My son was arrested some time ago for a DWI in MA. He was sent to rehab then to classes and then probation. While on probation he drove from RI to MA. 100' over the state line, to a friend's house to return some belongings that the friend needed for the following day. My son knew he couldn't drive his car, but took the chance for a lousy 100'. He was caught and arrested. He spent the night in jail with no blanket and was quite cold.

He was then arraigned and a date was set for sentencing. He was told that he could get 60 - 120 days in jail because his sentencing would be mandatory.

I asked if he needed a lawyer. He said no, I have a public defender. I later found out that we pay these guys to defend someone who has no money. ?????? Make any sense?

Now he gets sentenced to 60 days with a $1400 fine. My RI lawyer is still scratching his head wondering how the hell a judicial system can go so astray.

In to jail my son goes (Bristol county corrections). His first complaint was that he couldn't call home because there was a block on my phone. Not understanding what was happening, I kept telling him there was no block. Finally I called my telephone company. After a half-hour of checking they assumed it was my fax machine.

Eventually I found out that the facility has a contract with universal service program. If you do not have a long distance server through any of the companies that they contract with a block is placed. The only way they will lift that block is for you to send them $50.00. Mind you, the call is person to person. Again, my phone Company tried to come to my rescue. They called Universal to tell them that they did service with a certain company that they were contracted with. Because it was third billing Universal refused. My Company, Log On America offered me free calling cards for him. They were as furious as I was. I had to refuse the offer because he wouldn't have been able to use then.

I wouldn't give in to what I considered blackmail.

His next complaint was the toothbrushes or lack of. They were similar to the brushes you use for an animal.

I had complaints also. Such as the rules they have for visitors that the inmate is supposed to remember and relay to the visitors, in spite of the fact that they cannot call to tell you because there is a block on the phone. Not to mention that if the person is illiterate they are out of luck. If you can't remember this sheet that is a mile long, tough Twinkies on you.

My first visit I was denied. Why? Because I had on stretch pants. I had two choices. Argue and get thrown out or sit in the corner and cry and hope that they would see a distraught mother. I cried and it worked.

On another visit I was denied because I had on a sweatshirt. It was purple with a unicorn on it and very pretty. But you were not allowed to wear anything of sweatshirt material or anything near it. It was on that visit that I was given the list. I also was told to go across the street to Vanity Fair to buy a shirt if I wanted to see my son. Bristol County will get a bill for $10.00. I can follow rules, but will question and at times challenge and defy, rules that make absolutely no sense other than to aggravate someone.

I have to carry water with me at all times because of no saliva glands due to radiation. Every time there was an argument. I had a medical but they said it isn't good in their facility. It was a prison they said. I argued with them to take it up with my Dr. that a prison does not over ride my Drs. or any Drs. medical and that they had no right to deny me in without my lifesaver by my side. I won each time, but it was a hassle.

Now, for my son being in a facility for the first time ever, it turned into a nightmare. You could volunteer for work duty. He did. He felt it would be the best thing for his sanity. About a week into working we had some really cold, cold rain and winds. After about 15 min. into working and three inches deep in mud, he and three others asked to be returned, fully knowing what the consequences would be. Spending the rest of the duration of their sentence in lock down.

They were frozen, hands feet face etc. If they hadn't have returned they could have gotten sick and still made to work. Once you volunteered you had to work under any conditions. Not even a medical would prevent you from working. I thought, they did the best thing, especially given the fact that they were three inches in the mud, frozen and thin slickers and what we know as Dr. scrubs. Nothing more for protection.

The next time I saw my son he was in shackles.

But that was the easy part. We lost a loved one who was buried on Christmas Eve. -- His sister, my daughter. Emotions were high and I worried each and every day for him. On Easter Sunday I visited him. Upon leaving I noticed guards all over the place. It was just very strange. I left and went to the cemetery. While at his sister's grave I asked her to guide him and to keep him safe. Little did I know that he was in the middle of a riot at that very moment.

I heard the news when I arrived home. I learned that over 300 inmates were being transferred to other facilities in the state of MA. When I called to see if he was ok and where he went, they told me they could not tell me anything due to security. They told me to call in the morning.

I was quite upset and all I could say is "God please do not take another child from me." Nothing was said about injuries to inmates, but my trust had left the system and I was unable to believe anything they said.

I called in the morning to again try to find out where he was. I was given the same answer.

I hung up and was quite distraught. Finally I got into my car and drove the forty miles. I walked calmly but angry into the prison and asked where my son was. I was told that for security reasons they could not tell me. I said "look, you took my son for 60 days. Where is he?" I was then told that he didn't know. Again I said "look, you took my son for 60 days and you are responsible for him. You find him on that computer and I will go over to the waiting area and you let me know when you have found him. Until then I will not be going anywhere and perhaps I will be a visitor in your prison." with that I walked away and sat. By that time I didn't care about my reputation or anything. All I know is that I was my sons advocate and the only person who could speak on his behalf.

The guard immediately started making calls. I heard him say, "she's sitting right here and when I call up his name it comes out released." Well naturally, technically he was released...to another prison. I sat there determined to do what a parent had to and was willing to take the risks involved. Within minutes I was told he was in south county Boston.

While walking out of the facility, the sheriff was standing there with about tree or four other men. I was about ten feet away from him and I shouted, "hug a thug and you will make out a lot better and earn a lot more respect than you are. " He called me over. I willingly went. But I started in on him. He couldn't get a word in edgewise. I suppose he could have had me removed from the grounds or even arrested according to his code, which sucks.

I told him that he could be sure of two things. 1. My son had nothing to do with the riot. When asked how I knew, I responded with "because, I am the only one in the world who knows my son nine months longer than anyone.

2. I told him that my son would defend himself against any guard or inmate, but he could also be assured that if my son was given the opportunity to help someone such as one of your guards, he would." Sheriff Tom Hodgkin of the Bristol County House of Corrections, said if that is true, I'll apologize to you." I responded with "NO!, you will apologize to my son. I told him that I was a council appointee and I was on the same level as he. There was no way that this man was going to belittle me or look down on me.

This went on for a while and I finally ended it and walked away demanding a call from him no later than the next day. He agreed. That evening the phone rang and it was my son. I was in the process of typing a letter to the sheriff regarding our conversation that day.

It was my son. His first words were, "Mom you have to get me out of here. I can't stay here." He told me that he stayed in his cell until the sprinklers went on. Then he told me that he and three others helped an injured guard into his cell.

Panic set in with me. . He told me that they were held in handcuffs for nine hours without being able to go to the bathroom. He said he had no feeling in his hands because his cuffs as well as everyone else's were too tight. I was beside myself as to what to do. I later found out that while they were all cuffed and in the gym, two of the guys were asking for their cuffs to be loosened. One guard, went over to one kid and beat him till he passed out. When the guy came too, the guard beat him again until he passed out again. This happened again. Three times total.

The other kid was given a massive black eye that covered the side of his face.

Some who complained, actually had their cuffs tightened even more.

I was told yesterday when he came home that there were a few guards who had tattoos of a swastika on their arms. Does this say something?

I'm sick about all of this. The riot happened on April 15 2001 and he still has no feeling in his thumbs and a lot of pain in his wrists. He is a server at a restaurant and will not be able to work.

I have a problem as to where the money is going that this facility and the state is receiving. For instance, a radio that I can purchase at Walmart for $5.00 is sold to the inmates for $30.00. They will not allow us to bring in their own sweatshirts to wear in their cells, but will charge them $16.00 to purchase them. The list goes on and on at the total outrage of cost that they are receiving from inmates. Where does this money go?

Since when and is it legal for one to pay a public defender? Is everyone forgetful of the word "appointed to you. if you do not have the money?"

Since when, is it reasonable and/or sensible for one to have to pay $50.00 a month for probation? And we wonder why we have violators and repeat offenders? Why would a heroin user give the state $50.00 when they can give it to their dealer for fix?

This system is out of control. We need people that understand what is happening. We need people who are parents of loved ones who have o are serving to bring this to the minds of the public.

When my son was finally sent back to Bristol County, four days before he was released, he was told he would have to sleep in dispatch on a bench with no mattress. At that time they thought he was being released in two days. When they found out it was three days, they found him a mattress and a cell.

I wasn't able to give him his clothes to come home. They had to be taken there on a day that was not a visiting day and only at certain hours. I am yet to figure out why the visitor and loved one is treated like a criminal. I have looked this sheriff up on the net. I have a three-inch thick file on him. Not one is positive. I took them there on the day of his release. Why???? Because I had it approved by Superintendent Glen Turgeon on Friday. When I arrived at the prison they refused it. They said they were not told and that the administration didn't know what they were doing.

My son would like to sue because he has lost the use of his thumbs and partial loss of the use of his hands and wrists. But he has no money to pay a lawyer and keep up with his other responsibilities. He also has no health insurance. I told him I would do what I could to help with Drs. I am no longer working and am ill myself. I am hoping that there are others who are suing and there may be a torte case that he can join in on.

Who would have thought that for such a minor offense he would live a nightmare?