Tag Archives: Dr. Conrad Murray

November 17, 2011 · 11:17 AM

HOW TO PREPARE FOR PRISON MATTERS-PREP 101

Here we are in November, the busiest time for criminal cases, and yet there still is a disconnect between what lawyers and judges think happens once convicted and what actually happens. To be clear, I am only talking about non-violent offenders. This is the population I work with and was a part of. This why people who are about to go on trial or enter a guilty plea must be PREPARED. Yet, few are urged to even by their own lawyers. Every day I am faced with clients who are not educated at all as to what they will face once the judge says guilty.

I understand they do not teach much of this in law school, and lawyers and judges have not spent even one night in jail, but there is no excuse to not think about the client and what is going to happen next. There is prison and then there is re-entry and life after. I am going to go over a few major things that I prepare my clients for.

First of all, in many cases there is the option of self-surrender. That is a date is picked by the judge where the defendant is told to show up at the prison or jail .It’s like checking into a hotel. That simple until you get inside. Once inside there will be the standard search, cough and squat and other things you must prepare for. If eligible, I urge all clients to ask for this. Last week I had a high-profile client and the lawyer was refusing to ask and said she could just go through the regular county jail transfer process. Really?? My answer to the lawyer was “You do it. It’s awful.” And so they lawyer asked and was GRANTED a self-surrender directly to the prison. This, in State prison is known as a GATE surrender. That way one can avoid county time and the awful process of being transferred in a chain gang.

Next, I make sure that all of my clients have learned a little humility before they go. This way it will not be such a shock and the staff and other inmates will be able to relate to them easier no matter who they are. Right now there are many rumors about how Conrad Murray’s stay in county jail is going poorly. Much of that could have been avoided had he been properly prepared for both a guilty verdict and jail.

Lastly, make sure that you understand what the prison is like, what the rules are. You can get these online or through a good prison coach, and what will come after. That means halfway house, probation or maybe community service. EDUCATE yourself and your family. Remember that when a defendant goes to jail, so does their family. It is a difficult time.

PRISON is a different world. Once lawyers and judges understand this, their clients will understand it too and things will go more smoothly. And, yes, the better the prison experience the better the chance for a successful re-entry. Once again, over 95% of everyone in prison is getting out and most within 5 years. We all need to be prepared and better educated. This problem is not going away, but a good prison consultant can help. Ask any of my clients, but maybe not their lawyers! Change IS possible for everyone, even lawyers!

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

Leave a Comment

Filed under jail, prepare for jail, prison, prison coaching

Tagged as , , , , , ,

November 3, 2011 · 10:00 AM

Got Milk? Got Propofol? GOTCHA CONRAD MURRAY…

As predicted Conrad Murray has been convicted and is already off to jail. But, why are TV experts saying he will not serve State Prison time? Yes, California is overcrowded and has started a “realignment.” But, if Murray receives the maximum 4 years he will serve STATE PRISON time. This is not a case that will be first in line for house arrest. Look at the crime and the defendant. There is no doubt that Murray over prescribed dangerous meds and propofol in a home setting. But, he also showed no caring for his patient or other patents. Look, he dropped the other patients like hot potatoes in order to work for Michael Jackson. Murray was more concerned with his many women and cell phone calls. Yep- it’s all about Conrad. Hello EGO. Further evidence of this is on the police interrogation tapes of Murray. It is here that we see Murray trying to manipulate the story while leaving out key elements to the police just as he did with the doctors at the hospital and the 911 responders.

Criminal justice experts understand that there are patterns in criminal thinking and in fact are 8 criminal thinking errors. Three of these spell CONRAD MURRAY- entitlement, grandiosity and mollification. In simple terms, Murray was, and is, oblivious to where his crimes began and where they will end. To support this I would ask people to think about how Murray may still be charged with Federal Crimes like prescription fraud and obstruction of justice. Where is the DEA???

An ironic part of this case is that Murray is facing so little actual prison time. It is the 25th anniversary of the CRACK epidemic and yet prescription drugs are now out of control according to the CDC. SO, are we going to make mandatory minimum prison sentences for doctors and other prescription fraudsters like we have for drug crimes in the Federal system? New York State used to have the Rockefeller Drug Laws. This term is used to denote the statutes dealing with the sale of narcotics like heroin and other illegal street drugs. These laws carried heavy mandatory minimums ranging from 15 years to life for selling as little as 56 grams. In 2009, these laws were revised to remove the mandatory minimum and was made retroactive leading to the release of more than 1000 inmates. Of course, most people convicted under the Rockefeller laws were low-income minorities just like the primary defendants in the Federal system where there are also very heavy mandatory minimum sentences. These sentences however are  for “illegal” drugs. Murray was pushing and trafficking in prescription drugs and is being tried in California State court, so he is not facing any mandatory minimums.

As a person who has worked with many people convicted to long sentences on drug crimes, and as an advocate for Equal Justice, I can tell you that our prisons are packed with low-level drug dealers who also have addiction problems. These people usually do not have the options and advantages of Conrad Murray.

So, why does Murray need an Incarcervention? Simply put, he is out of control and reckless without showing signs of remorse or any acceptance of responsibility. Look, he’s on trial in the death of his patient and yet he is seen out and about in Los Angeles as if he doesn’t have a care in the world getting pedicures and going to Disneyland. This from a man who should have learned his lesson years ago as he ran out on children, wives and debts. An Incarcervention may have helped sobered him up with a reality check years ago and maybe even resulted in the loss of his license. If so, would Michael Jackson be alive? Maybe or maybe he would have utilized one of his other doctor feel good’s. But, we must remember that Jackson and the Jackson family are not on trial here- Conrad Murray is.

Conrad, you need to start preparing for prison. I gave you loads of advice and have made it very clear that your attitude needs to change. Conrad you are simply going to have to learn the hard way that there are consequences for all actions. I would rather spend my time working with somebody who wants to make that change.

CONRAD MURRAY -“Look at the man in the mirror.” Like I always say, change is possible but it takes lots of work. And, when you decide you are ready call a good prison coach 1-866-229-8264.

FOLLOW@INCARCERVENTION

1 Comment

Filed under Conrad Murray, FAMM, prescription drugs

Tagged as , , , , , ,

October 24, 2011 · 11:18 AM

Conrad Murray needs to start preparing for prison…


Hello D.E.A. where are you???

The tapes once again say it all. Sad but true for Michael Jackson and soon to be ex-doctor Conrad Murray. The tapes that Murray made of his loaded patient Jackson are tragic and damning. Why would Murray have taped his patient while he was in a clear state of intoxication? The answer is simple. Murray must have believed that he would need this “evidence” one day in case somethinghappened to Jackson. Yet, they only confirm what we already knew, Michael Jackson was addicted to downers. But, the tapes tell a story about Murray and the myopic way he views things. Yep- it’s all about Conrad. Hello EGO. Further evidence of this is on the police interrogation tapes of Murray. It is here that we see Murray trying to manipulate the story while leaving out key elements to the police just as he did with the doctors at the hospital and the 911 responders.

Criminal justice experts understand that there are patterns in criminal thinking and in fact are 8 criminal thinking errors. Three of these spell CONRAD MURRAY- entitlement, grandiosity and mollification. In simple terms, Murray was and is oblivious to where his crimes began and where they will end. To support this I would ask people to think about how Murray may still be charged with Federal Crimes like prescription fraud and obstruction of justice. Where is the DEA???

An ironic part of this case is that Murray is facing so little actual prison time. In the Federal System there are mandatory minimum sentences for drug crimes. New York State used to have something called the Rockefeller Drug Laws.”This term is used to denote the statutes dealing with the sale of narcotics like heroin and other illegal street drugs. These laws carried heavy mandatory minimums ranging from 15 years to life for selling as little as 56 grams. In 2009, these laws were revised to remove the mandatory minimum and was made retroactive leading to the release of more than 1000 inmates. Of course, most people convicted under the Rockefeller laws were low-income minorities just like the primary defendants in the Federal system where there are also very heavymandatory minimum sentences. These sentences however are  for “illegal” drugs. Murray was pushing and trafficking in prescription drugs and is being tried in California State court and not facing any minimums. As a person who has worked with many people convicted to long sentences on drug crimes and as an advocate for Equal Justice, I can tell you that our prisons are packed with low-level drug dealers who also have addiction problems. These people usually do not have the options and advantages of Conrad Murray.

So, why does Murray need an Incarcervention? Simply put, he is out of control and reckless without showing signs of remorse or any acceptance of responsibility. Look, he’s on trial in the death of his patient and yet he is seen out and about in Los Angeles as if he doesn’t have a care in the world getting pedicures and going to Disneyland. This from a man who should have learned his lesson years ago as he ran out on children, wives and debts. An Incarcervention may have helped sobered him up with a reality check years ago and maybe even resulted in the loss of his license. If so, would Michael Jackson be alive? Maybe or maybe he would have utilized one of his other doctor feel good’s. But, we must remember that Jackson and the Jackson family are not on trial here- Conrad Murray is.

Conrad you need to start preparing for prison. I gave you loads of advice in a previous blog and have made it very clear that your attitude needed to change. But, Conrad you are simply is going to have to learn the hard way that there are consequences for all actions. I would rather spend my time working with somebody who wants to make that change. But, CONRAD MURRAY here is some advice for you- “Look at the man in the mirror.” Like I always say, change is possible but it takes lots of work. And, when you decide you are ready call a good prison coach 1-866-229-8264.

FOLLOW @incarcervention


1 Comment

Filed under Conrad Murray, jail, Los Angeles District Attorney, Michael Jackson, prison consultant

Tagged as , , , , , ,

October 13, 2011 · 12:22 PM

Conrad Murray needs to start preparing for prison…

Hello D.E.A. where are you???

The tapes once again say it all. Sad but true for Michael Jackson and soon to be ex-doctor Conrad Murray. The tapes that Murray made of his loaded patient Jackson are tragic and damning. Why would Murray have taped his patient while he was in a clear state of intoxication? The answer is simple. Murray must have believed that he would need this “evidence” one day in case something happened to Jackson. Yet, they only confirm what we already knew, Michael Jackson was addicted to downers. But, the tapes tell a story about Murray and the myopic way he views things. Yep- it’s all about Conrad. Hello EGO. Further evidence of this is on the police interrogation tapes of Murray. It is here that we see Murray trying to manipulate the story while leaving out key elements to the police just as he did with the doctors at the hospital and the 911 responders.

Criminal justice experts understand that there are patterns in criminal thinking and in fact are 8 criminal thinking errors. Three of these spell CONRAD MURRAY- entitlement, grandiosity and mollification. In simple terms, Murray was and is oblivious to where his crimes began and where they will end. To support this I would ask people to think about how Murray may still be charged with Federal Crimes like prescription fraud and obstruction of justice. Where is the DEA???

An ironic part of this case is that Murray is facing so little actual prison time. In the Federal System there are mandatory minimum sentences for drug crimes. New York State used to have something called the Rockefeller Drug Laws.” This term is used to denote the statutes dealing with the sale of narcotics like heroin and other illegal street drugs. These laws carried heavy mandatory minimums ranging from 15 years to life for selling as little as 56 grams. In 2009, these laws were revised to remove the mandatory minimum and was made retroactive leading to the release of more than 1000 inmates. Of course, most people convicted under the Rockefeller laws were low-income minorities just like the primary defendants in the Federal system where there are also very heavy mandatory minimum sentences. These sentences however are  for “illegal” drugs. Murray was pushing and trafficking in prescription drugs and is being tried in California State court and not facing any minimums. As a person who has worked with many people convicted to long sentences on drug crimes and as an advocate for Equal Justice, I can tell you that our prisons are packed with low-level drug dealers who also have addiction problems. These people usually do not have the options and advantages of Conrad Murray.

So, why does Murray need an Incarcervention? Simply put, he is out of control and reckless without showing signs of remorse or any acceptance of responsibility. Look, he’s on trial in the death of his patient and yet he is seen out and about in Los Angeles as if he doesn’t have a care in the world getting pedicures and going to Disneyland. This from a man who should have learned his lesson years ago as he ran out on children, wives and debts. An Incarcervention may have helped sobered him up with a reality check years ago and maybe even resulted in the loss of his license. If so, would Michael Jackson be alive? Maybe or maybe he would have utilized one of his other doctor feel good’s. But, we must remember that Jackson and the Jackson family are not on trial here- Conrad Murray is.

Conrad you need to start preparing for prison. I gave you loads of advice in a previous blog and have made it very clear that your attitude needed to change. But, Conrad you are simply is going to have to learn the hard way that there are consequences for all actions. I would rather spend my time working with somebody who wants to make that change. But, CONRAD MURRAY here is some advice for you- “Look at the man in the mirror.” Like I always say, change is possible but it takes lots of work. And, when you decide you are ready call a good prison coach 1-866-229-8264.

FOLLOW @incarcervention

Leave a Comment

Filed under Conrad Murray, Criminal thinking, FAMM, Federal Prison, Michael Jackson, prison consultant

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

September 30, 2011 · 8:42 AM

Is Conrad Murray the new king of Greed?

The Conrad Murray trial is now underway and it has proved to be more shocking than any of us could have imagined. As somebody who met with Murray, I am not surprised by his arrogance, but am surprised at the harsh reality of just how egregious his behavior was. I am also shocked that his legal team did not “coach” him and prepare him for court better. I assumed that they had hired somebody after talking with me. Wrong! Casey Anthony was better prepared than this.

Let’s look at some facts. I have maintained that Murray was undercharged. After all it is clear that Murray tried to destroy evidence at the crime scene and soon it will become public that he tried to do this at his Houston office as well. This is called Obstruction of Justice and people like Martha Stewart have gone to Federal Prison for it. I still look for a Federal Indictment from the D.E.A. investigation, as there is no doubt that Murray was “trafficking” in narcotics. That may be legal if the client is your patient, but there are laws about how many scheduled prescriptions you can write. And, how did Murray think he could get away with administering Propofol at home without an anesthesiologist?

The other issue is that as a doctor, Murray had an ethical obligation to look after his only patient in a caring and professional way. Knowing that Michael Jackson was an addict should have made him more cautious. But, the facts show that Murray way so incompetent that he did not call 911 or WANT to give mouth to mouth. What??? The audiotape that Murray taped of his patient was probably done so that Murray would have proof that Jackson was using. Proof for what? Why? But, that tape proves Jackson was so high that he was out of his mind, so how can he be blamed for giving himself the lethal dose? He didn’t know what he was even doing.

The case of Conrad Murray proves several things. Greed motivated his working for Jackson and his negligence aided to Jackson’s death. It also shows the giant disparity between Federal drug laws for illegal drugs and sentences in State systems for “legal” prescriptions. But, these prescriptions are only legal if prescribed properly. Let’s be honest, MURRAY is a DRUG PUSHER not better than clients of mine who under Federal Mandatory Minimum laws receive an average sentence of 9 years. Hardly Equal Justice.

 

I have no doubt that if Murray is not convicted in these cases, he will be convicted and charged with others. He just does not seem to get it and will surely need an Incarcervention at some point. But, it won’t come from me. Conrad Murray is not worth my time and while I always say change is possible, you have to believe you need to change and Murray does not. Just look at him in court and his actions leading to this point.

My advice, Conrad Murray, call a prison consultant now. I can refer you but you are on your own until you start showing some signs of remorse and then practice some Restorative Justice. Get going if you want to save yourself and your numerous kids. Old patterns are hard to break and Greed is not good!

Leave a Comment

Filed under Casey Anthony, Conrad Murray, jail, martha stewart, Michael Jackson, prescription drugs, prison consultant

Tagged as , , , , , , , , ,