Jail, prison and Stuff

Post 0559

Paul Byron Ferguson, Michigan inmate 784373, born 2002, incarceration intake March 2024 at age 21, scheduled for early release consideration July 2052, scheduled for full release July 2122

Child Abuse

A Michigan man who pleaded guilty in his disabled brother’s starvation death was sentenced in February 2024 to a minimum of 30 years in prison by a judge who said the defendant is “one step away from becoming a psychopath.”

Timothy Ferguson, who had autism and was speech- and motor-impaired, weighed only 69 pounds when he died in July 2022 at the family’s western Michigan home in Norton Shores, authorities said.

The brothers’ mother, Shanda Vander Ark (Michigan inmate 783668) of Norton Shores, was sentenced in January 2024 to life in prison without a chance of parole after a jury convicted her of murder and child abuse in the teen’s death.

Muskegon County Circuit Judge Matthew Kacel said he didn’t believe Paul Ferguson was sorry for the abusive punishments, including ice baths, he and his mother carried out that led to Timothy Ferguson’s death.

“The court believes Mr. Ferguson is one step away from becoming a psychopath like his mother,” Kacel said during the hearing.

Paul Ferguson and Vander Ark punished Timothy Ferguson by feeding him hot sauce, subjecting him to ice baths, depriving him of sleep and locking the refrigerator and food cabinets, prosecutors said. He died from malnourishment and hypothermia.

Muskegon County Chief Trial Prosecutor Matt Roberts said Paul Ferguson represents a threat to the public if he doesn’t get mental health treatment while incarcerated.

4s

Hell, yeah, but it depends on what the situation is.

For arrest and immediate transport, especially if I’m arrested out in public:  light, strong police cuffs, behind my back.  Light leg shackles optional depending on how long it will be before I’m transported to a proper confinement facility.  Double locked so I don’t tighten the cuffs by leaning back when loaded into the back of a police car, but certainly tight enough that I can’t escape them.

For transport between station and jail, or from jail to prison:  full transport restraints.  Cuffs and black box in front with a waist chain tightly padlocked around my middle.  Leg irons on ankles, connected to the black box with a chain.  The leg irons have an O-ring in the middle of the chain that connects them, so guards can padlock the chain to the floor of the transport vehicle if needed.

For time alone in a cell, like for 72 hour punishment in the hole:  heavy permanent ankle irons and a heavy chain connecting them.  The idea is that the weight and the sound of the chain rattling on the hard concrete floor constantly reminds me of my status as a prisoner being punished.  If handcuffed, heavy steel irons with a heavy connecting chain.

For doing time at hard labor, probably no handcuffs, but heavy ankle irons with a heavy connecting chain that also has an O ring midway.  The O ring is for padlocking another chain which can be fixed to a post or wall, so that even though I can move around sufficiently well to do my hard labor (swinging a hammer on the rock pile, digging ditches), I can’t walk off.

I love the sound of handcuffs ratcheting onto my wrists behind my back.

Inmates dressed in stripes and orange sandals kneel to present their ankles for shackling. Every prisoner in the United States experiences this humiliating ritual. They are chained whenever they leave for court, medical treatment, another facility, or even when moving from one side of the building to another.

Mass restraint procedure inside the facility: A line of detainees being systematically fitted with heavy steel ankle shackles. The guards secure the connecting chains tightly over their footwear, executing standard security protocols for higher-risk inmate movement.

Mugshots

DAKOTA COUNTY JAIL CLIP

A very nice clip, short enough to fit in here. Regrettably without any commentary, just a silly music underneath. A lot of nice shots of prison uniforms (green-striped jumpsuits), waist belts-with-handcuffs and leg-irons to be seen, including the shackling itself.

It's an introductory video-clip where the Dakota County Jail presents itself to visitors and future inhabitants. Have a look on the whole and don't forget to pay attention to the last words, sounding a bit sarcastic:

"Coming soon... Serve more time with us in the Dakota County Jail".

Well, at least it has to offer more exciting elements regarding the use of restraints than the Clackamas County Jail filmclip.

The clip contains a lot of great shots, regrettably rather short. I have selected here several nice video stills for you.

A new detainee, still in civilian clothes, wearing a leather waist-belt with handcuffs, walking, kept by a guard.

2. Some inmates in grey prison jumpsuits sitting next to each other.

3. A couple of inmates dressed in green striped jumpsuits, wearing a waist-belt with handcuffs, seen from the back, walking through a corridor, supervised by a guard. Apparently leg-irons not mandatory!

4. An inmate in green striped jumpsuit, searched by a guard.

5. The shackling of a new inmate.

6. The same guy as in the first pic showed with his waist-belt plus handcuffs, now presumably waiting with his guard for some door to be opened.

7. The freshly shackled prisoner from two pictures earlier, now taking his very first awkward steps in his leg-irons under supervision. All beginnings are difficult!

8. Two inmates in green prison stripes hanging around.

9. Searching a new detainee, leaning against the wall.

10. A new detainee, still wearing his own t-shirt and jeans, handcuffed to the steel bench he is stored on.

11. An inmate in green striped jumpsuit getting handcuffed. The attached waist-belt, still hanging down, for sure will be applied immediately afterwards.

12. My last choice: several inmates in green prison stripes passing by.

Just before the already quoted final words of the clip: