kmeg
11-11-2002, 07:06 PM
Hi All.... This is the letter that Pam has helped me with....to get my wonder hubby home on time. Whatcha think? Hope it puts a fire under someones butt!!!
CJ
November 11, 2002
Director
Reginald Wilkinson
Ohio Dept of Rehabilitation and Correction
1050 Freeway Dr N
Columbus, Ohio 43229
Dear Mr. Wilkinson,
I am writing you today to personally ask for your attention and assistance regarding a situation that has occurred in your department. The situation I am referring to involves my husband, , who is currently incarcerated in one of your facilities, Noble Correctional Institute in Caldwell, Ohio.
My husband is currently in the process of being released on parole. This process has been made more difficult by the lack of communication and follow-up by several of those in your department.
A short summary of what has occurred (or not occurred) is as follows. While he was held at the Correctional Reception Center in Orient, he was unable to meet with the person managing his case. After his hearing on October 2nd 2002, he had signed up on more than one occasion to meet with his caseworker regarding his parole transfer packet but was unable to get any type of a response before his transfer to NCI on October 22nd. We were later informed that the transfer paperwork should have been completed within 7 – 10 days after his hearing.
The day after his transfer I was able to speak with Mrs. Jax, at NCI, concerning his parole transfer. She assured me that he would meet with a case manager the next day. On October 24th he met with Mrs. Slifko, who was very helpful in completing the paperwork with Frank. It was completed and then forwarded to the case manager of the unit he would be placed in. He was assured that the packet had been sent to the Interstate Compact Dept (ICD). Now, this past week, we discovered that the case manager Mrs. Slifko had forwarded the packet to had quit her position and there had been nothing in place for the release of my husband!
The new case manager for his unit, Ms. Makie, had discovered on Tuesday Nov. 6th that no action had been taken after Mrs. Slifko had completed the packet. In the mean time, I had kept in contact with Roger Wilson from the Interstate Compact Department (ICD) waiting for news that it had arrived. He assured me that it had not, but that he would notify me when it had.
On November 7th my husband went to Ms. Makie’s office to inquire about the packet. It was during this time he was informed that nothing had been done since he and Mrs. Slifko filled the packet out. Ms. Makie then contacted me and sent forms via fax for me to complete and fax back to them. I returned the fax at apx.12:45pm (Minnesota time) that same day. Ms. Makie and Mr. England told my husband that as long as the fax was returned by 4:00pm that it would be sent out that day to the ICD. On Saturday the 9th, my husband called and informed me that Ms. Makie had not received my fax. Once more I faxed the information. It was during the second fax that I realized the fax number I had been given was different than the one on the sheet sent by Ms. Makie. I then sent a third fax to the other number. After doing so I called and spoke with Ms. Makie, she apologized for giving me the fax number for the business office and not the fax machine she was expecting the sheets to come in on.
In turn I e-mailed Roger Wilson to inform him that the information would soon be on its way. He responded he would be ready to expedite it as quickly as he could to Minnesota. Mr. Wilson has been very helpful, and understands the urgency that that I have relayed to him in my husband returning home. We are now more than 30 days past his Parole hearing and even fewer until his release date.
The urgency of corresponding with you stems from the fact that the possibilities of a later release date, then what had been told us, will jeopardize my husbands employment opportunity.
Frank was beginning his 13th year working for Viracon Inc. He has an excellent work history, and in May of 2002 was one of five people out of 1300+ nominated for employee of the year. It is because of his dedication to his job that they have assured him a position upon the condition he return in early December. I have been in contact with his supervisor and he is currently holding a leadership position similar to the one that he held previously. It is unsure how long after this early December time frame that they will be able to “hold” this position open.
Directly pertaining to his employment is the financial stability of our family. We have two children, of which our 8-year-old daughter has a serious genetic disorder called Cystic Fibrosis (CF). She requires numerous medications and treatments on a daily basis to ensure that she stay healthy. Along with numerous trips to Minneapolis to see her doctor who specializes in children with CF. Without his timely return to employment, not only may our daughters health be at stake, but also my ability to sustain our family financially.
As you are aware, employment is often very difficult to obtain by those previously in prison, and if he loses this opportunity because of the lack of communication and an employee quitting their job in your department, which in turn forces his release date to be pushed back, this could have very negative implications for Frank and his employment prospects.
In further stressing the urgency, I have e-mailed Ms. Rose Ann Bisch who is the Deputy Administrator for the Minnesota Interstate Compact Department. She has informed me that after the Parole Packet leaves Ohio, it can take 60 – 90 days to complete. That would change his date to come home of December 2nd to, at the soonest, January 7th 2003, and possibly as late as February 6th!
At his meeting with the APA Frank was told that he would be released to Minnesota on December 2nd and also that he could inform his employer that he will be home and able to begin working. Only upon this information did we contact our employer about his availability date.
Our children have not had their father for almost 5 months. They have begun a countdown to the day Daddy comes home by making a paper link chain. Each day as they tear one off, and they see their chain getting shorter, their eyes and voices relay the happiness and excitement they feel. How on earth am I going to tell them that they will have to wait longer…. past Christmas…. they will be devastated.
And to add to all the frustration my husband and I have had, Frank has just had most of his personal items that I bought and sent to him stolen while he was at supper on Friday the 8th. The officials have made an incident report on it, but the hope of getting his things back is very slim.
Mr. Wilkinson, I ask that you review what I have written and help us to bring my husband home on December 2nd. Home to his family and back to his job, where he will continue to contribute in a positive manner. I have read your background and policy beliefs, it is with this shared belief, that I will hope you intercede and assist us in any manner you can!
I thank you for taking the time to read this and I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
I have also included, 1) Documentation regarding our daughters genetic disorder
2) Past reviews from Franks employer
3) I have included a few of the 30 character references that were taken to Ohio for the APA’s
review.
CJ
November 11, 2002
Director
Reginald Wilkinson
Ohio Dept of Rehabilitation and Correction
1050 Freeway Dr N
Columbus, Ohio 43229
Dear Mr. Wilkinson,
I am writing you today to personally ask for your attention and assistance regarding a situation that has occurred in your department. The situation I am referring to involves my husband, , who is currently incarcerated in one of your facilities, Noble Correctional Institute in Caldwell, Ohio.
My husband is currently in the process of being released on parole. This process has been made more difficult by the lack of communication and follow-up by several of those in your department.
A short summary of what has occurred (or not occurred) is as follows. While he was held at the Correctional Reception Center in Orient, he was unable to meet with the person managing his case. After his hearing on October 2nd 2002, he had signed up on more than one occasion to meet with his caseworker regarding his parole transfer packet but was unable to get any type of a response before his transfer to NCI on October 22nd. We were later informed that the transfer paperwork should have been completed within 7 – 10 days after his hearing.
The day after his transfer I was able to speak with Mrs. Jax, at NCI, concerning his parole transfer. She assured me that he would meet with a case manager the next day. On October 24th he met with Mrs. Slifko, who was very helpful in completing the paperwork with Frank. It was completed and then forwarded to the case manager of the unit he would be placed in. He was assured that the packet had been sent to the Interstate Compact Dept (ICD). Now, this past week, we discovered that the case manager Mrs. Slifko had forwarded the packet to had quit her position and there had been nothing in place for the release of my husband!
The new case manager for his unit, Ms. Makie, had discovered on Tuesday Nov. 6th that no action had been taken after Mrs. Slifko had completed the packet. In the mean time, I had kept in contact with Roger Wilson from the Interstate Compact Department (ICD) waiting for news that it had arrived. He assured me that it had not, but that he would notify me when it had.
On November 7th my husband went to Ms. Makie’s office to inquire about the packet. It was during this time he was informed that nothing had been done since he and Mrs. Slifko filled the packet out. Ms. Makie then contacted me and sent forms via fax for me to complete and fax back to them. I returned the fax at apx.12:45pm (Minnesota time) that same day. Ms. Makie and Mr. England told my husband that as long as the fax was returned by 4:00pm that it would be sent out that day to the ICD. On Saturday the 9th, my husband called and informed me that Ms. Makie had not received my fax. Once more I faxed the information. It was during the second fax that I realized the fax number I had been given was different than the one on the sheet sent by Ms. Makie. I then sent a third fax to the other number. After doing so I called and spoke with Ms. Makie, she apologized for giving me the fax number for the business office and not the fax machine she was expecting the sheets to come in on.
In turn I e-mailed Roger Wilson to inform him that the information would soon be on its way. He responded he would be ready to expedite it as quickly as he could to Minnesota. Mr. Wilson has been very helpful, and understands the urgency that that I have relayed to him in my husband returning home. We are now more than 30 days past his Parole hearing and even fewer until his release date.
The urgency of corresponding with you stems from the fact that the possibilities of a later release date, then what had been told us, will jeopardize my husbands employment opportunity.
Frank was beginning his 13th year working for Viracon Inc. He has an excellent work history, and in May of 2002 was one of five people out of 1300+ nominated for employee of the year. It is because of his dedication to his job that they have assured him a position upon the condition he return in early December. I have been in contact with his supervisor and he is currently holding a leadership position similar to the one that he held previously. It is unsure how long after this early December time frame that they will be able to “hold” this position open.
Directly pertaining to his employment is the financial stability of our family. We have two children, of which our 8-year-old daughter has a serious genetic disorder called Cystic Fibrosis (CF). She requires numerous medications and treatments on a daily basis to ensure that she stay healthy. Along with numerous trips to Minneapolis to see her doctor who specializes in children with CF. Without his timely return to employment, not only may our daughters health be at stake, but also my ability to sustain our family financially.
As you are aware, employment is often very difficult to obtain by those previously in prison, and if he loses this opportunity because of the lack of communication and an employee quitting their job in your department, which in turn forces his release date to be pushed back, this could have very negative implications for Frank and his employment prospects.
In further stressing the urgency, I have e-mailed Ms. Rose Ann Bisch who is the Deputy Administrator for the Minnesota Interstate Compact Department. She has informed me that after the Parole Packet leaves Ohio, it can take 60 – 90 days to complete. That would change his date to come home of December 2nd to, at the soonest, January 7th 2003, and possibly as late as February 6th!
At his meeting with the APA Frank was told that he would be released to Minnesota on December 2nd and also that he could inform his employer that he will be home and able to begin working. Only upon this information did we contact our employer about his availability date.
Our children have not had their father for almost 5 months. They have begun a countdown to the day Daddy comes home by making a paper link chain. Each day as they tear one off, and they see their chain getting shorter, their eyes and voices relay the happiness and excitement they feel. How on earth am I going to tell them that they will have to wait longer…. past Christmas…. they will be devastated.
And to add to all the frustration my husband and I have had, Frank has just had most of his personal items that I bought and sent to him stolen while he was at supper on Friday the 8th. The officials have made an incident report on it, but the hope of getting his things back is very slim.
Mr. Wilkinson, I ask that you review what I have written and help us to bring my husband home on December 2nd. Home to his family and back to his job, where he will continue to contribute in a positive manner. I have read your background and policy beliefs, it is with this shared belief, that I will hope you intercede and assist us in any manner you can!
I thank you for taking the time to read this and I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
I have also included, 1) Documentation regarding our daughters genetic disorder
2) Past reviews from Franks employer
3) I have included a few of the 30 character references that were taken to Ohio for the APA’s
review.