Update: August 20, 2008
On or about August 16, 2008 Safe Haven’s Alsip Residential Program for Women was severely impacted by Governor Blagojevich’s Budget Cuts. Safe Haven had to put 52 Women and their children out of their residential program because of Governor Blagojevich’s budget cuts. The 52 Women and their children were dispersed to various homeless shelters.
Senators Barack Obama or John McCain
Posted on the Senators’ website
The Second Chance Act of 2007 signed by President Bush on April 9, 2008 will be appropriated in 2009. The Second Chance Act of 2007 is about reducing recidivism in the United States of America. Governor Rod R. Blagojevich of Illinois believes the Sheridan Project, housed in Sheridan Correctional Center, is our National Model for reducing recidivism. The Sheridan Project at Sheridan Correctional Center in Illinois is a National Model for racial discrimination and disparities, indifferent treatment, corruption, harassment and intimidation. It will not reduce recidivism because of these practices. It will not reduce recidivism with the budget cuts by Illinois Governor Blagojevich. It will not reduce recidivism because of the criminal thinking and behaving of the correction officers. Why would it be the National Model for reducing recidivism?
How will you address Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich’s Sheridan Project housed in Sheridan Correctional Center at Sheridan Illinois? Are you interested in reducing recidivism? Do you know that 1 in 100 Americans is incarcerated? When they return to our communities and are rehabilitated, they are the Second Chance Act of 2007. I am the Second Chance Act of 2007. Will future rehabilitated individuals be treated like I was at Sheridan Correctional Center as an employee of WestCare Foundation, Inc.? What will you do about this situation? Examine the letter written to President Bush. After this read, read the letter dated May 12, 2008 to Governor Blagojevich for the details.
May 19, 2008
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Re: The Second Chance Act, the Illinois Department of Corrections-Sheridan Correctional Center and WestCare Foundation, Inc.
Mr. President:
On or about April 9, 2008, you signed into law “The Second Chance Act.” Sir, I am “The
Second Chance Act.”
I was locked out of Sheridan Correctional Center (Sheridan) by Warden Michael Rothwell and the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). My “Illinois Contract” employer, WestCare Foundation, Inc. (WestCare), terminated my employment suggesting the termination is due to IDOC locking me out from my employment.
I have filed a claim of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against IDOC and WestCare. I am sending you the following documents to suggest the conspiracy, discrimination and nefarious acts of IDOC and WestCare against me and “The Second Chance Act of 2007.” The documents are as follows:
State of Illinois-Labor Dispute Appeal Recommended Decision, dated November 29, 2006
State of Illinois-Labor Dispute Appeal Decision of the Director of Employment Security, dated December 22, 2006
WestCare Employee Discussion Report suggesting a sexual harassment charge by Melinda Gubbels and creating a hostile environment charge by Kyra Peters, dated November 8, 2007
Letter to WestCare’s Human Resource Senior Vice President Michael Shields, dated November 8, 2007, regarding Discussion Report dated November 8, 2007
Advocacy Letter to the Honorable Congressman Danny Davis, dated November 15, 2007
Letter to Michael Shields regarding the WestCare Employee Discussion Report of November 8, 2007, dated November 16, 2007 regarding Ms. Melinda Gubbels false charges of sexual harassment against me
E-mail to Stanley Brooks and Michael Shields regarding the WestCare Employee Discussion Report Conference of November 16, 2007
WestCare Employee Discussion Report finding me innocent of the false charges brought against me by Melinda Gubbels and Kyra Peters leading to my 2nd lockout from Sheridan, but alleging other “communication” charges against me, dated November 16, 2007
Letter to EEOC to supplement my charge of Discrimination, dated November 19, 2007
Letter to the Honorable Governor of Illinois, Rod R. Blagojevich, regarding my “experiences” at Sheridan, dated May 12, 2008
EEOC amended charge and additional charge against IDOC and WestCare, dated May 12, 2008
Termination of Employment letter from WestCare, dated May 14, 2008
Fred L Nance Jr. Curriculum Vitae and cover letter to a “new” employer, dated May 14, 2008
Sir, there may not be anything you can do about my situation. Nevertheless, I thought it imperative to send this letter to inform you and your committee of how “The Second Chance Act of 2007” is carried out by the Illinois Department of Corrections, specifically, Sheridan Correctional Center and WestCare Foundation, Inc.
The Second Chance Act of 2007 is meant to reduce recidivism. It appears Sheridan and WestCare may not be part of this reduction process if they continue to operate in the manner spoken of in my writings. Recidivism can be reduced. I am a part of this reduction, but my rehabilitation did not come from IDOC or WestCare. My rehabilitation came from understanding what honesty, integrity and truth is all about.
Respectfully submitted,
Fred Nance Jr., ABD, MA, CADC, NCRS
cc:
The Honorable Congressman Danny Davis
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/
May 12, 2008
Honorable Rod R. Blagojevich
Governor of Illinois, Office of the Governor
207 State House
Springfield, Illinois 62706
Re: Sheridan Project – EEOC Charge #440-2007-04512
Governor:
I, Fred L Nance Jr., am African American and I have a pending discrimination charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against WestCare Foundation, Inc., which began on or about April 16, 2007, amended on May 7, 2007. On May 12, 2008 I will add the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) to this charge of discrimination and indifferent treatment.
I am working at Sheridan Correctional Center to reduce recidivism. One of the things that the “white” establishment at Sheridan resents most is that I am at the end of my doctoral program. When I was incarcerated for the 1st and only time in IDOC, I was 42-years-old without a G.E.D. I know what it takes to reduce recidivism. Racism and indifferent treatment does not reduce recidivism. Criminal activity flourishes with it. Individuals like me are not given the opportunities to make a change in a person’s life, maybe because of job security. IDOC may not want to reduce recidivism. IDOC may not want to honor the “Second Chance Act of 2007”, but I am sure they want to get the monies from the Act.
Where is my “Second Chance?” Does the “Second Chance Act of 2007” relate to me? Am I apart of it? I cannot tell from the behaviors of IDOC and WestCare.
On Mother’s Day, May 11, 2008, Mr. Stanley Brooks, Director of WestCare Illinois/Sheridan Correctional Center (Sheridan) called me stating I had a “stop order” on me, which means I am “locked out” of Sheridan. Mr. Brooks reports he does not know why I was “locked out” but that he was sent an email stating he should inform me.
Sir, I am not a security risk. This is the 3rd time I have been “locked out” at Sheridan. Mr. Brooks did not know if my employment with WestCare was terminated also. If I was “white” this would not be happening to me. “White” supervisors and line-staff have had many issues with “black” inmates and have not been treated as I am treated. This is clearly discrimination and indifferent treatment.
As you may remember, I was locked out of IDOC/Sheridan “illegally” by Warden Michael Rothwell (white/male) during the AFSCME union strike on June 6, 2006. On November 29, 2006 the Illinois Department of Employment Security rendered a decision, which states in part “…In the matter of the appeal of: Fred Nance Jr., Claimant-Employee of Gateway Foundation, Inc…The unemployment of the non-participatory claimant-appellants is not due to a work stoppage caused by the labor dispute…It was the unilateral actions of IDOC…The actions of IDOC were separate and the only cause of the claimant’s unemployment.” On December 22, 2006 Ms. Brenda Russell, Director of Employment Security, confirmed this decision. I received my unemployment insurance.
Sir, this present “lock out” is the continuous retaliation from IDOC and WestCare employees that I have suffered under since returning to work at Sheridan on September 6, 2006 after the AFSCME union strike. I have had to fight to retain my employment at Sheridan for nearly 2 years. I have had an onslaught of misinformation against me by WestCare and IDOC personnel, such as in November of 2007 WestCare employees Melinda Gubbels (white/female) filed a false charge of sexual harassment and Kyra Peters (white/female) filed a false charge of a hostile environment with WestCare against me. Ms. Gubbels and Ms. Peters suffered no consequences from filing these false charges with WestCare. WestCare did nothing to them. I was “locked out” from my employment with WestCare for 2 weeks because of these false charges. When it was time for the accusers to face me with their accusations, Ms. Gubbels called off sick and Ms. Peters was never summoned by WestCare management for testimony. To add insult to injury, I was forced to work with Ms. Gubbels. WestCare did not transfer Ms. Gubbels from under my supervision after she filed these false charges against me. More issues arose and finally, WestCare transferred Ms. Gubbels to another building. There were still no consequences for filing the false charges against me.
On July 16, 2007 I was promoted to clinical supervisor. I was assigned to building C6. On or about April 21, 2008 Warden Rothwell made WestCare transfer me to building C25/C Hall because of false complaints from IDOC and WestCare staff, and inmates. By transferring me to C25/C Hall, WestCare decided to transfer supervisor Denise Perry (black/female) to C6. I was told that Denise had created a bad reputation for herself with the inmates and IDOC personnel in C25/C Hall. What I was not told is that the inmates on C25/C Hall were incorrigible because they had no structure nor could structure manifest itself because of the WestCare staff and IDOC personnel. Here is another most recent account of activity at Sheridan with WestCare and IDOC staff.
In February of 2008 I conducted supervision on WestCare employee Justin Brewster (white/male under 40-years-old). Justin was upset because I reprimanded him on his poor work performance and attendance, which I documented and placed in his file. Justin adamantly requested a transfer to another building. Justin was transferred to C25/C Hall.
Building C6 Correctional Officers’ Mr. Forsyth (white/male) and Mr. Mann (white/male) told WestCare staff assigned to building C6 they could use their badges or any other objects to open the door to the bubble where security resides because the correctional officers were not going to get up from their seats every time someone wanted to come in the bubble to use the bathroom. I heard Correctional Officer Mr. Mann tell Jamie to use her ID badge to open the door to the bubble whenever she wanted to come inside. When I first saw WestCare employee Jamie Barringer using her badge to open the C6 bubble door, I warned her about it in front of Correctional Officers Forsyth and Mann. I was standing inside the bubble at the time. I informed Jamie, right in front of Mr. Mann and Mr. Forsyth, that if she used her ID to open that door I would write her up.
I also informed Lt. Truitt of Sheridan’s Internal Affairs Department that the Correctional Officers in C6 were allowing WestCare staff to use their ID badges to open the bubble door. Lt. Truitt told me at that time that I am always to write incident reports on anything I see that should not be going on. I am not sure of what Lt. Truitt did about this incident, but I have quickly learned not to ask that question.
One of the reasons I was transferred to C25/C Hall is because Correctional Officers Forsyth and Mann wrote an incident reports stating I said I run C6. Along with the Correctional Officer’s incident report they encouraged WestCare employees Justin Brewster and Charolette Hooper (black/female) to write statements supporting their incident report saying I said I run C6. Before Justin and Charolette wrote these statements, I warned them both about using their ID badges to open the bubble where the Correctional Officers are positioned. I saw both of them using their badges to open the bubble door. After I was transferred to C25/C Hall, I heard that Charolette is still using her ID badge to open the bubble door in C6.
In addition, after I was informed I would be transferred to C25/C Hall, I found out Justin was going to be transferred back to C6 when I was transferred to C25/C Hall. I informed Director, Stanley Brooks, that if Justin was moved back to C6 I would file a grievance on these issues concerning Justin. Mr. Brooks told me Justin would not be transferred to C6. Mr. Brooks told me Justin would be transferred somewhere because he would not let me get “set up” like that in C25/C Hall. Mr. Brooks may have made this statement because I informed him I could not work with Justin after he falsified that statement to get me transferred out of C6. Nevertheless, Sandy Smith (white/female) assured Justin remained on C25/C Hall when I was transferred there.
Now I had to deal with Justin and Sandy Smith in C25/C Hall. Sandy Smith has been mentioned in many of my writings to EEOC because of her involvement with the harassment, intimidation, punishment and intimidation upon me at Sheridan.
After being transferred to C25/C Hall, I wrote some incident reports and tickets. On April 28, 2008 I wrote a ticket on an inmate for assault, creating a dangerous disturbance, threats and intimidation and insolence because this inmate pushed me out of the way and entered my office, and then started talking out loud in front of other inmates about what he did creating a dangerous disturbance. Lt. Truitt and I discussed this ticket. Lt. Truitt and I modified the ticket so that the client could remain in Sheridan to receive more therapeutic treatment.
On May 1, 2008 at approximately 9:10 am I typed an incident report on 6 inmates who were creating a dangerous disturbance on C25/C Hall. When I typed the incident report on May 1, 2008 and sent it over the computer it went to WestCare’s Regional Vice President Leslie Balonick and to Springfield, Illinois, probably one of IDOC’s main offices. Ms. Balonick contacted Sandy Smith. Sandy Smith came to C25/C Hall to inquire about the incident.
The May 1, 2008 incident report happened at approximately 8:15 am. Only 2 WestCare staff showed up for work on May 1, 2008. The handwritten copy of the incident report did not get to the shift commander until approximately 11:30 am. I had to write it by hand after typing it on the computer because the computer generated incident report blended the inmate names into the text of the document. I explained this to the “powers” that be at Sheridan.
In addition, when the incident report of May 1, 2008 happened at 8:15 am, I alerted Correctional Officer Churchill. Correctional Officer Churchill responded to the incident, talked to the inmates, and locked the inmates up in their cells at approximately 8:40 am but did not report it to his building Sergeant. Evidently, when the shift commander alerted Warden Rothwell at approximately 11:30 am, because of the numerous inmates involved and found out the Sergeant did not know, the Correctional Officers were feeling nervous and embarrassed, while they looked for a scapegoat, which turned out to be me. Since IDOC officers did not want to take the blame for dropping the ball, suffering embarrassment and consequences, they blamed me and told me I could not go back in the building because I was a threat to the inmates. Sandy Smith gave me up to them because she knew the circumstances because I told her and she did not act in my behalf when IDOC staff and Warden Rothwell looked for a scapegoat and someone to blame. Warden Rothwell issued an order denying me access to my work assignment in C25/C Hall.
On May 9, 2008 I wrote an incident report on 7 inmates who were creating a dangerous disturbance. Part of the incident was that an inmate was sharing an emotional story about his family when another inmate teased him about it. The inmate sharing stopped telling his story and warned the other inmate about his actions. The inmates began approaching each other and I intervened to prevent them from fighting. After this was over, I had to write a ticket on an inmate (who was part of the original 7) for threats and intimidation and insolence because this inmate rose up from his seat and began to approach me in a dangerous way to do bodily harm to me, as the other 4 inmates left were continuing to negatively influence these issues.
There are 80 inmates out of their cells, on C Hall in C25 during the AM group, which I was facilitating by myself because the 2 staff present did not get involved in assisting me when the issues arose. With 80 inmates out of their cells at one time without any Correctional Officer present; anything can happen, at anytime with an inmate. This could create a dangerous disturbance.
There was no IDOC/WestCare staff support for me on the Hall. I had to handle the situations the best I knew how by myself. Building C25 was closed for a period of time this year because of safety issues like this. At times, you have IDOC staff sitting in the bubble with sun glasses on, and probably sleep. There were times when it took forever to get an office door open.
On May 9, 2008 Sandy Smith informed me that Director Stanley Brooks told her to tell me I could not go back to C25/C Hall but that I had to stay in C8 for the remainder of the day. I informed Sandy Smith that I was leaving work because I did feel well and that I was going to meet my wife at the doctor for her appointment to get results regarding the possibility of her having Thyroid cancer.
It was not until I talked to Stanley Brooks on Mother’s Day, May 11, 2008, that I learned from talking to Mr. Brooks that he told Sandy Smith to tell me to come to C8 to receive a call from him so I could tell him what was going on in C25/C Hall on May 9, 2008. Sandy Smith lied to me to meet her own means, which was to embarrassment, harass, intimidate and threaten me. Sandy Smith, along with the IDOC staff she engaged on the issues of May 9, 2008, denied me access to my work assignment. Sandy Smith always operates this way when it comes to dealing an issue involving me. This is why I informed Mr. Brooks that I did not trust her.
The message to me is I cannot write an incident report or a ticket, and if I do I will get punished and embarrassed. IDOC and Sandy Smith are also sending a message telling me I cannot do a good job if I am trying to structure C25/C Hall. They do not want me to succeed. No other supervisor or line-staff person is punished and embarrassed for structuring their building, writing incident reports or tickets but me. This is indifferent treatment. This is blatant discrimination. This is a story of discrimination and indifferent treatment. I am treated at Sheridan differently than similarly situated employees of WestCare.
Presently, I am being punished, harassed, intimidated and threatened by IDOC personnel because I wrote incident reports and tickets on inmates. IDOC personnel and WestCare continue to promote that they cannot tell you not to write an incident report and ticket, but since I did I am being punished, harassed, intimidated and threatened. I guess it has worked because now I am “locked out” from my employment. The only threat I pose to IDOC and WestCare is that I will speak the truth and I will not compromise my ethics, integrity or morals, and I will write my story.
Most importantly, what is the message being sent to the inmates seeking treatment in a therapeutic community? The inmates can see that IDOC and WestCare are sicker than they are. There are many more inmates seeking my assistance and appreciate me more than there are against me. The inmates tell me everyday. IDOC staff and WestCare supervisory staff on C25/C Hall are not sending the right message to the clients. The clients know now they can split staff and accomplish their goals of continued criminal thinking and behaving.
How does this promote a reduction in recidivism Mr. Governor? I informed Mr. Brooks that Sandy Smith referred a client home who is in Phase 1 of his treatment, instead of referring him to a halfway house or recovery home. This is one of the client’s who was listed on the May 1, 2008 incident report I wrote. I believe this client has been in the program for more than a year. I believe this client is in Phase 1 of treatment because he went to Segregation. I discovered this mishap while discussing the client’s 120 discharge plans. Also, when I assumed the duties of supervisor on C25/C Hall I discovered that the inmates filling out applications for Phase 4 were not qualified according to Mr. Brooks criteria/eligibility requirements. I had to deny these clients Phase 4. They were highly angry at me. I asked the staff “Why did they refer clients who did not meet the criteria/eligibility requirements?” The staff told me they just gave out applications. How does this happen? Is this going to reduce recidivism?
Sir, I am seeking your intervention in this matter. The Sheridan Project is constructed to reduce recidivism. The IDOC and WestCare staff that I have mentioned in this writing is not promoting the mission of the Sheridan Project.
I should not have suffered indifferent treatment and discrimination in employment with WestCare. No other WestCare staff has been treated like I have over the duration of my employment with Gateway/WestCare at Sheridan. Racism flourishes at Sheridan. If a female staff of WestCare had complained in writing about an inmate threatening and intimidating them, the inmate would have been taken to Segregation. If a female staff had written an incident report like mine, the inmates would have been locked up. If a “white” staff person had written reports like mine, the inmates would have been locked up. I had a client once where a “white” female sent the client to Segregation because his fingernails were too long. Because writings had my name on it, it made me a target for IDOC and WestCare employees who differ with my politics.
Sir, I started a book for publication on the Sheridan Project months ago. I have enough data to make a good read. I have shared a lot of it on the Internet in the past. What has happened in the past 16 months to me will not make for a good ending to my book on the Sheridan Project.
How can we make this work? One should never mess with a person’s livelihood. To lock me out from Sheridan and take my employment is to take food out of my family’s mouth. How do you think I will react? How would you react? Please respond.
Respectfully submitted,
Fred L Nance Jr., ABD, MA, CADC, NCRS
cc:
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Roger E. Walker Jr., Director IDOC
Danny Davis, Congressman 7th District (Co-Sponsor, Second Chance Act 2007)
Arlen Specter, Senator (Co-Sponsor, Second Chance Act 2007)
Joseph Biden, Senator (Co-Sponsor, Second Chance Act 2007)
Sam Brownback, Senator (Co-Sponsor, Second Chance Act 2007)
Patrick Leahy, Senator (Co-Sponsor, Second Chance Act 2007)
John Conyers, House of Representatives (Co-Sponsor, Second Chance Act 2007)
Lamar Smith, House of Representatives (Co-Sponsor, Second Chance Act 2007)
Stanley Brooks, Director WestCare Illinois
http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/
Click for Justice and Equality 