement in the events leading to the murder of a Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Deputy by an felon out on parole. In defense of the parole board action’s both the chair of the Board, Kline, and the Executive Director, Frank took public positions opposite of those communicated to my father, the Victim’s Advocate, and me the previous December. Earlier, they stated orally and in writing that it did not matter what the judge ordered during sentencing, the Department of Corrections and the Parole Board act as they see fit. Now, they were blaming their decision no to bring back into prison a parole violator on the judge’s sentence. A parole violator who, while free due to the decision of the parole board, murdered a deputy.
I met the Victim Advocate at the prison, and eventually we were taken to an office to await the parole hearing. The Victim Advocate is an intelligent and kind individual perfectly suited for her job of supporting victims. She listened as I outlined many of the thoughts I shared above. Additionally, I informed her how a suicide attempt or gesture typically empowered Patricia, provided her with a sense of invulnerability for a while and thus increasing the danger she posed.
The Victim Advocate informed me of some additional fallout from my previous appearance ---Patricia had threatened to sue the Victim Advocate for telling me about Patricia’s release plan. We discussed the circumstances surrounding her telling me and both of us felt that there was no basis for the threat.
In light of subsequent events, I wonder who communicated the threat to the Victim Advocate and I wonder if communicating the threat actually was a threat unto itself, an attempt to restrict the Victim Advocate from further similar communications with myself and other victims.
I also expressed my understanding that I might be a little unique as a victim, given my relationship with the inmate. The children and I stand both as victims of Patricia’s violence and as her family members.
I entered the Parole Board before Patricia and they brought her in a few minutes later. She sat next to the Chair of the Parole Board, the Victim Advocate next to me, and I sat across the table from the Parole Board members.
I stuck to the following remarks:
Remarks by Stephen A. Avery to NM Parole Board on May 15, 2006 regarding inmate Patricia Long
As the Department of Corrections explained the purpose of this parole hearing today, I understand you intend to review Patricia’s mental health records and set conditions of release. After this, I am told, Patricia may be released anytime she and the Department of Corrections develop a new parole plan without any further review by this Board. A new parole plan created by the same people that planed to release her earlier in the care of a man convicted of threatening me as another hit man. Further, Patricia’s most recent suicide attempt, last month, leaves her family to conclude that the inmate is not capable of making decisions in her own best interest.
The Department of Corrections and the staff supporting this Parole Board face some unique challenges when dealing with this case. I represent both the victims and the inmate’s closest relatives. As one of the victims, I exercise rights this Board, the Department of Corrections, nor the Courts can ignore. As the Guardian of the inmate’s closest relatives I act on their behalf in the best interest of the inmate and let me make it clear that actions as recent as a month ago by the inmate demonstrate to her relatives that she is incapable of acting in her own best interest. Her incarceration for acts that placed her children in danger demonstrates her inability to act in the best interest of the children.
In short, this Parole Board has documentation before it outlining the extensive and violent nature of the inmate’s mental illness extending over the last several years and as recent as last month. The documentation covers actions by the States Protective Services, the inmate’s arrest for seeking my death while the children were present, and as many as six suicide attempts in the last three years.
The relationship between suicide attempts and domestic violence abusers is well documented thanks to the excellent work of the
Patricia’s most recent suicide attempt occurred last month. She did not refuse to take her anti-depressants; she simply took them and hoarded them until she felt she had an adequate amount to attempt suicide. She also relied on a do-not-resituate order to insure her success. Fortunately, the Department ignored the order and Patricia received the treatment necessary to survive.
Previous to this attempt, the
The family has two additional reports of suicide attempts during 2004. One report by her ex husband, Kyle Self, states that she attempted suicide after wrapping herself in plastic. A captain at BCDC reports an attempt to stab herself in the throat with a pen.
Two additional attempts are documented by the Albuquerque Police Department in 2003.
The pre sentence report that formed the basis for Judge Murdoch’s sentence places a heavy emphasis on the inmate’s mental health problems. This is the reason why the inmate received such an extensive sentence, in the hopes that she would receive the time required to address her extensive mental health requirements.
At least four and maybe six suicide attempts in the last three years, documented child abuse, and criminal actions arising out of her mental illness, and where are we today?
I would say nowhere, but common sense dictates that we are even worse off then when Patricia entered this prison a little over a year ago. The quality of the mental health treatment is shown by her recent suicide attempt period. Add to this her creation of a biological father and association with convicted child abusers and rapists and the family is left to wonder about our future.
I wonder if the mental health professionals that follow me planned to address these perfect examples of her continued mental health problems. Maybe you should ask these State employees to surrender their notes.
To be honest, I really have no expectations. Chairman Kline recently defended the actions of this agency based on this agency’s impotence, their inability to deviate from the Judges’ orders. Of course, it is clear that the Department of Corrections ignored Judge Murdoch’s sentence from day one. Why, I do not know, perhaps they fell victim to Patricia’s well defined ability to play the victim and supported the symptoms of her mental illness as opposed to the reality of her illness. If this is true, it simply adds to the danger we face on Patricia’s release.
And now Patricia has been placed on in house parole without action of this Board, placed on parole and awarded good time despite her recent actions in hoarding her medication. The Department of Corrections simply tell us that despite what the Judge orders, despite any decision by the Board, we will release this inmate into the public without any of the treatment ordered by the Judge, and release her completely once we decide the parole plan is adequate.
I simply want to make a record to hold those accountable when the next chapter unfolds.
Within in a few minutes of making my remarks, Chaos reigned.
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