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 I had always tried to make a difference. I helped people grow as human beings. I was certain I would do the same when I accepted the position of Mental Health Specialist in a state prison psychiatric ward nestled on the edge of the Everglades.
GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER follows my transition from an idealistic, newly minted prison psychotherapist to a hardened, disillusioned case manager who eventually incurred the wrath of apathetic supervisors and administrators. At first I was fascinated yet horrified by the cornucopia of mental illness I had only read about in books. My caseload was replete with sociopaths, cutters, delusionals, self-mutilators, paranoid schizophrenics, pedophiles, chronic masturbators, and even psychopaths. My wonderment soon gave way to the realization I was locked into a desperate situation. I suffered nightmares, dark moods, and a nearly imperceptible increase in anxiety. Driven by my "never say quit" attitude, the subprime mortgage crisis, and the lack of job opportunities, I decided I had no choice but to soldier on.
In this soul crushing environment where bizarre outbursts from the lifelong mentally ill were commonplace, I found myself settling uncomfortably into a predictable routine. I worked hard to meet the material, emotional, and psychological needs of the men on the West wing. More often than not, my efforts were thwarted by unit protocols, lazy guards, and the indifference of the Department of Corrections itself. Despite my frustrations, I experienced a growing compassion for these men, these lost souls, that never wavered.
Superimposed on this reality was my evolving friendship with my coworker Carmen - a spirited, spicy, outspoken 64-year-old Latina African American. An experienced counselor in her own right; her prison savvy, sage advice, and wicked sense of humor lightened my mood and guided me during many difficult situations. Throughout the book, our interactions served as a counterpoint to the insanity we witnessed daily.
Most of my preconceptions about prison were eventually stripped away. Enviable health care, good dental care, nutritious food - all became casualties of a truth born of my daily experience. I soon discovered my unit was a warehouse for the mentally ill; many on my caseload were beyond any help. In the background, the specter of escalating inmate abuse started to emerge. A new crop of supervisors unwilling to confront guards over questionable behavior led to a brutal beating incident with no repercussions. My refusal to go along with the cover-up ended with me being fired.
Ten months after I was terminated, the unimaginable happened - an inmate was sadistically murdered. Not surprisingly, no arrests have been made to date nearly three years later. The murder served as the primary motivation to write this book. In my mind, I had no other choice. I felt compelled to bring to light the abuses that never find a voice from the inmates who were prejudged and discredited by their station in life. Though I couldn't change much when I was on the inside, it is my hope I can be more effective on the outside.
Ultimately, GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER will blow the whistle on the prison where I worked, but more importantly, inform readers of the need to address abuses in the penal system nationwide. Hopefully, the treatment of the mentally ill in prison will be given the high priority it certainly deserves. GAWM will appeal to those concerned with social, cultural, and psychological issues. Readers of true crime and people fascinated by an insider perspective will discover an environment unlike any other. |
