Dying Girl Denied Chance To Visit Father

[SmootSmack]

"But the heartbroken family of a 10-year-old Nebraska girl diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, who is not expected to live through the end of the month, say the Federal Bureau of Prisons has denied the child's dying wish: that her incarcerated father be furloughed to be by his child's bedside when she dies."

ABC News: Child's Dying Wish to See Dad Unfulfilled

Lady Brave, the prison system is in your wheelhouse; what are your thoughts on this?

[EARTHQUAKE2689]

What was her dad charged with? I feel sorry for the girl.

[Lady Brave]

I'm not really sure what the reasoning is behind denying the visit given that he's been approved for supervised visits in the past. If he's asking for an extended stay, then I can understand why the prison won't grant the request. Transportation, security and manpower issues are always taken into account when granting these types of requests.

I think the main thing is, if the prison administration gives special consideration to an inmate for extraordinary circumstances beyond what's established in their guidelines, then they run the risk of opening a floodgate of requests from other inmates. Each time you bend the rules a little, you set a precedent that other inmates will attempt to use for their advantage.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Lady Brave

I'm not really sure what the reasoning is behind denying the visit given that he's been approved for supervised visits in the past. If he's asking for an extended stay, then I can understand why the prison won't grant the request. Transportation, security and manpower issues are always taken into account when granting these types of requests.

I think the main thing is, if the prison administration gives special consideration to an inmate for extraordinary circumstances beyond what's established in their guidelines, then they run the risk of opening a floodgate of requests from other inmates. Each time you bend the rules a little, you set a precedent that other inmates will attempt to use for their advantage.

Do the guidelines need to be changed then?

[Lady Brave]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Do the guidelines need to be changed then?

In my opinion, no. We have guidelines in place for a good reason and we don't make decisions hastily when confronted with issues like these. People may not agree with the rules we have in place, but they are necessary in order to maintain fairness when dealing with all inmates, not just a select few.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Lady Brave

In my opinion, no. We have guidelines in place for a good reason and we don't make decisions hastily when confronted with issues like these. People may not agree with the rules we have in place, but they are necessary in order to maintain fairness when dealing with all inmates, not just a select few.

It's an unenviable position to be in, I'm sure. I completely understand what you're saying about a precedent being set.

Still, it's hard not to sympathize with the girl.

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by Lady Brave

In my opinion, no. We have guidelines in place for a good reason and we don't make decisions hastily when confronted with issues like these. People may not agree with the rules we have in place, but they are necessary in order to maintain fairness when dealing with all inmates, not just a select few.

I 100% agree with you LB.

Sure, you feel for the dying girl, but you have to understand that it's the HORRIBLE acts of the father that put them in this situation. So if they make an exception for this guy, where do they stop making exceptions? People need to stop blaming others for their problems...those family members should look at that father and tell him what a worthless peice of poo he is for doing this kind of thing to his daughter. It's 100% the father's fault. Not the system, not the lawyer, not the jury, it's all the father's fault. No one should blame anyone but him.

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by Lady Brave

In my opinion, no. We have guidelines in place for a good reason and we don't make decisions hastily when confronted with issues like these. People may not agree with the rules we have in place, but they are necessary in order to maintain fairness when dealing with all inmates, not just a select few.

I think my credentials as a law and order guy are pretty well established. So, while I generally agree with you, I believe an essential part of our government and its criminal system is the human element which requires flexibility even within the rules. Judges and juries are expected to rely on there own experiences. Further, a state that inflexibly applies rules and regulations often ignores or acts contrary to the original intent of those rules.

No matter how carefully we draft rules, regulations or statutes, a situtation will arise that was meant to be covered, or should have been covered, but does not appear covered by the plain language of the writing.

In this case, if the plain language of the rules do not permit an expedited movement of the prisoner from one facility to another in situations where such movement can assist the health and welfare of an innocent without undue burden to the state or increased harm to the public, then a) the rules need to be changed; and b) a careful analysis of the applicable rules needs to be made so that the move can be accomplished, if (to paraphrase a Man For All Seasons) "a sliver of an opening exists" to permit the requested movement.

[SmootSmack]

Dealing drugs

[EARTHQUAKE2689]

I say let him out to see her make him wear a bracelet and bring him back or let an officer escort him there. It isnt the girls fault that this happened to her.

[EternalEnigma21]

that's tragic. Completely tragic.

[JoeRedskin]

They aren't punishing him. They are punishing her. Sad truly sad. Some damn bureaucrat has a bug up there ass and is pulling a "it's the guidelines" crap. If this was a Kennedy (insert celebrity here), do we think there would be an issue?

[Lady Brave]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

They aren't punishing him. They are punishing her. Sad truly sad. Some damn bureaucrat has a bug up there ass and is pulling a "it's the guidelines" crap. If this was a Kennedy (insert celebrity here), do we think there would be an issue?

Well, one could make the argument that his irresponsible decisions are what's ultimately punishing his daughter.

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by Lady Brave

Well, one could make the argument that his irresponsible decisions are what's ultimately punishing his daughter.

Absolutely. His decisions and actions caused him to be incarcerated and absent at the time of his daughter's need.

The state, by denying the visitation and asserting these are not "extraordinary circumstances", is excerbating the harm by refusing to act humanely.

So - yes. His own decisions caused the initial and continuing harm but the state, acting on my behalf, is being merciless in its punishment and needlessly aggravating an already painful situation for an innocent girl. Sorry, I would hope that appropriate mercy is quality we would like to demonstrate to our youth.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

Absolutely. His decisions and actions caused him to be incarcerated and absent at the time of his daughter's need.

The state, by denying the visitation and asserting these are not "extraordinary circumstances", is excerbating the harm by refusing to act humanely.

So - yes. His own decisions caused the initial and continuing harm but the state, acting on my behalf, is being merciless in its punishment and needlessly aggravating an already painful situation for an innocent girl. Sorry, I would hope that appropriate mercy is quality we would like to demonstrate to our youth.

I definitely agree