About Us

My son was punished for pissing off a prosecutor.  That was all, plain and simple.  The local media reported nothing but misinformation and lies, and what was worse is that they knew they were lies, no mistakes.  They were in the court room and heard the facts yet turned right around and continued with misinformation and lies.  My son's story immediately got the attention of "reputable and honest" journalists and we are working with them now, but the damage was done.  There are so many people with the power to enact change, yet no one takes a stand.  Everyone is afraid to take a stand.  There are so many just ordinary folks who also see the horrible situations that have been caused by a corrupt justice system, and they too stay quiet.  Are we just supposed to sit down and shut up because we don't want to rock the boat?  I guess I was not raised that way.  We have been working with many political groups and there are many many politicians who agree that laws need to change and some need to be abolished but what I hear is "nothing is going to happen this year because it is an election year and no one can afford to look like they are not tough on crime".  The problem that I have with that is that who is it that they are worried may see them as soft and not elect them?  The American citizens!  So who is really the problem?  Have we become so blood thirsty that we the people want this injustice to continue to happen?  Want innocent people incarcerated? Want innocent people put to death?  IF the the very people that can change all of that have to worry about what we will think, that says more about us than it does them.  :(

http://just-us-justice.weebly.com/luke-pelham.html

http://www.freelukepelham.com/

https://cases.nationalcdp.org/luke-pelham/

So I guess I am to understand and accept that my government would rather innocent people sit in prison because my fellow citizens will not like them if they try to fix it?  What happened to the great country that I used to live in?

I would love to get together with other California Women.  I am in Redwood Valley, CA...which is about 2 hours north of San Francisco.  Please let me know if you are interested.  Blessings

First visit~ Better than expected...Not sure if its realist in me always expecting the worst.. BUT I couldn't have left feeling any better…considering

To reflect again on our start in this venture….

Its been like nothing I have read…and I am looking and reading EVERYWHERE on the facilities and anyone’s personal story that I can find.

I read about all the delays in having contact...about the gangs, fighting, being poked and "cut". Gladiator camp, its truly a sport my guy says.

Then came the box, SHU, confinement …..no description quiet defines the mental anguish it can bring.

I was able to ease my anxiety with LOTS of reading online… and writing which I got pretty darn good at.  Learning what I could cram in 3 ounces.. less than fifteen pages.. Printing front and back….changing the font and format to squeeze as much reading in as I could... finding puzzles... and utilizing the only book he could have with lots of bible study.  

The writing was sanity for us both I believe.  Staying in touch and entertainment him…. sharing more than we probably ever did

Finally and surprisingly he was not only getting out of the SHU but could resume the orientation process for calls and visits...bigger surprise on a Monday he was transferred and could have a visit in days!!! WOOT!!!!

Whew.. back to the visit and moving forward...

VERY FORTUNATE the CF IS ONLY AN HOUR AWAY...I have spent the past few months reading so many blogs of the ins and outs I was probably overly cautious with a spare out fit JUST incase!

It went Flawless.. got there 8:10 checked in .. .first dozen in line and in the door..I GOT TO HUG MY CHILD.,.hear his voice… and for a 5.5 hour visit.

We chatted.. oddly a lot about what we had already written.. but that’s what you do is catch up on recent events.. that was ours. We laughed about the craziness.. always easier to do in hindsight.. although a healthy sense of humor goes a long way.

He shared the ins and outs of the new location and seemed to recognize this was a best case scenario... Food not being moldy or still frozen is a big plus… insanity.

FINALLY he can move thru his time with what’s offered.. vocational school.. drug treatment. .. and just being busy DOING ANYTHING besides staring at four walls without windows and mail being the only event 5 days a week.

This Mom's heart is content.. its not easy... hated to leave him behind..I wanted to cry.. but instead will relish in this weeks calm... because I am sure there will be another storm.

Thank you M.I.S.S for sharing your stories... and allowing me to share and document mine. 

My husband and I met Catherine and Paul Wilcoxson yesterday in Chillicothe, Ohio.  We live about 3 hrs from there and when I found out they were coming from Louisiana to see their son, I knew I had to meet with them.  When we met it was like we had been best friends forever.  They are the kindest warm people I have met.  I feel so blessed that God put them in our paths being that our stories are so similar, even though we only met because of both our sons being incarcerated I am glad God put them in my and my husband's path .  We all have to support each other and she and I have very similar stories and just connected immediately. 

Our visit was truly delightful.  We talked for such a long time, first at their hotel lobby and then we all went to dinner together and talked more.  We drove home knowing we would have forever friends and forever support and give them support until God takes us "Home."

I am so thankful for this site like I had mentioned before, Thank You to the Administrator!!

I found out that my son was transferred to R&C on Thursday morning by checking the county inmate search database VERY frequently.  We wanted to get letters in the mail as soon as possible, so we kept checking IDOC but didn't find him. I finally thought to check VINElINK Thursday evening and found him and his new number, but he didn't show up on IDOC until late Friday morning.  Since we hadn't heard from him since Tuesday morning (probably they were on lockdown, I suppose), it was a HUGE relief to know where he was.  Now the wait for him to be moved...I'll be checking VINElink quite often in a few weeks, I'm sure :(

I was led to read a verse today that I found has been lived by each one of us on this site.  It is Hebrews 13:-1-3

       13 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. 3 Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

We all are living this and doing it well with the support we give each other and our sons along with men we don't even know.

Great work girls. My prayer is to continue reaching out to the men and moms that need a caring understanding person to be there for support and love when needed.  I am so proud to be a part of this website and commend the Administrator who saw the need and went for it.  I thank you.

God Blesses all of us and everyday brings new mercies!

This is my first post, but I have been popping in and out of here for several months and have found great comfort in knowing there are so many wonderful women willing to pray and help each other through these difficult times.   My son plead 10 days ago and has been at the detention center waiting to be transferred to R&C.  He is so very anxious to get this next step over with, but no one seems to know how long it will be before he's transferred, and then of course we know there's no way of knowing how long he'll be there before being sent to his parent facility. This nightmare began 11 months ago and I really thought I've handled things pretty well given the circumstances...but these last days have been really really hard.  Is this pretty typical?  

We started this venture in county...like everyone else.. 10/23/2015. I felt prepared... strange AS THAT IS... I had gotten accustom to being ready for the bottom to drop out.

County lasted less then two weeks... shorter than he initially expected..I had done my reading and signed up for a notice when transferred with vinelink.

Then the text came and I was a little stunned.. OMG what now.. this was new.. IN THE DOC vs County.. sent in my visitation applications and phone bills.. two week orientation and we should be ahead of the game... I thought I am ready to move through this.. good and bad.

Ten days in.. a panic call being thrown in protective custody.. which is not much different than disciplinary custody.. also known as the SHU..ranting 6 or more months.

In summary he was threatened and duped that making a report was a quick solvency.. not so much.. it thru him and three others in the "box".... 24 hours a day in confinement; except twice a week to be shackled and walk to a cold shower closet. 

So far nothing as expected but he is safe..

Holidays were starting to scare me.. depression and isolation were a threat.  Got thru that.. of course after I hear he had a 72 hour sting of property confinement for "a hole" in his mat... 72 hours in his boxers in a metal room.. interesting... glad  I got that AFTER the fact.

SO January.. should be out soon Mom.. investigation is over.. now face the music on the compound.. last night a text transferred... OMG AGAIN!  More unknown.

90 days three locations no phone calls... BUT PHYSICALLY SAFE.. 

Having to lean on Faith that God has this.. I sure dont!

I keep thinking that I am going to "adjust" to having my child in a prison but I can not adjust to something that was wrong to begin with.  Every day I work with other organizations, lobby groups, legislators, attorneys and other people in the same situation.  I draft documents, I wrote articles, I participate in interviews and I am very busy, but then the reality sets in that none of that is going to bring him home.  He never should have been charged much less forced to take a plea and that anger just builds in me every day.  I fear for his safety, he has never been away from home, was no where near being ready to live on his own and still has the brain function of a 12-14 year old, and has already been victimized twice, witnessed a suicide and has been threatened repeatedly and that was in the jail, now he is in a prison.  He has made some friends there that are of his same age both physically and mentally but none of them have sentences nearly as long so when they are gone, I know his sadness will return. Hearing him cry every day never gets any easier.  I have worked with him every day of his life to compensate for his disabilities and now I have no control over that and feel that we are going to loose ground.

Thank you all for your friendship. All your kind words and prayers have filled my heart with strength.  Thank so much for all of your suggestions too.  I'm doing my best to cope despite all of the negativity on the news and on social media. So many terrible things are being said by people who do not know or accept that he is innocent. So it is nice to have support that is not judgement.

Please let me know if there is any way I can return the blessings you have given me in any way. I will continue to pray for all of you your sons and families.

Love

Jillian

I am sad, confused, and just lost.  I just don't understand how all our lives had to be shattered and altered forever especially this way.  I thought I was over these feelings. It has been 2 years. I thought I was strong but I have these horrible moments of sadness.  This is our new normal but I don't want it to be.  I want it to reverse and my son and his family to back to the way it was.  Nothing can change the past unfortunately, so we all move on in a daze thinking we are okay but we are not inside and never will be.  I feel sometimes like I am drifting away from Jesus and the strength he gives me.  I was so close to Him at the beginning of this so why can I not be as close now?  Sometimes I think what is it all for, why are we here--to just be hurt and sad.  Don't get me wrong, I am not sad all the time, I have wonderful things to live for===my daughter just had her first baby, the few and far between times I get to see my son's children, and a great husband.  I need to focus on the positive.  

Thanks for listening to me.  I am so thankful for this site because I know you mother's have these same feelings and struggle with the "New Normal" everyday as I do. I am thankful my son is alive and well as he can be in a prison.  I will get to see him in a few months I hope, if the application comes back approved.  Please pray that it does.  I haven't done anything that would not make it come back ok but you know the government especially Virginia--unpredictable and they make up their own rules and laws, at least that is my feeling.

Thanks again to all the ladies that read this.  I as you are fighting to be strong and keep my faith in tack.

My son was so over joyed with all the Christmas cards that he received.

It made him feel like he meant something. That there are caring people out there. As we all know that the holidays are not only hard on us but on our loved ones behind those walls ten fold.

We both thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Are there any Moms in the Atlanta area?

Good Morning,
I am a mother of a 20 year old girl. She was sentenced to 80 years in May of 2015. I visit monthly and receive calls weekly. will this get easier? The feelings are just as raw for me as the day of her arrest.