The last twenty-four hours proved frustrating. I am a little tired of bureaucrats patronizing my family and lying to us.

 

            Yesterday, the Department of Corrections contacted me and informed us they were sending Patricia to a treatment program in Northern New Mexico for thirty days with the possibility of further treatment after the thirty days. Further, they characterized the facility as secure.

 

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            I responded with two written questions:

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Ms. Garcia,>>

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Thank you for keeping us informed of inmate Long's status.>>

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As I understand, she is being released ahead of her time to a thirty day treatment program. We are interested in knowing if this program is voluntary on inmate's Long's part and what her relationship/status with the Department of Corrections will be.>>

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Thank you,>>

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Stephen A. Avery>>

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            If Patricia's participation in the treatment program is voluntary then she can discharge herself at anytime. If Patricia's status with the Department remains 'in custody'   this would indicate one of the Department of Corrections treatment facilities in Las Vegas. A status of 'probation' would mean she could be anywhere and free to do as she wishes.

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            The Department responded with a telephone call from one of the lawyers this afternoon. The lawyer characterized Patricia's recent events as 'confidential legal proceedings' and her status would be 'on parole'.

 

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            The call dropped before we got much further. Ms. Garcia, the Department's Victim's advocate called me back. Ms. Garcia is a wonderful person and wonderful at her job, but her job is to pacify victims – her position has no power and no authority to act as a true victim advocate, she is a pacifier for the Department.

 

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            My objections focused on two areas. First, what are 'confidential legal proceedings'?  In my mind, as I explained to Ms. Garcia, this is an oxymoron.

 

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            Procedures can be confidential internally. For example the Department of Corrections can hold a pretend hearing, an internal hearing, or a kangaroo court, and keep the proceeding confidential.

 

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            But then these proceeding while legal, are not legal proceedings. Legal proceedings involve lawyers, judge, or hearing officers. The substance of the hearings can be sealed but not the fact that the hearing was held and the purpose of the hearing. These are matters of public record. You can not make the hearing disappear, only seal what happened and what was presented.

 

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            The only place I know where this goes on is in the Bush Administration in regards to Guantanamo……

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            Hey, Governor Richardson!!! Let me call CNN and tell them that your Department of Corrections has declared prisoners and victims both as covered by the Patriots' Act!!!!>>

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            This is a bureaucrat trying to railroad past me. Poor Ms. Garcia has seen the result of the previous two attempts. Gee, I think we generated four or five different news stories on one. I did not go to the press on the second one.

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            This leads to the second point; the Department of Corrections characterized Patricia as released early to a 'secure' facility. It is not secure if she is voluntary. They can check her in the morning and she can check herself out in the afternoon. If she is not in custody at this 'secure' facility then we would never even know until the bullets fly.

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            Thus, the Department of Corrections has 'disappeared' my ex wife and the mother of our children. More on this aspect tomorrow and the Department's motivation.

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            I am tired of the patronizing, the lying, the unaccountability, and the stupidity.