Category Archives: celebrities

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

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Filed under alternatvive sentencing, celebrities, d.u.i

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July 15, 2012 · 9:28 PM

Celebrities- DUI and death- what we CAN DO…

It seems that a day doesn’t go by without a celebrity arrest or even worse a death from drugs and alcohol. So, why are celebrities arrested at a higher rate for DUI than the rest of us? Simple- grandiosity and entitlement. These are two criminal thinking errors and usually a daily part of a celebrity’s life. There is also the problem of a lack of reality and the “yes” people who often surround the celebs. Think CONRAD MURAY.

Another question is why do these celebs that have money actually take the risk and drive themselves? Again simple, they feel they are invincible at best and on drug runs at worse. Further, even the rehab programs that many of these celebs go to are so star struck that they do not treat the patient correctly. This is sad but very true. One has to ask what the true motives are when “treating” a celebrity of high profile person. I work with many in my consulting practice and sad to say but lawyers, PR people and agents all have different motives and agendas.

Often judges do not understand how to handle these cases either. Judges may feel that jail is a deterrent for drug addiction and that court mandated AA is enough. This is laughable. Anybody who has ever been an addict or known one understands that once can’t reason with somebody in the midst of their addiction and jail is certainly NOT the answer nor a deterrent. I encourage judges to hand down serious therapy, formal probation AND Community service. As anybody who reads my work knows, I believe community service helps people find their passion, gives them self worth all while serving society.

This week already we have seen yet another Amanda Bynes issues even while her criminal cases are pending, the arrest of Olympian Shaun White, the arrest of Michael Turner and Sally Struthers.  And we wonder why our Incarceration Nation is broken?

We must get serious and know when treatment is needed and how best to make it work. That means empowering the person, not shaming them while making them accountable for their actions. There are consequences and that is something that everybody has, even Hollywood celebs.

To begin to change our system and save lives we must first understand why it is broken and break down what is really going on. I for one am sick and tired of lawyers who only think about “getting their client off” and not how to live the rest of their lives. Clients are not notches on a belt but people who need long term help.

Remember, change is possible but it takes work AND understanding. Let’s start now and educate rather than judge.

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 Today, CBS Early Show, Fox News and Nancy Grace. She is a weekly featured guest in the syndicated America Now radio program. She may be reached at wendy@custodialcoaching.com. 

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Filed under addiction, alternatvive sentencing, celebrities, d.u.i, drug abuse treatment, prepare for jail, prison consultant, Sage Stallone

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February 13, 2012 · 9:43 AM

What do Whitney Houston and our criminal court system have in common???

As we all know pop icon Whitney Huston died Saturday.  As my readers are aware, I believe that change is only affected by taking action and offering solutions. It is simply not good enough to complain and stand on the sidelines.

The death of Whitney Houston illustrates many issues. Her death also will draw the platform needed to shine a light on so many problems in our criminal justice system.

First of all- I am not suggesting that Houston herself had any criminal legal issues. But, her death should make all of us think of how we can get a grip on the crisis in America of substance abuse and the consequences. For example, I wrote much about Conrad Murray and his easy treatment by our court system vs. other drug dealers. I have also written much about our weak and off base penalties for DUI arrests. Simply put, we MUST make changes.

Further, we must have EQUAL JUSTICE. That includes penalties in our State system that are not so different than our Federal Prison system. The analogy of Whitney Houston and our system may seem extreme. It is not. Somebody had to have provided the drugs to Houston over the years and it is a fact that she had a large amount of Prescription drugs in her hotel room. It also true that Houston’s ex husband Bobby Brown could have benefitted from proper programs during the many times he was arrested and incarcerated. Brown is a good example of somebody who needed an Incarcervention. That is a “get real” conversation that included long-term consequences. He is also proof that jail is not the solution to addiction.

As stated, this case illustrates that we must look at programs provided to people who are arrested on drug and DUI charges. Usually a court will order a drug or alcohol diversion program. That alone does NOT work. We need programs that have a long term care approach. To simply go to AA is not enough. Yes, it makes it easy for our courts, but not in the long run. I always suggest community service to my clients because it helps their self-esteem and provides a purpose to people who need a lift on all sides. This seems simple, but the truth is that community service is rarely ordered. I have proposed it be a part of all sentences- not in lieu of jail in all cases but a piece of the total.

There is much to think about and more to come. For now, the lesson must be that change is possible but we all need to look at the facts and come up with alternatives. If we do not use these high profile cases to begin a conversation than we are missing opportunities. For now, RIP Ms. Houston while the rest of us do some major soul searching.

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Filed under celebrities, community service, Conrad Murray, prescription drugs, Prison Consulting, Prison conultants

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September 1, 2011 · 9:03 PM

Hey T.I.- Prison is easy- Re-entry is hard!!!

Free yesterday and back in the slammer today! Rapper T.I. and his behavior yesterday proved too much for the Feds. This was so predictable. One would think that he would know the rules by now.

T.I. was released from federal prison August 31 and was to report at an Atlanta Halfway House to begin his re-entry back into society yet again. A person may transfer from federal prison to a Halfway House via private transportation, but that mode of transportation must be approved, and so does who is actually transferring the released person. So, surprise, surprise when reports surfaced that T.I. arrived at the Atlanta house in a tour bus followed by several cars in a private “motorcade.” It is obvious that T.I. had been approved to be driven in one of the cars and then went on the tour bus. A big NO NO. The Bureau of Prisons is very particular about how people behave while they are in the custody of a Halfway House.

T.I. has a long history with the Feds. In fact, he served a very light seven months in Federal prison in 2009 after he was arrested for trying to by guns from an undercover Federal agent. This after he served time on other charges going back to 1998. The 2009 sentence was a revolutionary Alternative Sentence that combined light prison time with house arrest and community service. In that case T.I. was looking at a 10-year prison term. Yet, T.I. did not learn his lesson despite a reality show called The Road To Redemption and was sent back to prison in 2010 for violating probation in that case.

Now it seems T.I. is at it again. So, how do we explain this? SIMPLE- he has an utter lack of humility. The key ingredient in life after prison is a level of humility. It is the same thing I coach people to practice during their investigative phase and a trial. Hello Blago and Conrad Murray listen up!

The main message here is that we need judges to keep offering alternative sentences to people and yet cases like T.I. make it difficult for them. But hey, at least we have Michael Vick and a true example of humility, Restorative Justice and hard work.

Successful re-entry is possible, but just as I said on Nancy Grace, Prison is easy, re-entry is tough. T.I., change is possible keep working on it.

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Filed under alternatvive sentencing, Blago, celebrities, community service, Conrad Murray, Federal Prison, prison consultant, prison re entry, rapper T.I., Restoratice Justice

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July 18, 2011 · 11:17 AM

Do we care where in the world Casey Anthony is???

At this point the mystery of how Casey Anthony would be released is over. Truth be told it was never a mystery. As I said on The CBS EARLY SHOW Saturday, all inmates have a similar release protocol. No, the Sheriff does not have to provide 24/7 protection and let us keep in mind that high profile people are released everyday.

The questions still abound for many about her re-entry into society. I also addressed this on the Early Show. Re-entry is the single hardest part of the incarceration process. Anybody can do time. But, many people have a hard time coming back into mainstream society. As with anybody I work with, I advise Casey Anthony to get help.

Celebrities in high profile cases often re- offend because of the enablers and takers around them. This case is not likely to be any different. After all, change takes work and admitting you NEED to change. How can Casey Anthony expect society to forgive her until she does the work? Maybe she should practice some restorative justice? Probably not, that takes work too.

Will Casey Anthony write a book? Can she write a book? That takes work too. Lying does not make somebody a murderer, but her lack of attachment and empathy do make her an unlikely candidate for change.

So, how long until Jose Baez looses interest and they too split? Criminal thinking is done in patterns. There are eight patterns of criminal thinking. Most people in prison exhibit at least a few of these. Number one pattern of criminal thinking- ENTITLEMENT.

Casey Anthony may never realize that there is a difference between FAME and INFAMY. Or, she may not care until she lands in jail again.

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Filed under bail, Casey Anthony, CBS Early Show, celebrities, Criminal Justice, Criminal thinking, incarcervention, jail, Jose Baez, Nancy Grace, prison coaching, prison consultant, prison re entry, restorative justice, success after prison, women in prison

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