POPPING SMOKE - ISCC CREATES A 'VETERANS' TIER THAT HOUSES NON VETERANS AS WELL
Just days after the article "ISCC ADMINISTRATORS DENY SPECIAL MEAL FOR ACTUAL VETERANS ON VETERAN'S DAY - WHILE ALLOWING BANQUET/FEAST FOR OTHERS" was posted on this site, the following memo, adorned with the official seals of the various military services, was posted throughout the ISCC facility:
ATTENTION VETERANS
* Are you interested in living on a tier with fellow veterans?
* Would you like the opportunity to live in a patriotic environment where you can focus on your rehabilitation and reintegration into society?
* Are you interested in PTSD/TBI and peer-to-peer support groups that focus on your specific needs?
* Are you looking for opportunities to continue to serve your community, state, and nation?
Submit a concern form to Officer Thompson stating you want to like be on the veteran's tier today!
Just a day or so later, I had the opportunity to speak with Officer Thompson regarding this memo. I asked if this "Veterans' Tier" was the tier which was taken over by American Legion inmates (D1) and threw the rest of the facility into chaos. Officer Thompson verified that D1 would be the [new] Veterans' tier for the facility. After a bit more conversation with Officer Thompson and others, I learned some other interesting points about this new 'special' housing area as well:
> Despite the wording of the memo, the tier will not be reserved for housing only military veterans.
> The American Legion will remain on the tier - despite many of the members not qualifying for membership in the Legion, having less than an Honorable [character of] discharge (including upgrade). See laws regarding minimum eligibility set forth by Congressional Charter [FN1].
> Inmates who are members of the "Sons of the American Legion" will have priority - even over veterans - in being housed on the tier, despite none having served in the military. Thus, if there are not enough beds (limit of 88 inmates on D1) for actual military veterans, too bad.
> Though the memo indicates the tier will be used to assist veterans with rehabilitation and reintegration into society, many inmates assigned to live on that tier have sentences including Life without the possibility of parole (Fixed Life) who need not use up the scarce programming resources, and have no possibility of reintegration into society.
> PTSD/TBI (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder/Traumatic Brain Injury) are suffered not only by Veterans, but by many prisoners who have been subject to high stress surroundings, witness to [or victims of] violence, injury and/or other stressors for many years. (Any argument that these stressors are not comparable to combat situations has either not been in combat, has not suffered high stress surroundings for any length of time or have no idea what they're talking about.)
> Other than by joining the Legion, (or the "Sons" of the Legion) inmates assigned to the "Veterans Tier" will not be able to participate in any of the community, state or national betterment projects generally described in the memo - per declaration of the Legion inmate "commander" - who himself had a dishonorable discharge from military service - though Officer Thompson did tell me that this is no longer the case, and that this inmate no longer has a dishonorable discharge.
Could be this 'apple of the warden's eye' has received an upgrade to his character of military service status with the assistance of the Legion's shady state commander and the clout of a parolee who acts as the IDOC's liaison to the Legion, but even then, nobody upgrades from a dishonorable to an honorable character of service without significant facts showing the characterization was in error in the first place.
Even if this sycophantic Kapo received an upgrade from a dishonorable to an OTH (Other Than Honorable) discharge, he STILL would not be eligible to be even the lowest ranking member of the Legion (see footnote below). But then again, the rumor is that there have been all kinds of exceptions made to allow the American Legion Post at the ISCC (#201) to exist in the first place... so who knows.
Oh, by the way, since the American Legion Post #201 began operating at the ISCC in 2019, many thousands of dollars have passed through its coffers that remain unaccounted for, and it seems the IDOC keeps no records of these funds either. Oddly enough, the American Legion - a corporation - did not make its initial filing with the Office of the Idaho Secretary of State until June 17, 2023 [FN2].
Transparency people, not smoke - follow the money.
_______
[FN1] United States Code Service
TITLE 36. PATRIOTIC AND NATIONAL OBSERVANCES, CEREMONIES, AND ORGANIZATIONS (§§ 101 - 300113)
Subtitle II. Patriotic and National Organizations (Pts. A B) Part B. Organizations (§§ 20101 - 240112)
CHAPTER 217. The American Legion (§§ 21701 - 21708) § 21703. Membership
An individual is eligible for membership in the corporation only if the individual
(1) has served in the Armed Forces of
(A) the United States at any time during
(i) the period from April 6, 1917, through November 11, 1918 or
(ii) any time after December 7, 1941 or
(B) a government associated with the United States during a period or time referred to in subclause (A) of this clause and was a citizen of the United States when the individual entered that service and
(2) was honorably discharged or separated from that service or continues to serve honorably during or after that period or time.
Current through Public Law 118-19, approved October 6, 2023.
______
[FN2] American Legion 4th District, Incorporated. Secretary of State #5219179, (6/17/23)
INCORPORATOR / REGISTERED AGENT
(Also identifies as American Legion State Adjutant)
Charles Thomas Abrahamson (a.k.a. "Abe")
Mailing Address:
901 W. Warren St. Boise, ID 83706-3825
Physical Address:
6609 Old Highway 30, Mountain Home, ID 83647