Video: Inside the Horizon Program at Marion Correctional Institution
News anchor Cabot Rea came to Marion Correctional Institution's Horizon dorm in early 2002 (when I was a resident there) and created this documentary for channel 4 television news in Columbus, Ohio. I was a bit bashful at the time - and busy keeping a 72-hour Bible reading marathon going that day - so I was able to avoid being caught on film. (I wasn't always the apparent camera hog you see before you... lol.) You can see my bunk at one point, however.
Since I will be giving a presentation to the Spectrum group in Oberlin tomorrow regarding the Horizon program, I thought this would be a good time to post this video on my blog. Enjoy this rare glimpse inside my prison dormitory:
Since I will be giving a presentation to the Spectrum group in Oberlin tomorrow regarding the Horizon program, I thought this would be a good time to post this video on my blog. Enjoy this rare glimpse inside my prison dormitory:
WOW!!! Did you know I have a brother in law that works at that prison. And I was born and raised near there. What a small world. Never been in that prison but I was told how very bad it use to be. Thanks for showing this video.
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Wow... I never knew that. I won't ask, but now I'm extremely curious regarding who your brother-in-law might be. I'm friends with quite a few of the staff there now.
I appreciate your comment, Shyloh!
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I would like to see this presentation if you could capture and post it. The Via de Cristo group I belong to has a men's weekend coming up April 10-13 at St. Michael Lutheran in Ottawa Lake, MI and I plan to go with a group of women to serenade the men on the 12th after their dinner. The womens weekend is April 17-20 at the same church with the men serenading on the 19th. The post Ultreya for all visitors is May 4th @ 3pm - 6pm the same place as the weekends. It would be nice if you could attend the Ultreya and I could introduce you to the members. You may have the opportunity to speak about your experience. In the prisons, this group may have been called a Lutheran Cursillo. Think about it and let me know.
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Thanks, Kimberly! In prison we had these weekends and called them Kairos (a Greek word meaning "time," but not in the sense of Chronos time). We also had a version for the younger inmates called Kairos Torch - as well as a version for female family members of inmates, which is called Kairos Outside (these women actually spent there retreat in a secure section of the prison). Warden Money from the video is a Methodist and, if I recall correctly, her church refers to such weekends as the "Walk to Emmaus." All are very much the same as the Via de Cristo and Cursillo - they just have different denominational titles, I suppose. I remember being one of the serenaders - in fact, in prison I played keyboards and sang in the Kairos band. We led the music at weekly "prayer and share" meetings and during the Kairos weekend "closing" ceremonies. An interesting experience....
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WOW! I think that is an awesome program that could help many folks out!
I'd love to see a video of the presentation.
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Thanks, Angela! Cool....
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I thought that was a very interesting piece to watch. Thanks for sharing it with the rest of us, and opening some eyes. And as for your other presentation, I would enjoy seeing it if you care to share it.
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Thanks, Cherri! I appreciate your feedback.
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Thank you so much, JC, for posting this video-- the rare glimpse of your life behind bars (even though you managed to dodge the camera-- and who would have believed that?) provided The Minister with insight and reflection. Your story has touched a lot of people, including this Minister, and I'm sure I speak for many in the Church when I say we would really like to see your Spectrum presentation, and would like to learn more about the Horizon program. You have mentioned it so many times in your blogs that it is evident how important it was--and is-- to you. Again, thank you for sharing the video... and your life... with us.
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You're welcome, Minister! And thank you very much.
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Wow, John. Amazing what a little faith can do! Thanks for sharing...
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Indeed.... Thank you, Terese!
Now I've got George Michael's "Faith" playing in my head.
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At hospital, sister had surgery. In recovery. Waiting to go back and see her. Nurse just came gave room. Can go back in 45 minutes.
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Kimberly, The Minister hopes that your sister's surgery went well, and that she recovers quickly...
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Amen!
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Sorry it's taken me so long to respond - I've been having inexplicable internet and blog problems.
Please know I'm sending lots of postive, healing thoughts your sister's way. Wishing her an excellent, speedy recovery....
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This is so great to see, Wow the whole world can learn from that. Wouldn't life been much better if we all could life like this?
Thanks for sharing it. I do hope it will be started in more prisons in usa or in my home country the Netherlands.
Eve
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The latest comment by Elena is that the presentation of the above video and JC's talk was great and the audience of about 45 people were impressed and there were many questions and comments. Yes this program is exceptionally good in prisons and he explained his involvement in it.
Congratulations for giving an excellent talk!
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Thank you, Eve, and thank you, Elena. It was a privilege and honor to represent the Horizon program today. Hope I did it justice.
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Thanks so much for sharing a little of your inside self with us.....it could not have been easy or pleasant and we are fortunate to have a look at what it was actually like. ....thanks, JC
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You're welcome. And thank you very much for your kind comment!
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Yesterday there were a lot of questions after your talk. It could have gone on but as the coordinator for the talk to Spectrum it is customary to end the discussion at 1:15. However, I do have one question that was not brought up. In the Horizon dorm did your or others know what each other were convicted of and for how long? Was this something that was discouraged to bring up? I know that when I wrote to the parole board twice in your behalf I was told that nothing in behalf or innocence or other concerning your conviction should be mentioned. I also know that there are some men in Marion who have pleaded guilty thinking that they would receive a lighter sentence EVEN WHEN THEY KNEW THEY WERE INNOCENT. Is this true? Also the retroactive problem with Megan's law
extended your sentence six year beyond what the judge thought you deserved. Another problem came up when one of the administrators of the Allen Hospital told us that he had to fire one of the best people he had working for him because he had been encarcerated but had served his term. There was some mention of a law or an agreement that nobody in the health care area can work if prior convictions exist. All of this is making me think this morning. As a member now of the ACLU the protection of our civil rights is the foremost issue in their activity and I know they have gone to the Supreme Court on several occasions concerning laws that do not protect civil rights. If I am to continue to be active in prison reform as I have been in the past I would like to know the answers to a lot of these questions. The Innocence Project is doing a lot to release those who have been found innocent after they investigate the trials and the evidence.
Also Ohio Bill 10 has taken away some of your civil rights and I want to know if there has been any legal action yet in the Supreme Court of Ohio on this. Damn it the world is unfair enough without having further incriminations and penalties placed on those like you who are innocent and falsely convicted of crimes they didn't commit. We didn't bring this up yesterday but I do today.
Also I am glad you talked to Harvey and Naomi who have taught in prisons for the last 19 years. I have wanted them to meet you for a long time now. So finally this happened. They both knew Gary Reese. Interesting talk, John. I know there were those there who are very interested in the subject of Horizon and how few programs there are in this country like it. We will be donating to them.
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We only knew what the other residents' crimes/convictions were if they chose to bring them up. I never knew in many cases, until I came home and out of curiosity looked them up online. For a long time in prison, I never told anyone there what my conviction was for - although in the last few years of my incarceration I was much more open about it.
I knew at least a few apparently innocent men who'd decided to plead guilty to lesser charges because they were afraid of potentially massive sentences and in some cases were bullied by less-than-fully-ethical prosecutors. A book could be written about those.
No action in the Supreme Court yet on Senate Bill 10 - but there are parallel lawsuits working their way through both the State Common Pleas courts and the Federal courts in Ohio. Both have made positive rulings (from my perspective) so far. Right now, the judge has essentially stayed (stopped) any enforcement of S.B. 10 in my case. But hearings are still pending - and it seems as though the state courts are putting off any permanent decision until they see how the federal courts resolve matters.
Further hearings have begun - but Judge Coyne has a lot of cases to hear and has not yet gotten to (or set a date for) mine.
This article by reporter Brad Dicken appeared in the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram on 19 March 2008 and helps explain the current status of Common Pleas suits like mine (it seems there is no end is sight - and all this must play out before the cases can go forward to the appellate and/or Ohio Supreme Court):
ELYRIA — In the first day of hearings on complaints from sex offenders who have been reclassified under a new state law, prosecutors and defense attorneys got through nine cases Tuesday.
That leaves at least 361 objections from
Defense attorneys Laura Perkovic and Kenneth Lieux both argued that the law, which took effect at the beginning of the year, unfairly applies the new registration requirements retroactively.
“There is additional punishment,” Perkovic said. “This is all punitive.”
Under the new law — known as Adam’s Law for Adam Walsh, a 6-year-oldOhio LACE>’s version of the law took effect, the state had to reclassify every sex offender in the state to meet the new guidelines.
Lieux said the state and federal constitutions prevent additional criminal sanctions from being imposed after someone has already been convicted and sentenced for a crime.
The law would be fair if it only applied to those who committed sex crimes after it took effect, critics have said.
Assistant County Prosecutor Robert Flanagan said the law wasn’t a criminal sanction and reflected only a minor change.
“It’s like changing a name from Coke to Pepsi,” he said.
Visiting Judge William Coyne, who will decide the cases, disagreed.
“That’s not necessarily accurate,” he said. “It’s more than just changing a name.”
Coyne also rejected Flanagan’s argument that the only thing he should consider in the hearing was whether the sex offenders had been properly notified by the state, saying he would at least consider the constitutional arguments of the sex offenders.
Flanagan also argued that the changes were designed to protect the public from sex offenders, not sex offenders from the embarrassment of community notification.
Lieux said the state was effectively breaching the contracts it entered into with his clients when they agreed to plea bargains in their cases. He said if the law is allowed to stand and punish sex offenders whose cases were already concluded, it means the state could impose harsher and harsher penalties on sex offenders at a later date.
“What’s to say the legislature won’t do something more draconian in the future?” he said.
Lieux and Perkovic also complained that the state hadn’t followed the law when it notified the state’s approximately 30,000 sex offenders of the changes. Instead of using registered mail, as the law required, they said the state used certified mail.
According to the U.S. Postal Service, certified mail costs $2.65 plus postage and provides a receipt that the addressee has received the letter. Registered mail is a more secure means of sending mail and costs $9.50.
Jennifer Brindisi, a spokeswoman for Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann, whose office sent the notification letters, said the state complied with the law because state law defines the two types of mail as being the same thing.
“We are complying due to the definition under
Coyne said the state had made an effort to comply with the spirit of the law and he wouldn’t consider that a reason to overturn the changes.
Flanagan said Coyne plans to hear about 25 cases per month.
It’s a pace that could drag the hearings well into next year.
Contact Brad Dicken at dicken@chroniclet.com
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i've seen enough of prison insides in my own 10.5 months.
can't fathom 11 years.
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I also cannot imagine coming out after 11 years without some emotional scars. John is a survivor and a very sensitive and spiritual person and his talk yesterday was exceptionally educational for all who listened to him. Thank the Horizon Program for his survival. He should be a teacher or a librarian. Hopefully he may do either one of these some day in the not too distant future.
But in the meantime he is a number one blogger and his message will get across to all who read this.
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Well, I'm no longer number 1 - but I've now reached the point where my independent Crisis Chronicles blog is getting at least as many daily views as my MySpace blog ever did. Tuesday, my blog received more views than it ever has in a single day, on any site. I'm not getting as many comments as I did on MySpace, partly because it's a little bit more of a pain in the butt to comment here than it is there. But I'm still pleased with how things are progressing. And while it looks good to be able to say I was number one six or seven times on MySpace in several blog categories, numbers are not nearly as important as freedom - and I feel I have that here. If only the Tibetan people and others could say the same thing....
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I remember back many suns ago when I had to serve 3 days in jail for Driving under the Influence (I think it was 1991). It felt like an ETERNITY to me. After my 11 years, however, the 3 days seem like nothing. It's funny to me now to think of how stressed and depressed I was over the prospect of 3 days behind bars.
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Your trial lasted only a couple of days, the defense attorney had the flu, the jury had a relative of the prosecutor and they slapped you into prison for 7 to 25. There was no evidence of DNA presented since there was none. An appeal went without any action since the court assigned lawyer didn't contact you and nothing happened. When you first went up for parole Megan's law was made retroactive in your case and in 1998? they gave you six more years. While in prison the so-called "victim" wrote to you and in effect said she was sorry. Of course everyone knows she lied under oath but that does not help since she would have to be held for perjury if this were true. Once behind bars few can successfully defend or appeal their cases. So instead of giving up you read many books, got involved with others and learned music, wrote lyrics for plays and acted in them. You were very involved in the Horizon Program and finally out on parole finished your B.A. at Ohio University. But you still have to register as a sex offender even if you have ended your parole status and the new law requires registering every three months for the rest of your life. Recently you were hired for a job with a group that recently came to Lorain County. But when you went to LCCC for training they told you they couldn't use you since they had done a background check. With no employment you survive and are loved by all who know you. If the above isn't totally accurate let your readers know. I care too much to let you slip through the cracks of our legal system.
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