What would you do if

[laylah]

you reached out to state government, going to the top of the "food chain" in order to bring out in the open, lies and abuses of power by that state's department of corrections only to have an employee of the Lt. Gov's office call you and tell you, literally, to "back off"?

A friend has a loved incarcerated in an institution in NW Illinois. She has been argueing on his behalf, in favor of his being granted work release. He has been denied on flimsy conditions (yes, work release IS a right, not a privilege), each excuse getting flimsier with each inquiry. With each flimsy excuse she has provided evidence of their hypocrisy, to include information about a MURDERER who was released on work release 2 or 3 weeks ago. She has worked her hiney off compiling opposing documents, proving that many violent criminals are in fact, in blatant violation of Illinois Administrative Code, granted work release and/or work camp. Her loved one is NOT a violent criminal and she is just trying to find a fair and equitable balance. At the request of the Governor's office, she sent all of the documents that she has acquired to them. These documents expose the lies and the unethical behavior of specific state government employees.

Just two days ago, she got a call, at her home, from the Lt. Governor's office. The woman calling is the director of one of his departments. This woman is a known collegue of a man who holds the same position as she, only in the Department of Corrections....the communications department....the department where they get paid to lie and spin (Rove juniors?). This woman, though not blatantly stating the fact, was delivering a message to my friend from this particular man at the DOC. The gist of her call to my friend was for her to back off or risk my friend's love one being denied parole in 18 months. Of course, this is but the tip of the whole story.

As she is ready to "shock and awe" because she is furious, I told her that I would ask calmer, uninvolved others what their thoughts are on her situation.

My thought is that this would be a great ACLU matter....abuse by a government agency to intimidate and violate her First Amendment Right to free speech.

Keep in mind, neither myself, or my friend, for that matter, are defending her loved ones actions that got him into this situation in the first place, he did that all by his little lonesome; however, what she is protesting is the unequitable applying of the privileges of work release and work camp as well as the blatant violations of Administrative Code, and lies told by DOC employees to try to justify their postions.

Again, I am asking questions concerning people's thoughts on how they would handle this blatant attempt to intimidate. This question is not being posed to open the door to judgments but to ideas about how she should continue her quest for fair treatment of her loved one and the discontinuance of harrassment and threats made to her by government officials. Please, serious ideas/thoughts only. I will pass these onto her later this morning.

Thanks in advance,
Jenn

[bearfan454]

1. Your friend might want to think about it

Yes she is doing the right thing but they might put her loved in a cell with some real bad person. Know what I mean ?

[GOPisEvil]

2. I like the ACLU idea.

Either that, or your friend should hire a private attorney to speak for her and record all further communications be they written or verbal.

[E_Zapata]

3. Interesting Dilemma.....

1. yes, the ACLU would be my first stop.

2. Then all the state and local newspapers.

3. Then any party opponent to the Lt. Gov (no kidding.....sometimes you can go to the most likely opponent and try to stir things up..... Of course, if your lt gov is DEM......search your conscience first.)

4. And REALLY........the US Dept. of Justice IS the entity that should help you.....but you know that Ashcroft runs the joint. Conclusion, there is NO dept of justice in the us of a!

[laylah]

4. E.....

yes, there is a Democratic administration here in Illinois. The Governor's office has been absolutely awesome in my friend's quest. We would like to believe that the Lt. Gov has absolutely NO idea that his spokesperson is bullying a constituent like this! However, she cannot get anywhere near the Lt. Gov.

The ACLU is the first stop, for sure. I know that she called the DOJ in DC on Friday and has yet to receive a return call. They must all be busy trying to bust high school kids of drugs of mass destruction:evilgrin:

Keep the good ideas coming, fellow DUers. I told her that there would be different avenues suggested here at the best think-tank on the net!

:hug:
Jenn