Chicago Tribune and Menard Marriages

[Rostonhall]

There's an article in todays Tribune about marriages not taking place at Menard. The Tribune contacted me some time ago and this is the result. I did give the names of others this affects but they've chosen to do the story about Tony and me, sorry.

It's worrying that IDOC are STILL saying this is only a problem at Menard when we know full well there are other facilities where marriage is being denied the inmates.

As I haven't a clue how to get this article on to the thread I'll just tell you it's on www.chicagotribune.com and it's in the local news section, headed 'Menard prisoners face new obstacle to marriage'. If one of you can get this from the Tribune into this page then please do, even though it's about Tony and me it is a very sympathetic piece.

Rose

[jimsenglishgeek]

Good article. I like that it says she decided not to do this as soon as she took office. I still have never heard why she is against deputizing someone at Menard. Have you?

jims

[Rostonhall]

Afraid not but perhaps that might change now, you never know. I was impressed by the fact the reporter took on board what I said about deputizing someone and actually did investigate that.

Rose

[jimsenglishgeek]

Yes, I'm impressed as well. Has anyone ever told us what the objection is to deputizing someone? What was Sergio talking about when he said only half a dozen inmates in the state prisons apply each year to be married??? That's crazy! Menard alone has at least 30 applications that have been approved, and many more who have applied.

j

[Rostonhall]

I know, there's always so much hot air comes out of Springfield I should think they could run their heating off it. I know of more than a half dozen waiting, both at Menard and Springfield, that's without everyone I don't know about.

Ms Laramore never did tell me why she wouldn't deputize someone, she's always ignored that when I've mentioned it. It all boils down to the fact the SHE doesn't like 'convicts' and even when someone offers a solution, one that won't cost her a cent, she still won't do it.

Rose

[jimsenglishgeek]

I still say what Menard should do is haul about 10 or 15 inmates up to Ms. Larramore's office. If she's afraid to be around them in a controlled environment, literally feet away from the armory where the weapons are kept and where a crack tactical team can be assembled, why on earth would she want them to be brought up to her office where there is limited security?? I'm telling you, if Menard did that a few times, I'll bet she would change her mind. Especially if they went during a busy weekday with lots of little old ladies hanging about. I am going to write Ms. Larramore and tell her she is giving women a bad name. And what about all the women who work at the prison, and I'm not just talking about the officers, but all the admin staff and secretarial staff. They don't walk around like fragile wimpy women who get the vapors every time a big old scary inmate walks by. Arrrgghhh!! :argh

[Rostonhall]

The problem is, j, that Menard just can't do that. It isn't just the prison security who are involved when one or a group of inmates are taken to the Courthouse. You have the local Sheriff's people there, as well State police and several other departments. When I asked if I could pay to have Tony taken there I was told all the organization it would take and that the total cost would run in to thousands of dollars.

Ms Laramore needs more than one letter, perhaps others could join you. I'm fed up with writing, all I get back from her, without fail, is another copy of the letter she sent to Steve Keim last March. I really mean that, she even has the cheek to use the stamped addressed envelope I send for her reply. I just get another copy of the same letter, never one addressing the issues I raise or one even addressed to me, just this one to the Chaplain. If I ever have to meet this woman I had better do so with my hands tied behind my back because I just loathe rudeness, and my fists might be inclined to find her mouth, and I'm not a violent person, really I'm not!!

Rose

[jimsenglishgeek]

Yes, I know it would cost a lot of money. But -- and I know I'm beating a dead horse here -- theoretically, if they'd just do it once, I think she'd be horrified. And, I would hope the state of Illinois would be horrified at the waste of money. You know, when they take an inmate to the hospital they don't go through all that rigamarole. I get a perverse thrill fantasizing about a couple dozen inmates, shackled, cuffed, in their orange jumpsuits, flanked by a dozen officers plus sheriff's deputies with rifles, marching into Ms. Pantywaist's office and hanging around for an hour or two while her precious little darling employees fill out paperwork. I'm bad...

[Rostonhall]

I'd pay good money to see that happen and I'd have to be there with my video to record the look on her face, that's if I could ever stop laughing. I think all tehe men would get a kick out of that, too, I know Tony would. Send an email to the Tribune suggesting it. They have a letters page. They may just print it, I'm sure they have a sense of humour. It would cause quite a stir in sleepy little Chester.

Rose

[haswtch]

What a complete, total, utter WUSS. I hope she realizes how stupid she sounds and how uncaring.

[Rostonhall]

I don't think she's capable of feeling anything, she's certainly not the brightest button in the bunch. And I don't even like to call her a woman because that puts her in the same group as the rest of us, and she's certainly not up to it.

Rose

[TONYGIRL]

Menard prisoners face new obstacle to marriage
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By Carlos Sadovi
Tribune staff reporter

February 9, 2004

Thousands of miles of separation and a life sentence in prison aren't what's hampering the marriage plans of Rose and Anthony Hall; it's paperwork and the Randolph County clerk.

Because of financial and safety concerns, county clerk Pat Laramore in December ceased the long-running practice of visiting nearby Menard Correctional Center, a maximum-security prison, and allowing inmates there to fill out forms required for marriage licenses.

"If they are getting married in Randolph County, this is the only place they can get their license," Laramore said. "I will not jeopardize the safety of my employees ever. I was not comfortable [going there]. I will never put them in that situation."

Marriage license service is still being offered at more than 40 prisons making up the Illinois Department of Corrections, officials say.

But at Menard, Laramore has put an end to the practice, turning aside suggestions that she could solve the problem by deputizing a prison official to do the job.

Her misgivings have kept Anthony Hall, a Chicago man serving a life sentence for a 1983 murder, and Rose Hall, a London resident, from tying the knot. Rose Hall, who even had her last name changed legally to her betrothed's, was a pen pal of the man while he was on Death Row.

"We want to marry because we are in love and want to spend the rest of our lives together," Rose Hall said from her home. "I don't know if I would still [marry] him if I didn't think that one day, and one day soon, we hope, we would be together in the free world."

The couple is convinced that a pending appeal could free him from the Illinois prison, and they want to marry now so he could eventually relocate with her to England. Anthony Hall was convicted of killing a 50-year-old cafeteria worker at Pontiac Correctional Center, where he was serving time for robbery. Last year former Gov. George Ryan cleared out Death Row and commuted Hall's sentence to life.

Rose Hall, 57, contacted Anthony Hall after seeing an advertisement seeking pen pals for inmates in an Amnesty International magazine. The two have corresponded for more than a year, and she has made the trek to Menard several times. Rose Hall, a retired government accountant who is divorced, said they decided to marry in May.

"I nearly backed out. I was completely terrified when we first met, but it was like we had known each other for years," she said. "I couldn't believe how kind, understanding and compassionate he is after spending nearly two decades facing death."

But Laramore said that although she is not against the inmates marrying, she made up her mind to stop the practice when she ran for the elected position last year. She did not want to have the eight female employees continue to go to the prison.

She said the county's insurance company also barred them from driving to and from the prison, which is only a few miles away from the county seat.

The last time Laramore was at the prison was in December, when they were required to finish pending requests. She said several inmates were led into an office where she and one of her workers were alone with the men. Guards watched from outside the room and were only present for the last inmate they saw that day.

"It was a very terrible experience, and that made me decide right then I would never have one of my employees put in that situation again," she said. "The very last person we issued a marriage license to was handcuffed and had ankle bracelets. There was never a guard before."

She said she would still allow inmates to fill out the paperwork if they are taken to the county clerk's office.

But Sergio Molina, a spokesman for the Illinois Department of Corrections, said prison officials only would transport prisoners for court dates or emergency medical visits. Inmates are not allowed conjugal visits, he said.

Menard is the only facility where problems have been reported, he said. At the other prisons, county officials have been making the trips to the facilities. Less than half a dozen inmates in the state prison system ask to be married each year, Molina said.

"They're still trying to find a way to get it done," he said of Hall's request. "They are a maximum-security facility, and their primary mission is not to take inmates outside to get marriage licenses. Our primary mission is to maintain the safety and security at the facility."

Robin Harper-Whitehead, the past president of the Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders, said she has not heard of any other clerk in Illinois not issuing licenses to prison inmates.

Harper-Whitehead, clerk in Johnson County, where two state prisons are located, said Laramore could deputize a prison employee to fill out the paperwork.


Copyright © 2004, Chicago Tribune



Here's the article
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[CET]

lol Your comments are a hoot. Yes, when the lady said that it was a "terrible experience" for she and a clerk to go to the prison, she obviously was of the mentality that these were barbarians out of control who were going to attack them on the spot. how many little old ladies are in the licensing office?
Rose, it was a good article.

[CET]

I think if she had all four English ladies show up that she'd be quaking in fear!!

[CLEE]

Ha Ha Cet. I Think You're Correct With That Comment. It Is Crazy! And The Sad Thing Is That People Who Aren't Involved Have No Clue What These Guys Are Like And How "un" Scary Most Of Them Are. And They Are Going To Read That Or Anything Even With The Slightenst Comment Like She Made And Think They Belong Where They Are And They Can't Be Trusted Around Anyone! Most People Have That Idea About Them Now. Ugh! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! It's An Up "mountain" Battle! But Worth It!