Interview with Laura, the Mother of a Female Inmate

I met Laura on one of the prison groups I moderate, Prison Movement. I had posted an article about a Massachusetts man who received a short sentence for murder. The murder occurred during a fight. Laura was outraged to read this because her daughter who killed no one received a 7-life term.

These were Laura's words "This so called justice system is insane!! My child got LIFE and was not even in the room that the crime was committed. Also no one DIED. I have been asking myself for years how these things can and DO happen. This person actually killed someone and got 10 years? How is that justice? People in the judging game should actually have common sense before being given that type of job. Our system needs some serious reform."

I posted back to Laura explaining that Massachusetts does a lot of "Plea Bargaining" to avoid a costly trial, and many fights resulting in murder get reduced to manslaughter. She again replied back to me: "Thanks for your kind words. I am really very angry about this as you can probably tell, and I did not mention the fact that the actual perpetrator was released because he wore a ski mask and could not be identified. I was incredulous about this at the trial and the lawyers told me, " what can you do, he was a smarter crook."

So, we decide to do a brief interview for the public to read what happened to Loraine, Laura's daughter.

Could you give us a Bio of your daughter Loraine who is incarcerated?

Loraine was 24 years old when she got arrested and for at least 10 years prior was an active meth user. She had been to several rehabs starting at 16. She could not kick this horrible habit. Her two older brothers are also addicts, currently both sober. The problem, their father. Unknown to me for many years I just thought he was an alcoholic and used pot. He used our children to get his dope and sometimes shared and did it with them. One example that makes my blood boil is that at one point Loraine was trying very hard to kick this for the sake of her daughter and was living with me. She was working in an office and was getting back on her feet, when her father borrowed $200.00 from her. She was hounding him after a while to pay her back and he told her, "not until you bring me some s**t." (sorry, that's what they call it) She actually went and got some for him and he made her leave it on the gas meter outside. She did, but he did not come back later to pay her like he said he would.

What led to your daughters imprisonment?

Loraine was running a muck and had met a 40 year old man who controlled her with putting guns to her head or simply beating her up. She also had what they call a connect (dope seller ). The boyfriend (40 year old) decide that he was jealous of the dope dealer who also is an older man , (45 years old). He decided he was going to rob the connect and threatened Loraine into calling him over. She did not really have a choice. She knew he, 40 year old would kill her if he thought she would even think about protecting the other man. 40 year old brought a 22 year old man to help him rob the connect. The connect showed up on Feb.7, 2004 where Loraine lived at the time and the boyfriend and his partner started to attack and rob the connect as he walked into the house behind Loraine. She and another girl who lived in the house ran upstairs into a bedroom to hide because it was getting pretty violent and they were scared. They hit the man with a ceramic fire log in the back of the head, but he did not knock out, in fact he fought them both and meanwhile the 22 year old hit him with what they call a machete in the back. The connect was able to escape, even with his injuries. He did not die and as far as I know had no permanent disablement except for the scars. ( my daughter says they become super strong under the drugs).

What sentences did everyone receive?

The 22 year old was not convicted of anything and was released. The other girl in the house became the informer and was not prosecuted at all, although she was in on the plan to rob, because she had the worst habit of them all. The 40 year old was convicted of aggravated mayhem and aggravated torture. His sentence was 50 year to life. Loraine was also convicted of the exact same thing, but her sentence is 7 to life. Loraine will be eligible for parole in Dec. 2009.

Did she have adequate legal representation, and if not what was wrong with it?

Loraine was represented by a reputable firm, only they sent their rookie and very young, ( about 27 years old) attorney who advised her NOT to take a 12 year plea bargain, because as she put it, " that's too long a time." At the trial this young lady made up a completely different story as to how this happened. She told us she wanted to make the court believe it was these "three bad men did it all." She lied and said that Loraine had a romantic deal with the 45 year old connect and that the 40 year old boyfriend was wild with rage and therefore the incident. We, meaning, Loraine and I asked her to just say the truth and she said "trust me, I'm the attorney." I must tell you that the 40 year old was a prominent gang member and as I understand it the prosecutor really wanted to nail him

What in your opinion is wrong with the Nations prison system?

The prison system needs reforming, I believe that the people that run this system get power mad and the prisoners are not treated like humans by some of these people.

Does Loraine have any children?

Loraine has an 11 year old daughter that lives with me and her and I go visit her mother as often as we can, sometimes every couple of months.

How does she spend her time in prison?

I would like to brag a little about the young woman that my daughter has become, even in her situation, she has done all her vocations, took some college courses, works in the clothing factory, and is a mentor for the younger girls that arrive there to make sure that make good choices, even in prison. She is a very smart girl and being sober has brought out exactly what kind of human being she is. She lives in the honor dorm along with young women who have decided that they want to be productive human beings and I believe that this is her true self, without the drugs.

I am hoping the best for Loraine. It seems that she has successfully rehabilitated herself, and maybe she will receive parole and go home to her mother and daughter who love and miss her.