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Messages 1 - 55 of total 55 in this topic |
Chris McNamara
SuperTopo staff member
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Topic Author's Original Post - Mar 20, 2017 - 09:07am PT
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Well, the secret’s out: my dad, who edits the SuperTopo books, spent much of the last decade in prison.
To be clear, it was voluntary.
Check out this great piece about his work with the San Quentin News: https://paw.princeton.edu/article/altruist
I'll admit, I was a little surprised when my dad went to prison. Why put your energy there?
Two reasons: Prisons currently make criminals better criminals. So when they get out, as 90% of criminals do, almost the same percentage commits another crime and goes back in. It’s an endless cycle.
The San Quentin News, and the Forums between DA’s and prisoners, are significant steps to break that cycle.
The second reason: my dad can’t help being an editor. Without his guidance, I would have never published the 20 SuperTopo books or the 1000’s of reviews on OutdoorGearLab and TechGearLab. As this article confirms, he can’t help but share his passion for writing and publishing. He gives people confidence and skills they never had.
I couldn’t be more proud, Dad.
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BLUEBLOCR
Social climber
joshua tree
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Mar 20, 2017 - 09:15am PT
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Man, that's super cool!
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Mar 20, 2017 - 09:17am PT
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Kudos, dad!
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Nick Danger
Ice climber
Arvada, CO
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Mar 20, 2017 - 09:20am PT
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Walking the talk, that is super cool! You come from fine stock, Chris. Kudos to your dad.
-Nick
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Ricky D
Trad climber
Sierra Westside
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Mar 20, 2017 - 09:22am PT
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At first I thought they had caught Fattrad.
Good to hear it's something equally inspiring.
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Norton
Social climber
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Mar 20, 2017 - 09:26am PT
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what a truly great father, Chris !!!
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Cragar
climber
MSLA - MT
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Mar 20, 2017 - 09:31am PT
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Just plain awesome, like 5.15d awesome!!
We NEED more people like him.
Thanks for the proudness post, makes my day!
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Ghost
climber
A long way from where I started
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Mar 20, 2017 - 09:32am PT
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Thumbs up for that.
And regarding the jacket he's wearing, I guess if he chooses to wear it, then it gets the "Editor's Choice" award, right?
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brotherbbock
climber
Alta Loma, CA
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Mar 20, 2017 - 09:44am PT
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San Quentin may you rot and burn in hell!.....May your walls fall and may I live to tell!
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Tobia
Social climber
Denial
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Mar 20, 2017 - 09:52am PT
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I applaud your dad's writing love and more so because of where he chooses to to work.
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BruceHildenbrand
Social climber
Mountain View/Boulder
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Mar 20, 2017 - 09:59am PT
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Totally cool!
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Steve Grossman
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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Mar 20, 2017 - 10:00am PT
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Three cheers for your father!!!
Lots of good work and lasting results can come from influencing often young people with a lot of time on their hands to think about doing things differently. Bravo for not giving up on them and meeting that challenge in a personal and direct way.
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Tom Bruskotter
Trad climber
Seattle
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Mar 20, 2017 - 10:04am PT
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To this point:
"Prisons currently make criminals better criminals"
Back in the day, my brothers had a friend who was a drug dealer. He went to prison for 2 years on a weapons charge. When he got out, he said he "learned so much". He called prison a "crime college"
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Mar 20, 2017 - 10:05am PT
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Very cool Chris. Hat's off to your father.
My wife's first cousin is a great attorney, and worked for prison reform for many years.
My youngest daughter has also taken a serious interest in prison reform. Pretty amazing for 19 years old.
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Gilroy
Social climber
Bolderado
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Mar 20, 2017 - 10:15am PT
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Fighting recidivism at every turn of phrase. Good stuff! Really good stuff!!!
TFPU
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Friend
climber
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Mar 20, 2017 - 10:15am PT
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Excellent. And great thread title. Sucked me right in - good editing :)
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clinker
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, California
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Mar 20, 2017 - 10:34am PT
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Nice title!
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Wade Icey
Trad climber
www.alohashirtrescue.com
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Mar 20, 2017 - 10:43am PT
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Thank You for your service Steve.
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Lollie
Social climber
I'm Lolli.
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Mar 20, 2017 - 11:18am PT
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Very good of him! Much kudos to your father.
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phylp
Trad climber
Upland, CA
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Mar 20, 2017 - 11:21am PT
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Thank you for sharing his story. What good work. You are rightfully proud of your Dad.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Mar 20, 2017 - 11:54am PT
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Never a better proof of the truth of the phrase "Like father, like son."
A timely and inspiring piece of writing about a very much-needed tool for communication and education.
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capseeboy
Social climber
portland, oregon
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Mar 20, 2017 - 12:08pm PT
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Hey, thanks for such a great place to hang out. Like a lot of things in life, people just look at the symptoms of a problem and never get to the roots of the problem. Best wishes.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Mar 20, 2017 - 12:24pm PT
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Great story, your father is a good man.
A friends sister was in San Quentin for many years, not visiting but living. She was an employee living within the walls of the ultimate gated community.
http://redwoodbark.org/2015/01/sanquentin/
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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Mar 20, 2017 - 04:10pm PT
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Really AMAZING, Chris.
I hope you're proud.
You definitely are part of an unbelievable family.
Kudos.
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feralfae
Boulder climber
in the midst of a metaphysical mystery
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Mar 20, 2017 - 04:22pm PT
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Thank you Chris, so wonderful to know about your Dad's work.
Bravo!
What a great person with a beautiful spirit!
ff
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Mar 20, 2017 - 05:24pm PT
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Super....quite the guy!
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madbolter1
Big Wall climber
Denver, CO
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Mar 20, 2017 - 05:26pm PT
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Shameless click-bait!
LOL
Good on him. And you.
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Gregory Crouch
Social climber
Walnut Creek, California
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Mar 20, 2017 - 06:57pm PT
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Marvelous story, Chris.
I tip my hat to your dad. That is good work.
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Bob Harrington
climber
Bishop, California
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Mar 20, 2017 - 07:21pm PT
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Wow, Chris, your Dad is a true hero. Let's see, Princeton '55, he's in his 80s doing this fine work. I'm inspired.
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WBraun
climber
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Mar 20, 2017 - 07:27pm PT
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The positive influences onto the world "like father like son" ......
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ryankelly
Trad climber
Bhumi
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Mar 20, 2017 - 09:09pm PT
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thanks for the reminder to give back
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Majid_S
Mountain climber
Karkoekstan, Former USSR
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Mar 20, 2017 - 09:39pm PT
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Your dad will have the best connections to the underground world that money can't buy.That is priceless
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neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
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Mar 20, 2017 - 09:56pm PT
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hey there, say, chris... wow,
i saw this at facebook...
wonderful of you to share this, from your life,
as to your dad...
love this so much:
The second reason: my dad can’t help being an editor. Without his guidance, I would have never published the 20 SuperTopo books or the 1000’s of reviews on OutdoorGearLab and TechGearLab. As this article confirms, he can’t help but share his passion for writing and publishing. He gives people confidence and skills they never had.
I couldn’t be more proud, Dad.
thank you so very much!!
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MikeL
Social climber
Southern Arizona
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Mar 21, 2017 - 08:53am PT
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There is a lot one can learn from criminals.
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yanqui
climber
Balcarce, Argentina
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Mar 21, 2017 - 09:22am PT
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Cool and inspiring
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Vlad Pricker
Mountain climber
Alaska West
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Mar 21, 2017 - 09:32am PT
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The best post/thread in a long run.
Cheers Mister Steven McNamara.
And BASE104 is not LEB nitwits. BASE is a fine geologist and Lois a fine nurse practitioner. They are professionals like CMac's dad is, I would rather listen to their advice than some of the clowns on StuporTopo. Whoever propagated (dirtbag?) that BASE is LEB is certainly misguided, if not a jerk.
SuperTopo does not need jerks, yet they seem to climb to the top of threads and posts.
Chris, kudos to your father.
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nita
Social climber
chica de chico, I don't claim to be a daisy.
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Mar 21, 2017 - 10:21am PT
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*
Inspirational story!.. 5 star trip report.*
Wonderful food for thought from the linked article...I wanted to highlight everything..(-;
“I kept my distance at first,” Richardson says. “I’d see Steve in meetings, discussing stories.” Richardson noticed how McNamara communicated with Michael Harris, a drug kingpin and founder of the gangsta rap label Death Row Records — and one of the newspaper’s early reporters. “They used to argue like cats and dogs,” Richardson says. “I could hear it over my machines. But they never stayed mad at each other. I said to myself, ‘Y’all can disagree but ya’ll can still sit and have a laugh together?’ I liked that magic.
“I was very resistant to Steve’s editing, to his tampering with my work of art,” Stiner adds, chuckling. “Steve does not throw his weight, or say how much experience he has, or argue with you and try to change your opinion. He invites you in. He finds out where you are and he moves to you. He finds a way — maybe with humor — to pose an alternative to you, and then you come up with the solution. It’s kind of hard not to like him.”
We are presenting an opportunity to work in a certain environment,” he says, “an active, mixed-race environment, with deadlines, with decision-making power, and with individual and collective responsibility.”
That is not small stuff. But, for the prisoners, the newsroom experience cuts even deeper, and McNamara has much to do with it. McNamara, Lindsey noticed, was nonjudgmental, didn’t brag, “dressed as a regular Joe,” and took the time necessary to earn their respect.
“Most of us, early on in the newsroom, were lifers,” Lindsey continues. “You are a castoff, just a prisoner, you have no meaning. To Steve, each one of us had great value, and he demonstrated concern for us.”
“
Chris, You have a Lovely Father... Thank you for sharing his story with us.. loved it!
Volunteering rules!
Saludos.
Nita..
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Vlad Pricker
Mountain climber
Alaska West
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Mar 21, 2017 - 10:33am PT
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Nita, great highlights.
Chris, your dad is awesome.
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NutAgain!
Trad climber
South Pasadena, CA
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Mar 21, 2017 - 11:40am PT
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Congrats for the recognition of fighting the good fight.
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Jim Herson
climber
Emerald Hills, CA
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Mar 21, 2017 - 03:17pm PT
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Chris,
Your dad rocks! That's so inspiring. A life very well lived. And you seem to be following in his rather large footsteps.
But for all his achievements, none come close to having the mental fortitude to watch his 16 year old son take his 13 year son up Zodiac! You owe your parents a cold beer for that one.
-Jim
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cornel
climber
Lake Tahoe, Nevada
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Mar 29, 2017 - 12:43pm PT
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Awesome Chris, your dad is a Real difference maker...
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the Fet
climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
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Mar 29, 2017 - 03:36pm PT
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Awesome work. Respect to your dad!
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splitter
Trad climber
HighwayToHell
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Mar 29, 2017 - 04:43pm PT
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Most of us, early on in the newsroom, were lifers," Lindsey continues. "You are a castoff, just a prisoner, you have no meaning. To Steve, each one of us had great value. And he demonstrated concern for us." The Golden Rule in action. Respect, indeed!
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labrat
Trad climber
Erik O. Auburn, CA
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Mar 29, 2017 - 06:29pm PT
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Wow! Your dad is doing great things. Thank you for posting up!
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Fathead 235
Trad climber
Petaluma
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Mar 29, 2017 - 11:48pm PT
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Wow! Great story Chris! San Quentin is a prominent feature in the landscape of my daily commute. It sits ominously out there on the point as if it were shiprock or the leaning tower, or sentinel. Tomorrow i'll think about your dad and the people he's working with. I wonder what peak will come to mind.
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Don Paul
Big Wall climber
Denver CO
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May 10, 2017 - 03:12pm PT
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In Colorado we have the ADX 'supermax' prison with 500 cells, each with one inmate locked down 23 hours a day. Most have long sentences and many of them crack up after a few years in solitary. Plus every prisoner I have met so far (about 5-6 in the ADX) has been on one or more psychiatric drugs, from sedatives to anti depressants to haldol (a mental straight jacket for schizophrenics), so it's a really sad place with everyone locked down by themselves all the time and tranquilized into a stupor. This summer I will go to trial with a somewhat new legal theory, that solitary confinement violates the First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and association. (I also tried to undo the $3.7 million class action settlement but as you can see that part wasn't successful)
I've had clients in prisons across the US and once in a while I will meet people like your dad, who feel so sorry for the prisoners they start their own charities. I had a client in prison in Bolivia, a woman went there every week to deliver food. Also knew more than one person who was pen pals with many inmates. It's very fulfilling, in small doses.
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TWP
Trad climber
Mancos, CO & Bend, OR
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May 12, 2017 - 11:46am PT
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Don Paul:
Send me your PO address and I will send you a complimentary copy of my book, "Murder Unpunished."
Only caveat: you must promise to at least read Chapter 1 - 3 pages long - and can then decide if it's worth your while to continue reading.
Sending this message on forum since the PM email at ST has a poor track record.
Same offer to any other ST member.
TWP
P.S.
Send your requests to my P. email:
t w p r i c e 3 at googlemail
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Don Paul
Big Wall climber
Denver CO
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Jun 30, 2017 - 07:39pm PT
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TW Price I'm sorry I did not get back to you, I'd be glad to take a look at your book. My address is PO Box 46213, Denver CO 80201.
My solitary confinement case is supposed to go to trial in 2 weeks. My client has been in solitary confinement for 8 years already. Here are some of the legal arguments in the case, which could apply to any "supermax" prisoner:
Isolation in the ADX differs from disciplinary segregation in the totality of the isolation, the duration, the reasons for which its imposed, and the technological sophistication.
Supermax prisons such as the ADX house prisoners in virtual isolation, eating all their meals in their cells, with typically only one hour per day allowed outside of the cell, and typically no group or social activity of any kind is permitted.
When prisoners in the ADX are escorted outside of their cells, they are typically placed in hand and leg restraints and are not allowed to be in the presence of other people without being in restraints.
Prisoners in the ADX are under constant surveillance and have few opportunities to have normal conversations with other people. Conversations with prison staff are scripted and controlled by the prison staff, and do not substitute for normal human interaction.
Prisoners are placed in the ADX not for what they have done, but on the basis of what someone in authority has judged them to be. (ie. dangerous, or a threat of some kind).
Unlike disciplinary segregation, the ADX houses prisoners as part of a long term strategy of correctional management and control, rather than punishment for specific disciplinary infractions.
The environment of the ADX is not therapeutic. Group therapy is conducted on caged inmates, with each inmate in a separate, but nearby cage. In his deposition, Dr. Wachtel described the group therapy he witnessed on his ADX tour as “horrifying.”
The harmful psychological consequences of solitary and supermax confinement are well documented. Case studies have found a range of psychological symptoms occurring in prisoners in supermax units, including appetite and sleep disturbances, anxiety, panic, rage, loss of control, paranoia, hallucinations, and self-mutilations.
Solitary confinement subjects prisoners to unparalleled levels of enforced idleness, and social and material deprivation.
The deprivation of social contact can undermine social identity and destabilize a person’s sense of self.
Depriving people of social contact for long periods of time denies them the opportunity to “affiliate” with others. The importance of affiliation in reducing anxiety in the face of uncertain or fear-arousing stimuli is long established in social psychological literature.
The use of extreme forms of solitary confinement in so-called brainwashing and torture underscores its painful, damag
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