Jodie’s Journey April 12, 2014

Jodie’s Journey
I took my daughter, Jodie Lynne, to Muskogee County Jail on Monday afternoon. She voluntarily turned herself in that day and signed a plea agreement to serve three years in and 17 years of probation. She was forced to sign it or go to trial and the Public Defender promised her 20-to life if she went to trial. I call that blackmail as they had a shaky case to begin with. Her crimes were small, but numerous, piling up during her many years of drug and alcohol addiction.
The Public Defender would not allow me in the room while she read and signed the agreement.
She has no history of violent crimes or crimes involving people. Before she signed the plea deal, I requested long-term drug rehab; even prison rehab and the Public Defender told me NO WAY.
He said that there is no money for treatment programs in Oklahoma. (BTW: OK prisons have more women in jail per capita than any other state.) He also said that she would sit in county jail for eight months waiting for a non-existent treatment slot to open and that would be horrible for her.
Twenty-years, three in and seventeen-years of probation. If she sneezes, she will do twenty-years. And she is a sneezer. She received that sentence for non-violent crimes. She will turn 39 in jail and her first grandchild will be born soon.
Meanwhile, rapists, child molesters and murderers do less time. They get out and do it again. Sometimes within a week.
The man who killed Jodie’s first husband, Donny, had numerous convictions for drunk driving, numerous court ordered rehabs, no license and his blood tested positive on the morning of the accident, positive for alcohol and for drugs at 8:00 a.m.
My son-in-law’s motorcycle was stopped at the red light. M. H. drove right through that red light. He killed my son-in-law. I had to call in the Tulsa news before he was even charged with a crime. He did fifteen months in prison.
I am not excusing my daughter’s crimes, but doesn’t rehab make more sense for an addict who hasn’t found sobriety?
The worst part is that we could not afford a lawyer and justice is for people who can afford a lawyer. Take my word for it, because that is one theory you do not want to test. Actually, Jodie did spend $3,500 on a lawyer but he dropped her case when she couldn’t pay the second half, another $3,500. (Thank you, Steve, for trying to get her a lawyer. I know you are still paying that loan.)
When Jodie walked into MCJ they informed her that she would most likely do 8 months in MCJ!
MCJ is a transient setting and the PD already knew that she would be there for 8 months. She was treated to a cold shower enhanced by lice solution before being issued her new outfit and her pallet. She is now sleeping on a pallet in a small room with 30-40 other women, pallets are wall to wall. Is that even legal?
Jodie is not an innocent person and she takes complete responsibility for her actions as noted by turning herself in to MCJ. She told me that it was the hardest thing she has ever done. I was extremely proud of her.
I went online after I got home and found numerous rehabs equipped to treat addicts doing time, both in Muskogee County and Oklahoma.
People who commit cold-blooded murder do less time than she will. She also needs treatment for her documented Bi-Polar illness. That will also not be provided for her in jail. PD said there is no money for medications used to treat mental health issues in jail.
Come back for news about Jodie and the book we are co-writing about her ongoing struggles with prison, mental health issues and addictions, “Jodie’s Journey.”
Jodie and I believe that God has saved her so many times for a reason, and that even from this latest horror show, He will bring forth blessings in her life. I pray hopefully in mine too, because she is my heart and right now, my heart is broken.