Lockdown Prison Nation
With the premiere of Lockdown: Prison Nation airing on Sunday, (Yes I am excited too!), I asked the producers of Lockdown to come together and send me some of the most outrageous facts from Sundays show and some that you all might have missed during two of our more recent episodes. These are the straight facts folks. I was a bit stunned once I hit the bottom of the list....
Lockdown: Prison Nation -
The U.S. has five percent of the world's population, it has 25% of the world's inmates.
California operates the third largest penal system in the world, right after China and the United States.
80,000 inmates are kept in isolation nationwide. - A rising suicide rate is linked to the increasing use of solitary confinement. Nearly 70 percent of inmate suicides are in isolation.
25% of all state prison beds are occupied by the mentally ill. Tops in Los Angeles county jail, followed by New York's Rikers Island.
700,000 inmates are released from prison each year - more than two-thirds of them end up back behind bars within three years.
Assaults on inmates have risen 65% in the past decade.
Lockdown: Women Behind Bars -
The female inmate population has skyrocketed over 700 percent since the late 1970's, making women the fastest growing inmate population.
One in ten babies born behind bars in California will go to foster care.
Built to house 2,000 inmates, Valley State Prison for Women is operating at 195% capacity, currently holding 3,900 inmates, squeezing eight women in cells built for six.
In prison, men usually group themselves in gangs; women usually build makeshift families. Women serving life sentences take on the role of mom, dad, aunt or granny, adopting short timers as their children. The family grouping is for protection, sex, drugs or emotional support.
After a pregnant inmate has her baby, she has 48 hours (or 72 hours with a Cesarean section) with her baby at the hospital before she returns to the prison.
Lockdown: Tent City -
Sheriff Joe Arpaio created The Tent City Jail system in 1993 after securing a batch of surplus military tents.
Temperatures in the tents can reach up to a scorching 140 degrees during the summers.
Volunteering for the chain gang allows inmates to avoid 23-hour lockdown. They instead work for about 8 hours a day, performing tasks such as picking up garbage, weeding, painting over graffiti, or burying bodies. Collectively, their work contributes thousands of dollars of free labor to the community.
Maricopa County boasts of the largest volunteer posse in the nation. 3,000 members of the community spend their time and money, training and helping to keep the county free from crime.
Yep, Prison is a deterrent for me too...
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125 Comments
Mandatory minimum sentencing has caused an increase in the prison industrial complex, including private prisons, profit margin. More American citizens are incarcerated and for longer periods of time. When incarceration is profitable, you can be sure people will be incarcerated! How much is this costing YOU, the tax payer?
According to 2002
statistics, the US has 5.7 assaults and 5.5 homicides per 100,000; while Canada has 4.0 assaults and 1.8 homicides per 100,000. Yet, our prison population is 546 to Canada's 118 per 100,000. And, our child poverty rate is 22.4% compared to Canada's of 15.5%, while Sweden's is 2.6%! What does this tell us about our nation's priorities??
The majority of inmates are serving time for non-violent charges and have mental health illnesses or drug addictions. These two populations have historically been our Nations throwaway populations. By the time the inmate is released they are more violent and defensive or frightened with even fewer social skills than when they entered prison. This is a lose/lose system.
Alternative sentencing and rehab in a sustainable community-based program where inmates function under supervision is a less expensive win/win system. If that sounds scary, remember that most inmates will be released without any supervision. Do we prefer they are trained to function in society or to function in a prison?
The sad part is that there are many who have never committed murder, never hurt a child, nor committed rape and yet they are placed in these dungeons because they join a gang to basically protect their own self in prison. What I cannot understand is why, after let out of these dungeons, parolees get revoked on minor technical violations especially when they had been in "ad-seg", for a long term, with no human contact, education, nor rehabilitation, just living worse than caged wild animals. It saddens me the most because we are doing this to our own American people in which I feel is cruel and inhumane.
It is true that we have people in prisons for longer periods of time, some longer then others. How can they justify putting someone in prison who had a burgulary charge and a person who killed someone in a dui accident for the same amount of time. (7 years)? I work in a prison and I see many things that most people wouldnt want to know. However an inmate said something to me today that made me think that I shouldnt feel to sorry for some of the people in there. He said think about all the things these people might have done that they never got caught doing, he said if he had been caught on everything he ever did he probabley would never be able to get out of prison. This is an inmate telling me this!
Believe me they arent sad little kids that just stole a dollar from mommy, these are criminals and they've been put in prison for a reason. Dont worry most will get out, but sad thing is most will reoffend and end up coming back. Deterrence just doesnt exsist.
As you say Deterrence does not exist, but yet it does, back in the late 80's with detailed analysis of actions between two conflicting parties, especially leaders or groups in a crisis situation, came to an agreement, so why can't we figure out a way to come to an agreement on our American non-violent isolated inmates?
As well as in the same time, the Bill of Rights, do exist. These are human beings we are talking about, not just throw aways. Like I said earlier, if they had raped someone, or violated a child, or committed murder, then I can completely understand the ad-seg point of view, but on the opposition standpoint, I am unwilling to accept only what an official says verses an inmate, regardless.....why you ask? BECAUSE...I stand my ground on the point of when we were kids, can't you remember, when brother or sister pointed the finger at you and it was really his/her fault but you got the butt whippen??!! Well I do remember. There are 2 sides for each and every story, it's just the other one never got caught. Each and every natural born citizen of the United States of America has a right to due process and I have come to realization that this has been over looked by our Government Officials and Parole Boards. Reviews once a year??? come on..it needs to be a little bit more than that.
Now please don't take this wrong, I commend our correctional officers who go day by day having to put up with violent,hateful, don't give a crap terroristic individuals and I am so glad you are there to help protect our community. It's the ones who are non-violent that just have a jacket or as they say are "confirmed gang members/security threat groups", that I do not feel need to be in these isolated quarters. AND YOU, THE GOOD..DOWN TO EARTH.. CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS... are the ones that know which offenders need to be there and the ones that shouldn't....
Thank You
Odessa:
Incarceration works to catch those who are a threat to public safety - such as the person who confessed to you an assurance of his criminality, but it also catches, categorizes, and demeans those whose lifelong label as a criminal is often times based on the discretion of a few, biased people whose payment comes from doing the job of putting people in jail. There are always plenty of criminals to arrest and prosecute in a large city, but what would happen if there weren't? We would still need to be protected from the violent few, even if it were not financially desirable to sustain an entire legal system for just a handful of criminals. What this line of thinking has brought me to is: What were the original guidelines of our legal system and are they still adequate today? Many prisoners live in poverty, while those in the legal system do not. Do you think that is a desirable choice for the inmates? You know as an officer that intelligence is not a good factor for why people commit crimes. In our systems, equality is continually put into question.
oops - I'm new to postings
Dear Concerned People of this Nation,
I recently finished watching the the show Prison Nation, and I was BEYOND APPLALLED at what I saw!! Can no one else see that our nation is in a crisis?? I am a second grade teacher at an inner city school and I could give you numerous names of students in my own school and classroom that I could almost guarentee will end up in prison! We have students threatening to kill other students (even a kindergartener who "held up the classroom" with a pair of scissors in each hand threatening to kill the teacher and the other kindergarteners in the classroom. We have students who are like a bomb and just explode with violent behavior (yelling severe obsceneties at the teachers and students, jumping from tabletop to tabletop in the lunchroom and throwing their tray all over other students while cussing everyone out, students who bite their teacher (even through their shirt, thus resulting in the teacher having to go to the hospital in order to get it checked out and taken care of)-- that was a workman's comp. case. We recently had a kindergartener who kicked another kinddergartener in the face 3 times while he was on the ground. Now we have other students (who are being exposed to this behavior) and now they want to bite the teacher so that they will be sent home, or threaten to kill so they would be sent home. A kindergartener who saw one student bite his teacher and then get sent home flat out told his teacher he was going to bite her so he could go home as well. This behavior is rubbing off on the other students. Our children are not being disciplined. There are no consequences for their behavior! If they get suspended, they are happy to get a vacation away from school! (This is only reinforcing all these negative behaviors!!) I could go ON AND ON about instances, it's ridiculous! I see so many of my elementary students who are VERY POTENTIAL students for repeating the Columbine incident and many potential students who will be in jail! Now that I have seen this show, I am so much more concerned! The inmates are coming out worse than when they went in! This is setting them up for failure! Our society needs to make DRASTIC CHANGES before we crash and burn!
We need to have HARSH consequences for prisoners in order to deter people from committing crimes in the future. My students at school have NO FEAR! In fact, many of their parents are in jail and they see jail as an upgrade! Free housing, free meals (already prepared for them), free cable T.V., free weight-lifting, sports, etc. WE HAVE TO PAY FOR SUCH PRIVILAGES!! SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG WITH THAT PICTURE! We need to put prisoners to work-- cleaning up roadside litter (rain or shine or even when it is snowing). We need to have other jobs similar to this as well. They need to be under strict supervision at all times, but at least this is better than having no human contact. This will allow them to at least be productive!
In my eyes, as soon as someone commits a crime, they lose all human privilages. Someone who commits rape or murder has taken advantage of another person and took away their rights, so therefore, I feel that the crimanal (once they have committed a crime) has given up all their rights.
They should have their sentences not only be based on simply just a time frame for their crime, but also they should be sentenced to complete a certain amount of rehabilitation programs and then be psychologically evaluated before being released!
Obviously what we are doing is NOT working. We need to make a huge change. That is challenging though because we are so OVERCROWEDED with inmates right now!
My opinion--- is rather harsh.... if a dog bites someone and is considered a viscious threat, people hardly think twice about putting it down. WELL, WE HAVE PEOPLE DOING MUCH WORSE THINGS... AND THEY ARE GIVEN MORE PRIVILAGES THAN ME?? (free housing, free food and cable, etc). I honestly think that we need to "clean out" our prison systems right now and instill a much more harsh set of consequences for our future generations. The mentally ill prisoners are so far "gone" that I feel it is impossible for them to ever be able to live a healthy and productive life once they are released back on to the streets. As sad as it may seem, these are usually some of the worst criminals and they (just like the viscious, biting dog) should be put down. This should only be done after intensive measures have been taken to rehabilitate them and when psychological evaluations have taken place. If there is no hope of them turning themselves around, then please for our safety and their own sake, just put them down! This will help to relieve the overcrowding issue.
Also, people who are in jail for murder and we are 100% sure that they are guilty, then they should receive the death penalty. If they have taken an innocent human life, then they have given up their right to live. This will also relieve overcrowding issues.
For the inmates who are potentially able to be rehabilitated and would potentially be able to live relatively healthy and productive (CRIME-FREE) lives, they should be placed in programs while in prison. I know right now that instilling programs is an overwhelming task due to overcrowdedness, but if that is no longer an issue, we can focus on putting in programs, such as (education, GED courses and college courses, counseling for depression and drug addiction, teaching of job skills, re-entry programs, etc.) WE NEED TO COUNSEL AND AID THESE PRISONERS AND PREPARE THEM FOR WHEN THEY ARE RELEASED FROM PRISON BEFORE THEY CAN EVEN HAVE A CHANCE AT BEING SUCCESSFUL ONCE THEY ARE OUT! Right now, all we are doing is setting them up to fail once they get out and according to the show Prison Nation from National Geographic, MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS OF THEM END UP BACK IN PRISON!
In conclusion, we as a nation are in a state of crisis and SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE. WE NEED TO PUT THE FEAR BACK INTO OUR CHILDREN, OTHERWISE MANY OF THE TYPES OF STUDENTS THAT I WORK WITH WILL END UP IN JAIL AS WELL, JUST PERPETUATING OUR (according to Prison Nation's statisics)
$60 BILLION DOLLAR A YEAR CRISIS. THAT IS ONE EXPENXIVE BILL TO BE PAYING IN ORDER TO KEEP A CRISIS IN EXISTANCE. WE NEED TO SPEND THAT MONEY ON OTHER WAYS TO ALLEVIATE THESE PROBLEMS! I know I DON'T have all the answers, these are just my opinions. If anyone else has answers that they think will help, please post them! Thank you for your time and concern.
P.S. I want to send a "thank you" to National Geographic and all the people involved in making the show Prison Nation. I am thrilled to know that other people are concerned about this issue as well. Also thank you to the correctional facilities who allowed National Geographic do a show on the reality of prisons in America. Thank you to all people who work work so hard in such a harsh and dangerous environment! My respect goes out to all of you.
Jon:
First and foremost, I am not by any means an ex-con/criminal, nor have I ever been a convicted criminal of any statue. I am a Business owner, I am a mother of 3 teenagers, I am a home owner and a tax payer, and I am a registered voter here in the state that I live in.
As you stated in the above comment: (incarceration)… not (ISOLATION). So, just what are we trying to prove here?... That we can put our American people, who do not abide by what our many loop-holed laws say, and just throw them into this 6X9 cell with no sunlight, no education, no rehabilitation, nor any human contact for 23 hours a day for however many years,... that's right year's not days,... That our state deems them to serve, then that is considered ok? Oh, but when and if they hit parole, and get out, they are EXPECTED to just fit right in to society!?!~~~ come on get real……they need some sort of therapy and rehabilitation and guidance…Remember, they will be our next door neighbor sooner or later….
We really need to look up the definition of cruel and inhumane in the dictionary. Cruel and Inhumane also pertains to mental abuse, which is what is involved in the statement above that which I stated, (isolation for over a period of years not just days.) To my understanding, this type of isolation was in the prison war camps and also concentration camps in Russia before we the United States of America intervened, what happened to the Geneva Convention of 1929, along with many other battles and wars, which I will not get into discussion with, and yet we do this to our own people. ... Oh, and to catch those offenders in threat of public safety, …HA!!, I have several friends who are/were correctional officers, and they were more scared of the other correctional officers in the prison verses any of the inmates. Three of them have quit so far due to the inhumane and unjust actions of the correctional officers towards their piers and the inmates.
So what if an "offender" confesses?? THEN WHAT?? they are a gang member in the prison?....
SO WHAT....I wouldn't want to get raped or killed either, so I guess I would find an organization, or as you state it, (a "Security threat Group"), also, to help protect myself. The parole board, which I have no faith in at all, just signifies that a parolee had a minor technical violation so revoke their parole and send them back to our overly crowded prisons, and if they are a “confirmed gang member” send them to these isolated quarters…. Is that not mental abuse or what??? Yes you are right, there are still plenty of criminals to arrest and prosecute, that is why our state still has the right to bear arms..but can we really? and what are the justifications stating that foundation? "Everything is "ILLEGAL"....except for the officials, and officers supposedly upholding the law, they can get away with shooting a so called “villain“ in the back and it be justified…. I sometimes feel that if I drink a bottle of water wrong, then I will get arrested because I swerved too far over to place the bottle into my mouth in public.
It all boils down to one thing.... As a child, we throw them into psychiatric care, then as an adult, we throw them into isolation facilities for however many years, even life... Is this what our American People actually believe to be a corrective mind changing atmosphere or rehabilitation?? I believe not....Most of the American people are just too scared to voice their opinion.. Or the sad thing is they just don’t care because they are taking a numerous amount of pills…………
Does anyone know how I can get this programs credits?
When does this show air again?
anyone know where to find maureen green?
Solitary Confinement in Texas, is this really the way for Rehabilitation???
Texas Department of Corrections? No Longer; It is now called Texas Department of criminal Justice. The name changed when the contract changed. Rehabilitation within TDCJ (Texas Department of Criminal Justice) is dim and non-existence when placed in Ad-Seg (Solitary Confinement, a prison within the prison). I've spent 15 years of my life in TDCJ and have recently returned to prison on a technical violation. Inmates are thrown into these cells where they spend years on end in a cell where each day they get one hour out of their cell to recreate (a rec-yard, so to speak). A lot of these inmates are non-aggravated individuals who have really never got into trouble, but are here for the mis-fortune of being a "confirmed" gang-member." I got down with a gang in prison many years ago, for all the stand up men belonged and in prison one only feels belonging in unity behind these walls. I was one of the few whom stood up for all the new boots(never been in prison, and of my race) coming in the door. You see, a lot of the racial inmates would prey on these new boots coming through the door, by intimidating them into paying for protection, riding, or turning them out into fags. A lot of these new boots, I would lace up(take up for/show them the ropes), most of them didn't know what to expect, but I did and all in here knew me and knew that I stood up for what I believed in. I was labeled a trouble maker cause most of my fights were with other racial inmates and or gang-members!! Thru the years I've come to see the system (TDCJ) change many times for the worse. Most of the inmates back here in Ad-Seg (of all races) don't belong here, some do, but there are many whom have spent years on end back here and will one day be returned into society with no education, nor will they even be able to function like a normal human being. It's sad for this is what society's tax dollars are being spent on, to "house" not *rehabilitate*. Then to house inmates into Ad-Seg for however many years our state deems and then turn them loose into society, where they can't function at all!! They could be your neighbor one day or live next to any of your family members, for that matter. I remember getting out of prison in 2006. I did 5 years in Ad-Seg and when I got out, I didn't know what to do. I had NO EDUCATION,... NO TRADE,... NO SOCIAL SKILLS,... NOR ANY HUMAN CONTACT at all.... I Thank God I had a family and a Loving Fiancé' that helped me through this, for I couldn't walk in a store without getting paranoid, due to being confined for so long in Ad-Seg. I battled day by day with trying to adapt in a world where things were so different. Administrative Segregation did a number on me mentally that I never knew existed until I was released from prison. I befriended many officers that worked for TDCJ and many of them believe it's wrong the way the system locks away an inmate for years of isolation for being a gang-member and a lot of them "Non-Aggravated" individuals. You the people pay the taxes, it's in your hands... you can complain all you want, but that does not change the fact that these inmates are still going to get out into your society, either, a raging lunatic, or rehabilitated?? The state could care-less either way, how bout you?? So please, write your congress, your senator, hell, even the President. Make them address these issues, for it will only get worse, believe me, I do know...
Sincerely,
Harley
December 10, 2007
hey are they going to air this program again? I missed the first times because of work and I REALLY want to see it. thanks.
You know Bennett, you are so right, they need to air this show, over and over again so our American people will see the cruelty and unjust that is happening to our American prisoners today..It is absolutely disgusting to know that we, pr really our Government, actually approves of this type of cruelty!!!
California has created a prison bureaucracy and is currently in a 19 billion dollar deficit. In the USA prosecutors and police withhold exculpatory evidence and have a must win at any expense attitude. Police often lie and use jail house informants and or other unreliable witnesses such as a psychotic ex to prosecute men. Men which make up 800% of the world prison population. You can read about this and other injustices at www.theinnocenceproject.org . Innocent people are persecuted and do go to prison, in the U.S. The Bible clearly stated that Satan is the father of the lie at John 8:44. These injustices will change only once the media exposes all of the corruption that takes place in the everyday court rooms in America. If exposed, people will no longer have any confidence in the U.S. legal system. Don’t forget that attorneys over charge there clients and when the money runs dry, then they quickly seek plea bargains for their clients. Prosecutors on the other hand are desperate for attention and are always looking for the next photo opportunity. Most judges are former prosecutors and almost always favor the prosecution. Lastly, if a person is of a racial minority, they are more likely to be convicted. America is headed in the wrong direction, and should focus more on how to get our children better educated.
First tsmers: Thomas Boggs, Ft Dodge, medium security youth facility. did anyone see this show? Was anyone bothered by this young man who appears to be totally out of his element and prey for those inside the walls of this facility? I am very disturbed and haunted by what will happen to this young man at this facility
These are good shows that let the public see what they have been told about prisons is a lie. Similar to the way the Nazi's lied to the people about how the Jews were being treated. It's not cable TV and steak, it's mass incarceration, Human Rights Violations and damaged people coming back into society at the rate of 650,000 per year. This is very bad business for the future of America.
This is sad, if you look at Al Qaida prisoners, they get everything even things law abiding citizens don't like free healthcare.
I saw the episode about Fort Hood in Iowa. I was terribly upset about Thomas Boggs. It is clear he exhibits anti-social tendencies and does not grasp reality. This young man needs counseling in a mental health setting if he is ever going to live a normal life. Prison is going to destroy someone who seems to be mentally challenged.
Ben and Bev....I saw that episode and Boggs has been on my mind ever since. I don't know why I can't quit thinking about him..I'm worried for his safety and felt so bad for him. I hope he's ok.
I spoke to someone at Ft.Dodge in an attempt to see if there wasn't something I could contribute to help this young man. There was little they could tell me due to privacy issues there were few suggestions they could make that wouldhave allowed me to help. They assured me that they do not suffer from an inordinate amount of fights and that the young men are in training/vocational programs. They wished it had been a more balanced report. They believe in their program and that they are making a difference.
I watched a show where they had new inmates 19 years old and up, but the one 19 year old they had on there caught my attention, this boy pulled a knife and got 15 years, are you frigging kidding me, and then the warden puts this young man who has never been in prison, in a cell with the prisons biggest bully, what kind of a warden is this??? does he want to help these young affenders never to commit a crime or how to become worst then when they went in????????? this warden sucks in my books along with the dumb ass judge who gave this kid 15 years..
I'm not 100% positive that this is the same guy. I've attached a link to the charges and sentencing of one Thomas Michael Boggs. If this is the same guy then it appears there is more to the story than just some 19 year old threatening someone with a knife. It would be interesting to know the whole story of this guy.
http://www.iowacourts.state.ia.us/ESAWebApp/TIndexFrm
Ken - His name is Thomas Michael Boggs. Regardless, you're right, it would be nice to know the entire history of the young man.
Sorry!!! Thomas JAMES Boggs
Apparently they're reviewing my last post. I wrote the guys name in wrong. It was Thomas James Boggs on the last link. Apparently that isn't working, so to see what this guy pled to, click on the following link. Then click start a case search. Then under "Trial Court" on the right side click case search. Fill in his last name "Boggs" and then first name "Thomas". The first listing is him. On the upper right hand corner click "[Criminal Charges/Disposition". You decide from there.
http://www.iowacourts.state.ia.us/ESAWebApp/DefaultFrame
I am a doctoral student working on reentry research with particular interest in community education on the process and how reentry programs are essential to public safety. I was especially interested in today's show and Joan Petersilia. Is there any way to get a copy of the transcript?
Thank you.
Does anyone know which prison was on the episode of the big tattooed guy with braids on his beard, that kept talking to that female guard?
For those of you curious about Thomas Boggs, it appears they moved him to keep him safe.
Clarinda is a medium security facility that houses male inmates who are mentally retarded, mentally ill, or have other social problems. It also protects inmates who are especially at risk of victimization by other inmates. The Clarinda facility uses a program called The Other Way (TOW) as a treatment program for inmates with substance abuse issues. TOW uses a phase system based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous. There are also educational services for inmates, as well as social skills development classes, and work details both in and outside the facility.
hiya, watched the programme about thomas boggs yesterday, in England, found it very disturbing, what did he do to get 15 years and then be put in "gladiator camp" and then be put in cell the units biggest bully, glad to know other people are concerned.
Its good to know that others felt the same way i did when they watched the programme about Thomas Boggs, it was very heartbreaking, he did not belong there and im pleased he was finally moved, i hope he gets the help he needs, i wish him all the best and hope he manages to live a happy life
Thank you so much for airing these very informative shows. For those of you who want to make a change, email your congressman and tell him to support the bipartisan Second Chance Act of 2007 (HR1593) being sponsored by Congressman Danny Davis. America has more of its people in prison than any other developed nation in the world - more than two million. The vast majority, 95% of the men and women in our prisons will eventually return to the community. They deserve a second chance. Their families, spouses, children and communities deserve a second chnce. A second chance to break the grip of a drug habit. A chance to support a family, to pay taxes, to be self-sufficient. Today few of those who return to their communities are prepared for their release or receive any supportive services. Many leave prison to return to the same environment which saw them offend in the first place. But, as they return they often face additional barriers to reentry: serious physical and mental health problems, no place to stay and lack of education or qualifications to hold a job. As a result, two out of three will be rearrested for new crimes within the first three years after their release. Considering the cost of incarceration to the tax payer and all the social and economic costs of crime to the community its just common sense to act to help ex-offenders successfully reenter our communities and reduce recidivism. Also , not sure if they will let me post this here, but a couple of sisters whose father is locked up in jail for thirty years for a first time offense are asking people to sign a petition that will bring back parole for non-violent offenders. Prisoners currently serve 85% of their sentence as a result of sometimes very unjustice manditory sentences laws. Check out their petition at www.ipetitions.com/petition/fedinmaterelief.
According to the Iowa DOC website, Mr. Boggs is in jail for "Asslt. to Commit Sex Abuse/Bodily Inj.-10 Yr Special Sent."
Thomas Boggs should have stayed, if other prisoners have to put up with the rash reality of prison then how come he doesn't?
While I feel sorry for Thomas Boggs for obviously being a fish out of water, before you feel too sorry for him, perhaps you should understand why he is in prison in the first place. After some digging, I found out that he followed a 15 year old girl into a mall bathroom and attempted to rape her while threatening her with a knife. Thankfully she escaped, but it just goes to show that there is a reason why these people are in prison in the first place. Should you care to read further:
http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2006/09/28/news/metro/eb6bf18e793ecd4f862571f7004ddc28.txt
http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2007/05/19/news/metro/7ce4e6a77c417a2f862572e000198046.txt
wow longstar there is really two sides to every story i also felt sorry for him till i read the news articals you posted what a little dip---- i hope he learns his lesson.
What Thomas Boggs did was wrong and indefensible. To assume prison is the answer for a kid with obvious mental deficiencies is a stretch too. This appears to me to be one of the those lives that could be turned around. Then again, I assume that prison does attempt to rehabiliate and educate some of the criminals. But it appears prisons are crowded buildings to hold these people until they are dumped backonto the streets
Courier: Boggs surrendered to mall security workers without incident and was then handed over to Waterloo police officers, Arends said.
During an interview, investigators asked Boggs what he intended to do. He replied "I guess I was going to rape her," according to court records
Appears to be more the village idiot then a hardened criminal
Thomas Boggs is a good friend of mine. Unfortunatly, we had a huge fight before he was put in and a lot of that could have honestly been prevented. He's not a socially impaired as they think. He does have some problems, but he just snapped.
Just to put in, the second link that Lonestar had posted I think gives him more of his character rather than his crime. I only wish that people could see HIM rather than what he did. That wasn't him.
People can change in the blink of an eye, but somewhere deep inside, they're still themselves. Just remember that.
Brittany- I'm trying to provide some help to Thomas though he has no idea who I am. If you could email me, I'm very interested in helping him and agree, from what I read, he was misguided and misdirected. hackrider at yahoo dot com Thanks
Bev- I have emailed you at the said address. Can't wait to hear back from you =]
Hey Brittney- Back at ya, read my email when you have time. Hope to hear from you soon :)
Boggs should have not been moved to Clarina. Keep him at Gladiator camp.
Josue-
You're entitled to your opinion and I certainly understand why you might feel that way. It's all relative to your experiences in life. I had 4 family members, 2 of which were pregnant, murdered by someone who did not know them. Then again, I have a cousin who murderd two women. He worked, made upwards of 90K a year, had a family was in his 40's and murdered two women. Where in your head do you go to be able to do such things? I don't know, I'll never understand it BUT I do see that Thomas Boggs can turn his life around as opposed to becoming a life long criminal because of one mistake. Think about it...
I agree with you Brittney, what he did was bad and must have been a terrible experience for the girl involved, but like you say people can just snap, we will probably never know what was going on in his life that lead to him doing something wrong, i can see that deep down he is a good person, i am really glad he has friends like you, and also Beverly who can also see the good in him the same as i do and is in a position to help, (im from England so i dont know what help i can be from over here, other than to let him know he does have support and people who care about his side of the story) please keep writing on here though so i can keep up.
I agree with you Brittney, what he did was bad and must have been a terrible experience for the girl involved, but like you say people can just snap, we will probably never know what was going on in his life that lead to him doing something wrong, i can see that deep down he is a good person, i am really glad he has friends like you, and also Beverly who can also see the good in him the same as i do and is in a position to help, (im from England so i dont know what help i can be from over here, other than to let him know he does have support and people who care about his side of the story) please keep writing on here though so i can keep up.
Micaela-
We're going to do what we can to see that Thomas knows he hasn't been abandoned. Its important that he doesn't ever feel hopeless or lost in the system. He screwed up and now he has to pay the piper but at the end of his time, he has plenty of room to turn it around and make his life what he wants it to be. Let's hope with encouragement from the masses, he'll get out of this and move onto a much better life.
We're going to do all we can to offer Thomas hope. With any luck he'll be able to turn this all around once he's released in 5 years.
I am a friend of Thomas's from when he was in high school. When he left our town for Iowa, he was a very good guy and a terrific friend. I don't know why he did what he did, and I do think he deserves the consequences. I don't think he deserved to be put in Fort Dodge, though, and I'm glad to know he's been moved. A lot of my friends and I are concerned for him but don't know how we can be of any help from New Mexico. As an old friend of his, I know he is capable of turning his life around. For all of you who would heartlessly say that he deserved to be at Fort Dodge, I want you to think of your friends. One of them could snap just like Thomas did. That doesn't make them evil. That means they messed up and need help. If anyone gets any more info about his situation, could you post it? My friends and I would appreciate it greatly.
I'm so very happy to hear from yet more of Thomas's friends. I to think he messed up and deserves to pay for what he did, but I also believe he made a bad decision that he can comeback from if he knows he has plenty of people pulling for him. You can email me directly at hackrider@yahoo.com. I'll respond with info that I would prefer NOT to post in a public forum. :)
Bev
Thomas Boggs, if you would like to help, here's a way to help him.
http://www.iowacourts.state.ia.us/ESAWebApp/TIndexFrm
Paste this into your address bar, then click on FINANCIAL
Bev -
Thanks a billion on your info on Thomas' current location!
Kreig:
Thomas and I are really good friends. He had actually mentioned you a couple of times over the years. There are things you can do to help him regardless of where you are. I'm all the way in Washington yet I'm finding out differentw ays to help him. If you havenm't heard from Bev on a lot of things let me know
Brittney
Hi,
I missed a show on last night March 30th, 2008 on CNBC channel 34 in Los Angeles called, Lock Down: Los Angeles County Jail.
Do you know when this will air again or can I purchase a copy of this on a CD disk?
If you could respond back I would greatly appreciate it.
Nick Costa
Glad I found this blog...
I'm from Sweden and here most people support the idea of rehabilitation.
It does society no good to lock people like Mr. Boggs up for so many years (!). He will come in contact with criminal element and be far more dangerous when released. In Sweden, we have far less people in jails, and still less crimes. Hard sentences are NOT a deterrent.
From a Swedish standpoint, the case of Mr. Boggs is absolutely mindblowing. And there are sooo many others like him.
Americans should wake up and realize there's something wrong, when so many people are in prison.
Amen to that Andreas!!
Heard from Thomas Boggs. I just thought everyone would like to know he's surprised at the attention he's rec'd and genuinely touched at the idea that people are interested and wish him well. He's going to school and hoping to work on himself while he's in jail.
watched the nat geog featuring thomas Boggs yesterday (4/may/08)..... first of all was blown away by the sentencing.... here in australia some murderers get less time than thomas did. My heart just went out to him as he is not capable of surviving in any general population in any prison. The poor kid is being mocked and thinks he is making friends. Not excusing his crime at all - he needs to pay a price for that - but 15 years people is ridiculous. I have looked up similar cases here in australia and have worked out Thomas would have received a sentence of around 9 months here - bit of a difference - but a price is paid here for the crime yet life is still there ahead of these people to change if they would choose to do so. i wish Thomas all the best and will look for updates
Kreig-Shiana-
Thomas phoned me today, he asked me if I could draft a post requesting your addresses. He would like to write to you both. OR I can give you his address. If you could respond, that would be great. You can reach me at hackrider@yahoo.com. He's doing better since they moved him. He would love to hear from you!
Took a lot of searching to find this site. I've known Thomas since he was 10. He really screwed up, but no one needs this much punishment. I'm glad he's moved; it sounds like a much better environment for him. Mentally challenged? Nope--really bright kid with a learning disability and many anger management issues. Attempted Rape? Nope--pressure from the police upon arrest. Glad to see Shiana's doing well. Trying to get a copy of this tape, since I've only heard of it and not seen it. If anyone has a link to be able to view/purchase it, please email me at erlandson@teacher.com.
I have a son age 24, who is a first time non-offender serving 10 years in Federal Prison for internet crimes. He is fortunate he is in a Medium security prison and he has not been beat up, harassed, other than his belongings were stolen the 1st two weeks in.
I am still shocked by the high sentence. My son deserved to be punished but I think the punishment should fit the crime.
What will he feel when he finally get to come home, unable to get a job, support his son and make a life? We do our best not to let him get in a negative state of mind but still he will have to face ostracism the rest of his life. It could turn him from a mentally health, working, tax paying part of society to a man willing to victimize people around him because of them being unwilling to give him a 2nd chance. We must as a society try to help inmates once they get home, to have jobs, family support, and encouragement. Only by such will we keep our loved ones out of going back in one day. We must beat the hopelessness of inmates.
The 3 strikes law is not working and continuing to imprison people for life for stupid minor law breaking. It is getting to the point that 1 out of 100 people in the USA serve time in prisons. That is very high.
In my life time (I'm 57) I have seen 3 family members go to prison and 1 friend. I'm just Jane average, white middle class and so is all my family. You know darn well if it is hitting white folks it is even more frequent for the black and Hispanic populations. Shame on us for as the general public for depending on the government to solve increasing crime and us demanding more prisons.
Something has got to be done about how the criminal justice system is operating from the top all the way down.
A Mom of an inmate
After watching prison, the solution was so obvious to me, that i was absolutelly dumbfounded by thre fact that no-one has mentioned it.
I would like to break it down to 2 separate issues:
First the issue of contraband inside a prison and weapons made out of common materials (shanks).....
This is so simple a little child would solve it....since it is obvious that drugs just don't parachute themselves into a prison, common sense dictates, that someone has brought them in....there are 2 ways this could happen...
1)mail
2)visitors
The solution is simple....no mail or visitors allowed...ever.
As far as for weapons...don't allow the inmates access to anything they could use for making them....that means not allowing household goods inside a cell....a cell should be clean, free of any objects or debree only walls.....only stainless steel bunk and stainless steel toilet with sink...hard to carve a shank out off stainless steel....
As far as people re-offending and costing the taxpayers money and grief?...the solution is simple:(and i'm only talking about violent criminals here)
Anybody can screw-up once in their life...so yes people should get the second chance....but screw-up a second time? No accident there.....so once again the solution is clear as day:
Execute second offenders immediatelly upon conviction....no lenghty stay on death rows, just stand them against the wall facing the firing squad.
Some of you might think that this is a little extreme, but if you think about it logically....it is the only way to go...
Some people will NEVER stop re-offending no matter how often you lock them up at the taxpayers expense....these people need to be exterminated like coacroaches or they will cost you money and possibly your life, if you happen to run across one of those individuals outside of prison walls....
Dead inmate dosen't re-offend, dead inmate is not a threat to society and dead inmate dosen't cost you tax money.
I'm not lacking in compassion and some of you might (wrongfully) accuse me of that....i'm all for rehabilitation of course and it should be available to those who want it, but those who refuse to change their violent criminal ways should executed upon their second "guilty" verdict....
This is the ONLY way to go...nothing short of this will ever produce any significant results.
I propose a "2 strikes and you die" kind of system to be implimented across the nation...i can GUARANTEE that this would almost eliminate violent crime in North America, because if the criminals are dead, whos going to do the crime?
Very simplistic solution Joe, life isn't that black and white, and killing all of the inmates won't decrease the number of new offenders.
Go back to the drawing board and try again :)
Maybe simplistic, but generally speaking....simple solutions are the best ones....
There would deffinitelly be decreased number in new offendors to begin with, because suddenly a career in violent crime won't be so attractive anymore, considering the severe consequences they would face.....if my idea was implemented.
And even if you were right about the new offenders showing unchanged interest in criminal career, their career would still be stopped in its track upon their second offense....thus eliminating their chance of getting back to "action", unlike the current system we have now and which obviously dosen't work and never will....
I agree, what we are doing now isn't working. We don't rehabilitate, we group everyone, the guy smoking a doobie on the street and the serial killer in the same pen. It's beyond me how we institute new changes in a system mired in fear, violence and lack of change by the powers that be.
Yes...this is another big problem....the guy who's smoking a joint shouldn't be in the same cell nor he shouldn't even be in the same prison....
I would argue that the guy whos smoking a joint shouldn't even be in prison....
i have known thomas boggs for 7 almost 8 years now. he is a very sweet guy, always has been. this is a very sad thing that has happend, but it really dont sound like thomas. wish i could let him know im still here for him and that i miss him.
Check your email. I wrote back with info so you can contact Thomas. He's doing ok, taking classes and trying to be productive. He has mentioned he would like to hear from any friends who care to write him :) He's a decent guy who was overwhlemed by his circumstances. Let's try to help him turn it around!
I knew Boggs back at gladiator camp. We played a little game about self-control. I ended up losing mine. He ended up in PC.
Hey PC! PC! PeeeCeee! Yeah, that PC punk couldnt even leg press his own weight. He was prey for the brothers. PEEEEE_CEEEE!!!!!
It's good to see that he'll be ok when he finally leaves prison...appears you guys will be revisting prison again...and again...and again...
Thomas Boggs deserved what he got; he tried to rape a 16 year old girl, and if he wasnt in jail, then he would get caught eventually for doing it again...and again...and again.
I wish Boggs was my celly. The time would've passed much faster.
I heard child molesters receive favorable treatment in prison. Im sure Boggs received the same or similar treatment at every institution he attended. Your right Bev, he probably will be "ok" when he leaves...if your definition of "ok" is being sentenced to prison for attempted rape of a child, and then, while incarcerated, being raped himself. Boggs has a unique perspective, doesnt he? That of the raper/rapee. I doubt Boggs will EVER live a normal life.
i'm confused, why do you say he raped when he didn't? He's not committed a crime outside of scaring a young girl who btw forgave him as did her family. So many haters, generation lost....
I never said he raped that girl. I said he was "sentenced to prison for ATTEMPTED RAPE OF A CHILD." Bev, you may want to brush up on your reading comprehension skills. And just because his victim and her family forgave Boggs doesnt, in any way, lessen what Boggs did. Its not even relevant to the discussion. Boggs forced a 16 year old girl into a bathroom at knife point with the intent of raping her. The only reason he didnt actually penetrate that poor girl was because she fought back. In the eyes of the law, Boggs has done much more than just scare a girl.
He wasn't tried for attempted rape but for assault. I can read, I just chose to read the facts. I don't believe he had any intention to rape, he could have easily stated he was going to rob the girl. He was definitely wrong but a first time offender. You have certainly added some details to your version of the truth.
He didn't rape and he was no where near penetration. This was a few minute ordeal, not a life time of scarring. Sounds like there's something more to this then you are insinuating.
hi it really bothered me to see thomas boggs treatment i know his crime i read all the links,here in ireland people wont serve near 15 years for murder still murder rate is low,but thats the law in the u.s. maybe if the documentary was shown to all teenagers to show that this is what happens to even "good guys" like thomas boggs,they will take notice.
Btw, I'm a freind of Thomas Boggs. He has multiple personality disorder and is very ashamed of it. A psychologist discovered this, and that's why he was moved to Clarinda. He didn't know what he was doing when he attacked that girl.
I didn't post that last comment and don't know who did.
Not to worry Shiana those of us who know better don't bother giving the haters too much thought. :)
Heather, it's been quite a while since you posted that comment, butI was wondering if you found a place to purchase the episode? I've looked, with no success.
You can find excerpts on youtube
i cant under stand all you idiots wanting to know about that little fatt freike boggs .look he try to rape a girl .what would you do if it was your girl? yeh thought so let him do his time the hard way hes a pedofile period.there is no way to stopp someone like him when he is out of prison he will have a lott of pedofile frends he met inside .they all need hanging there is no cure for them (ever) so bev and brittney is it (aka coward) take your head out your arses ok if anyone has summit to say to me about this my msn addy is theplayer71@hotmail.co.uk ok im not into giving out email addys ok
Sparra...I understand your point, but I think you lack facts. If he were a pedophile I wouldn't support him either.Spell check broken?
bye the way boggs should have been put in 1 of the ovens in iowa jail of full power the fatt twat.all you people who feel sorry for him well? i guess you need help aswell.cause to tell you the truth hes a fucking idiot.like i said you no my msn addy if ya want to say anything about it
i must say i have to agree with him above me he seems right.why feel sorry for people like him?????????????
hey bev that sparra is right he seems to know what hes talking about and we dont feel the same way you do the dude left his msn for you to talk? get in touch with that person
just hang people like him then there is no more threat.so why argue over some fatt pervert kid
I'm more concerned that there are this many people out there incapable of stringing a group of words together to form a sentence.
sparra UK / gary / coggy - clearly the same person.
your spot on there scott.but he knows what hes talking about dont he
boggs hung him self in prison .
Bev - it's good that there are people like you in the world. The world can use more people that actually have compassion vs. just want to watch the gladiators kill the weak.
The USA seems to be a land of contrast, hypocrisy, intensity, uncontrolled emotion. Christianity alongside death penalties, maximised sentences, abortion 'rights' and capitalism.
Justice and revenge are two separate concepts. Justice is a process of healing, repentance, forgiveness and acceptance. Revenge is self consuming and destructive. Pope John Paul IIs forgiveness of his would be Turkish assassin exemplified this. The most advanced countries in the world advocate this concept through shorter prison sentences focused on rehabilitation and reintegrating offenders into society to ensure they are productive members of the community. Examples of these countries include Nordic European countries - the UN ranks these as having the highest standards of living and technological advancement. These are socialist principles and complement other govt policies such as equally (free) available health care, child care, education, etc supported by regressive taxes that put the focus on work ethic & fulfillment rather than greed.
Boggs' situation is an example of a failed society.
My family was victimized 21 years ago this week. We had a family member murdered along with his pregnant wife. So I'm not without prejudice. I truly believe that in Thomas Boggs case that we are unfairly punishing hime for small town America's over reaction. It's the "there's a rapist/murderer/child molester" on every corner theory. I agree that we aren't rehabilitating or forgiving people for their crimes once they've paid for their actions. That isn't to say many of our offenders belong in prison, long term. I believe we have to decide to rehabilitate young men and women not warehouse them in subhuman conditions and expect a positive outcome. I also believe we operate out of fear, we make decisions and create laws based on fear of the unknown. Fear via lack of knowledge and incorrect assumptions.
let all the aryan brotherhood run the usa prisond like the good old days.hang all pedos like boggs
Hi. I first saw the show with Thomas maybe around January 2008 and all over Christmas I thought about him and prayed he was ok. It's kind of weird that as I was thinking about him the show was repeated in the UK last night (5th Jan 2009) so I watched it again. Something about Thomas and his troubles has struck a chord in me and I cannot help but hope that he is ok. He seemed like a lost soul, so naive about life and what it can do to you. I know he committed a crime and of course should be punished but there is something about the story that made me feel so sad. I have read through the comments on this page and feel good that so many others are able to see past a human being's mistake, even if others can't. I am going to write to Thomas, I don't expect a reply but I figure that any support he can get will be good. Is anyone (Bev?) able to give an update on how he is doing and whether he is happy to receive a letter from a stranger.
June 2009 Thomas update, he's doing well and can be written too at the following address:
Clarinda Correctional Facility
Thomas Boggs 6006465
2000 N 16th Street
Clarinda Iowa 51632
Beverly,
Thomas is my Great-Nephew...his father had custody of him and his brother...I haven't known where he was for several years...thank you for posting his address, it is a relief to know I can get in touch with him...thank you thank you thank you
Ive know Thomas since grade school. I found it hard to believe he did the stuff Ive heard but I guess everyone snaps from time to time. I miss him very much and wish I had away to get ahold of him. Thomas attempt to rape someone wow I never thought possible and I belive that he was pressured into saying that by the cops. Yes he has anger problems and learning disablities but he is one of the kindest sweetest guy I knew and he protected me alot. I love this boy he was the greatest friends. I mean i sat here and read some of these post and I really do appriciate that there are lots of people that agree and are trying to help him out. Anyone with info they can give me please email me at eeyorebaby_87 at yahoo dot com
To Beverly . If your reading new comments , I want to know how Thomas is doing ? And if you could e-mail me and let me know how to get ahold of him , I would appreciate it very much . See I went to school with Thomas in New Mexico and I would love to get back in contact with him if any way possible .
Its Alex again , To Beverly My E-mail address is : HCVFD3386@yahoo.com
Liz (good to see your post!) Alex (hackrider@yahoo.com) SUE!! YEA, FAMILY MEMBERS!!!! Please contact me at my email address. Last word from Thomas, he was doing well . I'm sending money monthly for whatever he may need. I've sent him magazine subscriptions he requested. He passed his GED. He had a job, so I guess he's doing as well as can be expected at this point in his life. I have heard from sooooo many people from around the world but what has touched me the most are the number of friends he has accumulated thru out his life who want to help or at least let him know they are supportive. How great is that?! That is truly special. So everyone, you can write to Thomas at the address in my post above, please make certain his id number is on every letter as well as your return address. He cannot all you unless he adds your name to his calling list and frankly I"m not certain how much money he has to make phone calls. I do know that if you get a cell phone with a number that is local to Clarinda it is considered local and much cheaper for him. Ok, if you need anymore info email me please :)
http://www.doc.state.ia.us/PrePaidServiceForm.asp
This is the necessary form to provide funds for telephone calls to Thomas.
don't forget to send Thomas a letter asking him to add you to his telephone list before you send money to his phone acct. I think the best thing to do is send money to his personal acct and he can transfer money to his phone acct as he deems necessary. Hope I'm helping and not confusing everyone :)
yes, lets send the almost child rapist money, don't forget to add a picture of your youngest daughter if you have one..... Jerome has daughters and he is not a bullie. if Thomas had mental problems his attorney should of brought it up in court. You need to send Thomas phone money if you want him to call you. While television made Thomas look like a innocent boy, the system put him with his own weight. how fair was Thomas with a knife agaist a young girl? or man to man at Fort Dodge...? The only person thats confused is you. Phone your OWN phone bills
another thing So how is the young girl doing? Did she have to go threw cousling? Is she scared to go alone to the restroom in public places? her family Must in christin and believe to forgive but you never forget... what problems in this young girls life did Thomas create that will last a life time compared to his 5 years of PC comfort of the state? How would you be after being attacked in public trying to be forced to give up something sacred, that suppose to be your choice to do? What have you DONE for the girl??? she's the one that needs support and may need money for her on going counsling. cell phones are not suppose to be used for inmate calls. it states that on the phone form, maybe i should have them to investigate Mr. Boggs phone records. Ya all are still breaking the laws..and since she was a minor, no one is able to help her, but her folks. Mr.Boggs gets fan mail, letters from loser women that can't get a man on the outside, money, he has it made. When he does get released.. I give it a year and some one's daughter will be scard for life by a violent famed rapist..who's only sorry he got caught. or it would of been RAPE OF A MINOR and more time.
Ok, Bullie, we get your point.Who is Jerome?? LOL Sorry, this blog has been going on for two years and I only pop on from time to time so I've lost track.If Jerome is the guy he was housed with at Ft. Dodge then all I can say is good luck to you! As for atty, Thomas was alone without guidance, money or knowledge of the judicial system. He didn't stand a chance. Phone my own phone bills? Please clarify?
It seems to me, that the girl and her family were willing to forgive Thomas so why are you so angry? He's not a repeat offender, this encounter that lasted approximately 15 min, no physical damage was done but I do agree, the psychological damage may be unknown to us. As she has a family and support, I would think she is being cared for but as she isn't a KNOWN entity in this case, there isn't much we can do to assist her.
I made a choice for myself, not you or anyone else. Last I checked, helping someone is a choice, this is my choice. As for "get a man on the outside" you've lost me there. I've got a husband, two adult college educated kids and a pretty good life and career. I don't want to "get a man" I actually do just fine on my own.
I feel no need to defend Thomas or his actions. He made bad choices and is paying the price. Thomas does not have a cell phone or email, as it is disallowed so I'm trying to figure out how anyone is breaking the law. Nor is Thomas famous or being supported by a ton of people. His family and friends are involved and doing their best to support him. Their goal is to help him frame a better life when he is finally released in the hopes that he is never so overwhelmed by life again that he lashes out stupidly.
As for you, education is a wonderful thing, it allows you to learn about the world and gain a multitude of perspectives. The public library supplies books free of charge, you should check it out!
You can now email Thomas. I do not believe he can email back.
https://www.corrlinks.com/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fDefault.aspx
Thomas Boggs
Clarinda Correctional Facility-Iowa
#6006465
Lockdown is my favourite tv programme
I recently discovered this whole story of Thomas Boggs after catching a video clip of his first day at Fort Dodge - up to the lunch line scene. I have not seen further footage of the National Geographic program.
While I do understand that there was a victim and that Thomas was the perpetrator of an assault, I honestly believe that National Geographic also "victimized" Thomas, and the State of Iowa did also, sending a "lanb" to "slaughter" like that. Yes, Thomas was convicted of crimes, and faced the consequences for his actions. However, incarceration in America is evil - a system in turmoil and out of control, one that takes redeemable human beings and turns them into desperate people bent on moment-to-moment survival. Thomas was a sheep thrown to the wolves - and NatGeo filmed it all to create a television spectacle out of this "kid".
Did Thomas benefit in any way at all from this television appearance, other than being removed from the Fort Dodge facility and placed in a more appropriate one? I doubt NatGeo gave him any money to appear - he must have signed a release prior to filming. Did the producers sense that he was a naive person unaware of the world he was about to enter? Did they prey on him, and use him in the name of "entertainment"?
He victimized someone, yes, but then he was himself victimized, and this endless cycle is what must stop. America needs to reform the incarceration system so that redeemable first-time offenders aren't regularly turned into monsters and lost souls. What an utter waste of humanity. Yes, his victim suffered, and no doubt will never forget what he did to her, but in my opinion he has ended up being victimized a thousand times more - by people motivated by a story and profit - and his story has gone around the world over the past few years as a result.
Where will the victimization end?
Thomas was victimized across the board by his most important caregiver, his father. He was required to support his father. This let to overwhelming responsibility and guilt about not being able to do his fair share to support adults who neither helped him or guided him. He was arrested alone and left to try to understand a system he was totally unfamiliar with. HIs father left the state, after all, Thomas was no longer able to support him so it was time to move on. Who does that to their kids??
I do believe the father has managed to marry and remarry in order to avoid employment. I also understand that the father has told Thomas he has cancer when in fact I believe he has kidney stones, but again, you have to ask, what parent forces their children to live on the streets because they don't want them in the house bothering the crazy step mother? Well, it takes lots of piss poor parenting to get us here doesn't it?
I grew up in a comfortable, middle-class home, with a mother, a father and a sister. My father was an educator, my mother was a secretary and my older sister was smart and popular. Everything should have been great, right? Hardly. My father never earned the title of 'dad'. He was distant, and he never believed a word I said. My mother focused on my sister, who treated me badly because she could, there was nobody to stop her. I did poorly at school because my teachers expected me to be as smart as my sister, and because my parents - as educated as they were and despite my father being an educator - were entirely hands-off about my own education. They simply expected results from me. Not one teacher picked up on the fact that I was adrift - or did anything about it if they did.
I've never been quite right because of my childhood, and yet, I ALWAYS know there are those who have it worse - much worse - than I did. I get by. I have a fairly good life, but it certainly could have been better.
Why am I going on about all of this? Because you, Beverly, are sadly right on about the negative influence a poor parent or two can have on their very own children. America is wallowing in the results of poor parenting right now. The freedom we as a society crave means there are no checks and balances in regard to how we raise our own children. The ones who's parents fail them, and who are "missed" by teachers and by other people in the community, fall between the cracks and are often lost forever.
What a waste. Generation after generation, it is only getting worse. America can no longer afford to fix this problem. Where do we go from here? The people in a position to do something aren't listening. Not enough is being done to break this insane cycle of wasted futures.
What is wrong with us?
I couldn't have said it better. Raising kids is a partnership between parents and kids. Kids can't raise themselves and spend the first 25 years trying to figure out what they are supposed to do next and HOW to do things.
In my opinion, personally, they only thing I can do is help on person at a time. Each day determine how you can help someone think differently about a topic or see the options/opportunities on the path they are traveling. We all need a hand and guidance, I'm 52, I need TONS of help, I still have a lot to learn, each day I discover a new reason to help someone who isn't me, it's the best way for me to conduct my life. :)
I feel compassion for Thomas. He made a very bad choice and now he is facing the consequences. I work with women who come from disadvantaged backgrounds and its heartbreaking when they make poor choices. I commend the people who are trying to help Thomas. However, has anyone tried to help any of the other young men who were featured in the story? Why so much concern for this one young man? They all deserve our compassion and I hope they can all participate in rehabilitative programs. Caution: ALL of these young men have participated in criminal acts. Don't be surprised or shocked if when trying to help them, you are victimized by them. I have been sucked in by clients of mine who swear up and down they are the victims but they prove themselves to be the perpetrators.
Agreed, Slyplace. You have to put yourself out there knowing that the tables can be turned on you. It may next to impossible to help one, let alone 2, 3 or more, we can each try to assist where we feel comfortable.
Agreed, Slyplace. You have to put yourself out there knowing that the tables can be turned on you. It may next to impossible to help one, let alone 2, 3 or more, we can each try to assist where we feel comfortable.
I thought Thomas Boggs had a pretty rough deal with his sentence, fifteen years WTF!!! He made a silly spare of the moment mistake and basically he's lost his 20s.... America sucks! I'm glad I'm British.
To the lady who discussed kids misbehaving in her school.....
Your school is in the inner city. The problem is not harsher consequences but better role models and better home environments. Most parents know that children are like mirrors and they act what they see. If a child sees violence in his neighborhood, what do you think he is going to learn???
A lot of guys in the prison system have learned that "Being a man means I am strong and people need to fear me". It is a lot easier to change that mentality in a child then in an adult so a big part of the solution is reaching out to these people, especially the kids, and giving them positive influences....instead of negative ones.
The reason why a lot of this doesn't happen is because of our prejudices. (think The Blind Side and the salad lunch scene) A lot of people are very quick to justify themselves and say....I never did anything like that so they deserve what they are getting. While there must be consequences and punishment, I would like to see a lot of these 'perfect adults' do a better job if they had the background of some of these kids....Remember Michael Ore was a miracle story....that is not what typically happens. Who knows what any of us would do if we grew up like that.
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