May 9, 2013 · 11:46 PM

What is State Prison Really Like- Jodie Arias?

arias

Jodie Arias was just convicted of first degree murder in Arizona. That means she will soon be transferred to Arizona State Prison. And that means Perryville even if she goes to death row. I have known many women who have served time at Perryville and currently have several clients who are still there. Bottom line- Perryville is NO JOKE. It is hard time. They do offer inmate programs for various issues, especially substance abuse, but Arias will no doubt be a lifer and that is a whole different world.

The Perryville complex houses various security levels, but Arias will be in Maximum Security and will have non contact visits and be housed in a cell not a dorm. She will have access to television and like all inmates will be able to buy a radio and various items from the commissary. In fact, high profile cases like Arias, Scott Peterson, Manson and even Casey Anthony often have strangers deposit money on their books for such items. The most popular commissary item is Ice Cream- especially in Arizona in Summer!

But, this prison stay will be no cake walk and contrary to media reports, there is no tweeting or even computers or cell phones. And yes, there are female gangs at Perryville. SO what will life be like for Jodi Arias and her family? ROUTINE. Remember, the family is a victim of Arias also and they will need to decide if they keep in contact with her. No matter what the Arias family has an adjustment period also. I often coach families on how to deal with a loved one’s incarceration. In this case it will be a whole new normal as she is never coming home.

Often the person inside tries to hustle the outsiders and play on their sympathies. I suspect Arias will do this as well. Her family will need to learn boundaries and get over any guilt they may have while showing empathy and compassion for the victim and his family.

As for Jodie Arias she must prepare for long, boring days and lonely nights now that the court drama has ended. Perryville and it’s hard core rules await.

 


Wendy Feldman is a criminal justice expert, crisis manager and family legal coach. She is available for private consultation on how to prepare for a successful incarceration, probation and re-entry. She is also available for media commentary and has appeared on shows from The Today Show, The CBS Early Show, E! News, People.com, Fox News, NBC News, CNN, NPR and Nancy Grace. She is a weekly featured guest on the syndicated America Now radio program. She may be reached at wendy@wendyfeldman.com

Follow @thewendyfeldman

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April 22, 2013 · 12:01 AM

REESE and the DUI…DOING RIGHT

 

Reese Witherspoon has it right. Well, she had it wrong when she was arrested in the ATL for “drunk and disorderly conduct” but she is quickly redeeming herself. WHO is her legal coach???

Over the weekend her husband, CAA agent Jim Toth was arrested for alleged DUI whiled driving a Ford Focus after one too many. As everybody knows, I write a lot about celebs and their choosing to drive vs. a car service or taxi, but a FORD FOCUS?-

The only thing funny is how Reese pulled the celeb card in a non-celeb city, driving a Focus late at night and not looking like herself. I think she forgot ATL is not LA.

But in a smart legal move, Reese has taken responsibility for her behavior and apologized. Keep in mind that she is charged with a very insignificant “sober up” crime while her husband is charged with DUI, so she has nothing to loose but her dignity.  That can be repaired as she has already started. She certainly has attempted some damage control and some restorative justice. I am sure we will not see her on Celebrity Rehab anytime soon! As for her husband, Toth needs to start working on an Alternative Sentence ASAP.

What may need some work is her long-term attitude of entitlement and the legal issue her husband now finds himself in. The issue many celebs have and what those with criminal thinking often have is ENTITLEMENT and GRANDIOSITY. These are two of the criminal thinking errors that plague many of us.

But the good news is that this is a perfect chance to shine the light on DUI and the silly choice to drink and drive. Let’s hope she continues to try and do right not DUI and make some changes while helping others. Maybe some good will come out of this…Stay tuned.

 

Wendy Feldman is a criminal justice expert, crisis manager and family legal coach. She is available for private consultation on how to prepare for a successful incarceration, probation and re-entry. She is also available for media commentary and has appeared on shows from The Today Show, The CBS Early Show, E! News, People.com, Fox News, NBC News, CNN, NPR and Nancy Grace. She is a weekly featured guest on the syndicated America Now radio program. She may be reached at wendy@wendyfeldman.com

Follow @thewendyfeldman

 

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April 1, 2013 · 3:15 PM

The TRUTH about rehab and JAIL…aka LOHAN

 

Much has been written about the recent court order that was allegedly sending Lindsay Lohan to “lockdown” rehab instead of jail. Of course there is NO such thing. That is called the PSYCH ward and many people go there before residential treatment for detox and evaluation.

The courts often confuse mental illness and drug addiction. In addition, our court system is not geared towards treating those with mental illness. In many cases a DUI class or diversion is ordered. In the case last year of actor Johnny Lewis, rehab was ordered even though many of us knew he had no drug problem, and in fact was sober at the time of his death.

Now we have every “expert” talking about the sentence of Lindsay Lohan. There are even reports that she wants to stay on the drug Adderall while in treatment. What people are failing to understand is that it is common procedure to stay on any medication that the treating psychiatrist deems necessary and helpful. SOBER does not mean without medication. Thus, many people need psych meds, and a quality program will allow these.

The term lockdown rehab can and does mean many things. What is key in alternative sentencing cases is that the person receive the help and treatment they need while obeying the court order. This is usually accomplished by following the rules of the treatment center and the treating psychiatrist. In the Lohan case she will need to go to a facility that is strict enough to obey court orders and not a typical Hollywood rehab where money talks. Most quality rehabs or residential treatment centers will have house rules that can be modified for court orders. This is common procedure.

SO, to all of the “experts” this is how it works. Now the key is to get courts onboard to address the psychosocial issues that come with drugs and crime. This is where education matters and standard AA and diversion fails. Without a synergy between mental health treatment and addiction treatment, people will keep the cycle of arrests, rehab and jail. Let’s hope the Lohan case draws attention to how our system needs to improve.

Wendy Feldman is a criminal justice expert, crisis manager and family legal coach. She is available for private consultation on how to prepare for a successful incarceration, probation and re-entry. She is also available for media commentary and has appeared on shows from The Today Show, The CBS Early Show, E! News, People.com, Fox News, NBC News, CNN, NPR and Nancy Grace. She is a weekly featured guest on the syndicated America Now radio program. She may be reached at wendy@wendyfeldman.com

Follow @thewendyfeldman

 

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March 1, 2013 · 3:05 PM

What’s a LOHAN supposed to do???

 

The Lindsay Lohan saga in criminal court just got even more LINSANE. Really- nobody could make this up. Lohan or a lawyer on her behalf was supposed to appear in Los Angeles court today. But, neither appeared. Well, a “lawyer’ named Mark Heller did. Mark Heller- the formerly disbarred NY lawyer appeared for Ms. Lohan. But, as previously written and talked about, Heller is not a California lawyer and California criminal law and jails are much different than New York’s.

Judge Jim Dabney admonished Heller for not having local co-council and went as far as to state that Lohan must hire local lawyers or appear and state that she understands she has an “incompetent” lawyer and is willing to take that risk. So, what is Lohan going to do? The answer is as complicated as the many issues Lohan has going on.

Lohan faces charges of lying to police and a probation violation. In fact, she faces multiple jail terms and jurisdictions. This is not just a simple misdemeanor case. Lohan also faces allegations of IRS problems and a large UNPAID bill for an amount due to her previous lawyer Shawn Holley. Holley was sadly fired by Lohan after years of helping her escape jail and turn her life around. Many of us who believe in alternative sentences have seen the Lohan case demonstrate what creative options are possible for those who want to work hard to change their lives.

So, again what CAN Lohan do now? The lawyer who takes her on will have to put in many hours and be able to be creative. A global solution involving all of the criminal cases should be sought. But the problem will be who is going to pay the bill, and who is smart enough to structure such a deal. This deal will need to involve rehab, psychiatric help, probation expertise and the respect of the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office. A LOT of work. This legal coach suggests that Lohan get real, get busy and get a solid team together yet again. And Lindsay, I said TEAM. And that will involve a sponsorship by a quality rehab and all of us to believe. Well, it is Hollywood the land of make-believe!

 

Wendy Feldman is a criminal justice expert, crisis manager and family legal coach. She is available for private consultation on how to prepare for a successful incarceration, probation and re-entry. She is also available for media commentary and has appeared on shows from The Today Show, The CBS Early Show, E! News, People.com, Fox News, NBC News, CNN, NPR and Nancy Grace. She is a weekly featured guest on the syndicated America Now radio program. She may be reached at wendy@wendyfeldman.com

Follow @thewendyfeldman

 

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Filed under alternatvive sentencing, Lindsay Lohan, Los Angeles District Attorney, Prison Consulting, prison preparation

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Aside

What is prison and how do we find FREEDOM???

Everyday I work with a wide variety of clients. Sometimes I am preparing the defendant for prison, sometimes I work only with their families, prepare people for court, prepare alternatives such as community service and rehab. Always I am in crisis management mode. But recently I have noticed a sharp increase in the number of people who have not only addictions but also mental health issues. Often these are not genetic issue but problems that have developed due to abuse, stress and trauma.

So, I ask the question- what is PRISON? Many people I met while in prison myself were not only growing and learning from their experience there, but also had developed a lightness about their circumstance and re-entry. Yet, many people recently seem to be in a very dark place. Maybe this is timing, maybe this is based on the fact that they have had other chances and failed and maybe the real issue is that I am finding it necessary to have most of my clients seek serious therapy now and not just AA and other rehab options.

Thus, many people are in prisons of their own making and just do not know how to find freedom. Prison is a relative term now to me. I learned a lot from prison. Just as money can’t buy you class, escaping jail time cannot and will not buy you FREEDOM.

All of the recent repeat offenders suggest just this. We can’t expect that AA and rehab is going to turn a person’s life around. They must do the work and get to the heart of the matter. Celebrities are always in the news for repeat DUI arrests and even other crimes including shoplifting and other cries for attention. This is not a coincidence. This is a cry for help, attention and a true lack of coping skills.

One culprit may be the lack of personal connection many feel in this age of social media. It certainly adds to the stress level of many and the isolation of many more. Add those together and we have loneliness and a type of self imposed prison.

Where we find Freedom is an extension of what is prison. The answer to both is within. There is no doubt that 30 days in jail changes nothing but long term work and treatment does. So does community service and being of service to others. As I often say, Community Service should be mandatory for anybody finding themselves in a courtroom. This may indeed be the key to the path to FREEDOM.

Wendy Feldman is a criminal justice expert, insider and family legal coach. She is available for private consultation on how to prepare for a successful incarceration, probation and re-entry. She is also available for media commentary and has appeared on shows from The Today Show, The CBS Early Show, E! News, People.com, Fox News, NBC News, CNN, NPR and Nancy Grace. She is a weekly featured guest on the syndicated America Now radio program. She may be reached at wendy@wendyfeldman.com

Follow @thewendyfeldman

 

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February 27, 2013 · 10:14 PM
Aside

What is prison and who do we find FREEDOM???

Everyday I work with a wide variety of clients. Sometimes I am preparing the defendant for prison, sometimes I work only with their families, prepare people for court, prepare alternatives such as community service and rehab. Always I am in crisis management mode. But recently I have noticed a sharp increase in the number of people who have not only addictions but also mental health issues. Often these are not genetic issue but problems that have developed due to abuse, stress and trauma.

So, I ask the question- what is PRISON? Many people I met while in prison myself were not only growing and learning from their experience there, but also had developed a lightness about their circumstance and re-entry. Yet, many people recently seem to be in a very dark place. Maybe this is timing, maybe this is based on the fact that they have had other chances and failed and maybe the real issue is that I am finding it necessary to have most of my clients seek serious therapy now and not just AA and other rehab options.

Thus, many people are in prisons of their own making and just do not know how to find freedom. Prison is a relative term now to me. I learned a lot from prison. Just as money can’t buy you class, escaping jail time cannot and will not buy you FREEDOM.

All of the recent repeat offenders suggest just this. We can’t expect that AA and rehab is going to turn a person’s life around. They must do the work and get to the heart of the matter. Celebrities are always in the news for repeat DUI arrests and even other crimes including shoplifting and other cries for attention. This is not a coincidence. This is a cry for help, attention and a true lack of coping skills.

One culprit may be the lack of personal connection many feel in this age of social media. It certainly adds to the stress level of many and the isolation of many more. Add those together and we have loneliness and a type of self imposed prison.

Where we find Freedom is an extension of what is prison. The answer to both is within. There is no doubt that 30 days in jail changes nothing but long term work and treatment does. So does community service and being of service to others. As I often say, Community Service should be mandatory for anybody finding themselves in a courtroom. This may indeed be the key to the path to FREEDOM.

Wendy Feldman is a criminal justice expert, insider and family legal coach. She is available for private consultation on how to prepare for a successful incarceration, probation and re-entry. She is also available for media commentary and has appeared on shows from The Today Show, The CBS Early Show, E! News, People.com, Fox News, NBC News, CNN, NPR and Nancy Grace. She is a weekly featured guest on the syndicated America Now radio program. She may be reached at wendy@wendyfeldman.com

Follow @thewendyfeldman

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February 27, 2013 · 10:11 PM
February 17, 2013 · 7:18 PM

Mindy McCreedy is DEAD- as predicted here- RIP…

Sadly singer Mindy McCreedy has died from a gun shot wound that was self inflicted. On January 24, 2013 I wrote about McCreedy and why rehab alone does not work. And here we are. The criminal justice system, reality TV and our mental health system has failed.

McCreedy was under investigation in the death of her boyfriend- hmmmm

The saddest part is that she is a prime example of a person who spent years in rehab and jail and still was NO better. WHY???? Because rehab and 12-step alone does not work. There is such a thing as MENTAL ILLNESS and we need to start treating these people as not simple addicts. Addiction exists, but for many there is a much more serious mental health component. Television shows like the one McCreedy was on- Celebrity Rehab- do a great injustice to those suffering. Mental health treatment needs to be done by a professional not just an ex addict.

Like many of my clients, McCreedy was court ordered to “treatment” many times. But, this NEVER took into account that she needed intensive mental health treatment not just addiction/ DUI classes. Judges must wake up. When I prepare an alternative sentence for a client it always looks at the long term well being for them. Like rehab, therapy and community service. Too often lawyers are looking for the easiest way to “get their client off.” That will backfire in the end. My job is the long term and to help my clients change their lives and ways. Lawyers must open their eyes and this is why many of the good ones now work with me to accomplish both goals.

I wrote a lot about the death of my client actor Johnny Lewis  this summer. He was not an addict at all. He was ill. I have several clients now where I am literally fighting for their lives as the court system is not helping but hurting by sending them to rehab alone. We must stand up and out and educate ourselves and our judges. Sadly, we all know of many more to come. For now, Mindy McCreedy R.I.P.

 


Wendy Feldman is a criminal justice expert, insider and family legal coach. She is available for private consultation on how to prepare for a successful incarceration, probation and re-entry. She is also available for media commentary and has appeared on shows from The Today Show, The CBS Early Show, E! News, People.com, Fox News, NBC News, CNN, NPR and Nancy Grace. She is a weekly featured guest on the syndicated America Now radio program. She may be reached at wendy@wendyfeldman.com

Follow @thewendyfeldman

 

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Filed under alternatvive sentencing, drug abuse treatment, Johnny Lewis, Mindy McCreedy, prepare for jail

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