I read that Bernie Madoff’s son killed himself last night (apparently while his two year old son slept in the room–
) and it was being arranged to let Bernie out of prison to attend the funeral.
Is this commonly done in US prisons?
I imagine it is pretty expensive to arrange the travel logistics and to pay for the prison guards who will escort him.
Does anyone know who will foot the bill, the prisoner (or at least his family) or the prison itself?
Many states have different programs for that type of activity. In MA the prisoner is expected to foot a majority of the expenses.
Of course how the programs work is an area of Great Debates. This is an ever contentious issue, regarding prisoner rights vs victim’s. Tons arguments involving actual costs and the costs prisoners are required to pay. Then the issue of the wealthy imprisoned being able to fund activities that make there imprisonment more tolerable vs the poor imprisoned who effectively have less freedom even though they are imprisoned for the same reasons.
Back when Paris Hilton (or maybe it was Lindsay Lohan) was in jail, I read that in California they apparently have jails that are much nicer than the average jail, with better food and more recreational activities, (and maybe discounted vodka and cocaine for all I know) that prisoners who can afford it can pay the state to be incarcerated in.
I was quite shocked to find this out, as it seems to run counter to the “everybody equal in the eyes of the law” notion that I have always heard about.
Everyone is equal.
Some are just more equal than others.
I don’t know about actual prisoners, (as in, convicted and in prison), but my father once told me about the time he had a funeral for a two-year-old who was beaten to death by his parents. He said they brought the mother in in shackles. (According to him, he had to leave the room at that point.)
(At the time, he said, I was only a baby, so it was especially hard on him)
Does the money they pay subsidize prisons for the poor?
They serve time in a plush prison with a music room and computers and all the books they want. They serve a relaxed time . It is not free but it is not like jail for the rest of us.
I knew a woman (ex-crappy-girlfriend of a very good friend) who was in prison for a year. Her father died and her mom paid $500 for her to attend the funeral. They had to pay for transportation (the prison was less than 30 miles from funeral site) and two guards to accompany her. She was allowed to wear “funeral clothes” and not a prison jumpsuit. Mom had to bring clothes to the church and she had to change in the church restroom accompanied by the female guard while the male guard stood outside the door… reverse process on the way out as soon as the funeral service was over. Not allowed to attend the reception that followed.
The most likely scenario is that Madoff will be temporarily transferred to the federal prison in Otisville, NY. It’s within easy driving distance of New York City. They’ll transport him down like they would do for a doctor appointment or a court appearance. Funeral trips for immediate family members are pretty routine.
I could tell you more specifics about how it works but I worked in New York state prisons and Madoff is serving in a federal prison.
While it’s probably true that there are counties in California with jails nicer than Los Angeles, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan both did their time at Century Regional Detention Facility, which last time I checked was the only women’s jail in the county.
So, um, cite?
In Illinois they have “compassionate leave” that covers things like funerals. I know awhile back it was being criticized by prisoner’s rights groups, 'cause it was taking up to six weeks to get the leave approved, which doesn’t help out much for funerals or to see your mother on her deathbed type of things
I don’t think that Paris was supposed to have actually opted for the “upgraded” jail stint, just that it was an option that was open to certain prisoners. (I assume this is only for non-violent offenders, not your wealthy socialite axe-murderess)
I don’t remember the specifics, other than that there are facilities where the prisoner could pay the city/state and would then have access to better food, a larger cell, available use of cell-phones, more entertainment options, etc.
Any California Dopers out there who have heard about this?
“When a man’s mother dies and, uh, he gets to thinking about her funeral and paying respects. Before he knows it, his mind ain’t right. He’s got rabbit in his blood and he runs.”
from Cool Hand Luke
If Madoff wanted to pay his son respect he’d stay in prison. Maybe some nice reporter will ask him why he thinks his son committed suicide.
I’m a California Doper, but as far as I know, the above is a widely believed, but untrue, urban legend.
Agreed.
Maybe ol’ Bernie is a Doper who agrees with Magiver, as I just read that he announced today that he will not attend the funeral after all, because he realizes that his attendance would create a media circus.