Private Investigators Report: Prison Officials Wrongdoing

[Mary Lynn Warner]

Secret report rips prison's internal affairs investigator:

A private investigator's report that Northampton County officials have kept under wraps since 2000, denied to the public and refused to show to members of County Council contains widespread allegations of wrongdoing against prison internal affairs investigator Jose Garcia.

The report, obtained by The Morning Call, contains many allegations that Garcia abused his power, including inappropriately rewarding and punishing inmates for informing on guards.

The investigation was launched in early 2000 by Cindy Marakovits, the county's first corrections director, who resigned three months after the report was issued.

County officials have gone to great lengths to keep the $8,800 report secret and have been fighting a legal battle with Councilman Ron Angle, who is suing to obtain a copy. It consists of a long series of interviews of prison guards, inmates, and family members.

[Nathan Hartley]

I currently work in a prison and this does happen.

[Manya Anderson]

MMMMMMM

Unfortunately, corruption, deceit and amoral character is every where present in today's society. Please keep us updated on the outcome of this situation. Thanks for the story.

[Kandra Berry]

What kind of wrongdoings are going on? There has been a lot of controversy here in Arizona about the prison system and the misuse of power. A few people have died in the last few years from causes that were ruled to be natural but the video that was released in each case shows more than just natural stuff going on.

[Kathleen Padgett]

Unfortunately, a lot of these types of corruption cases seem to result in little or no punishment to the offenders or bring any much needed systematic change within the prison guard system whatsoever.

[William Brassfield]

:rolleyes:

[May K. Toney]

I'm curious. Since the report involves a public institution, isn't it considered public information that the public should have access to? Did the $8800 cost for the investigation come from the taxpaying public? Also, since the report contains information that adversely impacts the criminal justice system, isn't it illegal or, at the very least, unethical, to withhold copies to the defendent attorney? Don't the rules of Discovery apply here?

Fascinating story, Mary Lynn. I've never worked in a prison but I've read enough about work reportedly goes on there. This news worthy article seems to turn rumor into fact. Thanks for sharing!

[Chanelle Stevenson]

Mary Lynn,

The first thing that comes to mind when I read an article such as this is a word that I don't hear to much of anymore, "ethics". What the "priority" here? How you look in the end or if you have your job?

It seems people in high places or in power positions are well known to manipulate the system to their advantage. A "withholding" of vital information of this kind, surely indicates there is something to hide. In some cases it can sometimes mean that one or all parties involved stand to lose a substantial amount of money and/or time.

The indication of the short term employment bythe former director "Cindy Marakovits" confirms my statement.

Thanks for the story. Good Information.

Chanelle Stevenson
Computer Forensics Private Investigator Trainee;)

[Mr Jose Bonavich Jr]

Mary Lynn,

I will certainly be interested to hear the outcome of this situation.

Thanks for posting this, and keep us updated on it's progress.

[Michael Harris]

I have a serious problem with keeping a public document fromt he public. I believe in privacy, but if there is wrong-doing in a public office and there is report of it, that is a public document.

It is a shame that the Freedom of Information Act is only for the Federal government. Each state should have a comparable law. :mad:

[Diane Jarosz]

Interesting story! I wondered how CO's got caught......... by tohere CO's, immates, other employees?
When I worked in the prisons in my area, I found at times when the C.O. was found out doing illegal things in the prison and have been caught, and thus serving time in the sytems in which they were previously employeed.
Sad!:(

DJ

[Michael Harris]

Diane,

I have a brother-in-law and a 'nephew-in-law' who are COs. Both are honorable.:) They both talk about the less-than-honorable COs and it bothers them.:( Kurt goes out of his way to treat the inmates with respect, and he is rewarded with good behavior on the part of the inmates.:) If there were a violent riot, Kurt would be one of the ones unhurt.:) The inmates may be 'bad guys' from tough neighbor hoods, but treating them with respect pays off for Kurt.:)

One can only hope that when the truth comes out, the bad 'good guys' end up in jail with those they hurt. :mad:

[Diane Jarosz]

I'm with you Michael.
I was always treated with respect from the male population in the prisons. BUT, some of those women. I was more afraid of working in their corner of the prison than the men.

God Blees your family for the job they do. It is not easy!
DJ

[Marco Antonio Garza]

Originally posted by Nathan Hartley
I currently work in a prison and this does happen.

Hello Nathan,I also work in a ca. prison.I agree with you that these kind of things do happen.I think the the dept needs to get involved and weed out some of these people.Honestly it makes us look bad.

[Marco Antonio Garza]

Originally posted by Diane Jarosz
Interesting story! I wondered how CO's got caught......... by tohere CO's, immates, other employees?
When I worked in the prisons in my area, I found at times when the C.O. was found out doing illegal things in the prison and have been caught, and thus serving time in the sytems in which they were previously employeed.
Sad!:(

DJ Dear Diane, The truth is, you will always get caught.You think nobody is watching but they are( inmates ,staff and your partners).I think that some tend to forget who they are and forget where they are.I have been in the dept for about 10 years and have seen alot of changes.Sorry for rambling on.

From Mark

[Marco Antonio Garza]

Originally posted by Michael Harris
Diane,

I have a brother-in-law and a 'nephew-in-law' who are COs. Both are honorable.:) They both talk about the less-than-honorable COs and it bothers them.:( Kurt goes out of his way to treat the inmates with respect, and he is rewarded with good behavior on the part of the inmates.:) If there were a violent riot, Kurt would be one of the ones unhurt.:) The inmates may be 'bad guys' from tough neighbor hoods, but treating them with respect pays off for Kurt.:)

One can only hope that when the truth comes out, the bad 'good guys' end up in jail with those they hurt. :mad:

Dear Michael

I also work at a prison in ca.I'm the senior officer in my unit and lately I came across some of these less than honorable COs.They are the ones that don't have any time at all( meaning time in the dept.)I think they do not realize where they are at.You have to give respect to get respect.I'm not saying to cater,but just do your job and everything will be cool.In my unit as the senior officer I have total respect from every inmate in my unit.I only give them what the state requires and that's it.No more -No less

[Diane Jarosz]

Hi Mark,
I know this is ture! (everyone gets caught)

DJ

[Richard Greiner -]

It just show that you think the prision system is the best thing today, but it's not. There are so many Prision officals that are Drug Dealers and also saleing drugs to the inmates. And people wounder how there geting drugs in there just look around it shure isn't going threw the mail.

[Tracy K. Johnson]

I also work in a "Correctional Institution" as they are called here.
Things like this happen. However, I think sometimes it is due to a lack of training, which is happening all over with budget cuts. Before you form an opinion I really want you to consider all aspects of the situation. The media has a way with telling the side of the offender, and making the CO's look bad. There is always two sides to the story. Don't get me wrong, if the CO's are to blame, they need to be held accountable for their actions.
Is it possible that the information is not being released because there are pending cases and if the information would get out, it would jepordize the trial? Is it possible that there is still an internal investigation going on within the department? If the employees are grieving the turn out of the investigation- it may take over 2 years to be resolved.

[Marco Antonio Garza]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Tracy K. Johnson
I also work in a "Correctional Institution" as they are called here.
Things like this happen. However, I think sometimes it is due to a lack of training, which is happening all over with budget cuts. Before you form an opinion I really want you to consider all aspects of the situation. The media has a way with telling the side of the offender, and making the CO's look bad. There is always two sides to the story. Don't get me wrong, if the CO's are to blame, they need to be held accountable for their actions.
Is it possible that the information is not being released because there are pending cases and if the information would get out, it would jepordize the trial? Is it possible that there is still an internal investigation going on within the department? If the employees are grieving the turn out of the investigation- it may take over 2 years to be resolved. [/QUOTE

Hello Tracy,I know the media is always trying to make us look bad,and yes there is always 2 sides to the story.In calif we have the best training,but still officers don't use that knowledge to their advantage.The system needs to weed out the bad and defend the good.:cool:

[Glenn N Klipp]

Very interesting story. I too am interested in learning the outcome of such events. However, I too wonder where the $8800 came from. Did the taxpayers foot the bill for this study? I realize that this is a serious issue, but it makes me think about the government study spending $4,000 to see which way water turns when the tub is draining. Hopefully, some good will come out of this study.

[Mary Louise Campbell]

Originally posted by Manya Anderson
MMMMMMM

Unfortunately, corruption, deceit and amoral character is every where present in today's society.


Well said Manya.

[Patrice-Maria Love]

I agree that corruption is within the penial system as other workplaces. The bad guys must be weeded out in an ongoing basis. We can't allow the guards and other authoritan figures to act unethically when they are suppose to uphold the laws by the Bureau. We definitely need an update. Thanks for this story.

[Prem Prasad]

Life in prison and CO get caught. Thanks for this story and I am interested in learning more.

[Victoria S Kinney]

Has there been any update to this story? I have heard stories about things that happen in our prison system.