In Memory of Susan Denise Atkins-Whitehouse
First Day?
Susan's 1993 parole hearing was heard by
3 Board of Prison Terms commissioners.
During the hearing,
they were discussing with Susan a recent
psychological evaluation that Susan had taken.
Specifically, it was the center seated commissioner
who was speaking to Susan about it.
To the commissioner's left is the presiding commissioner.
To her right the other commissioner.
This conversation took place immediately after
they had discussed Susan's marriages.
Susan's 1993 parole hearing was heard by
3 Board of Prison Terms commissioners.
During the hearing,
they were discussing with Susan a recent
psychological evaluation that Susan had taken.
Specifically, it was the center seated commissioner
who was speaking to Susan about it.
To the commissioner's left is the presiding commissioner.
To her right the other commissioner.
This conversation took place immediately after
they had discussed Susan's marriages.
The conversation is interesting.
The manner in which the commissioner addresses Susan,
and the manner in which she is reading aloud
her reference material in front of her,
is almost as if this is the commissioner's first day,
appearing to know little to nothing about Susan.
It also seems as though the commissioner is seeing the report
in front of her for the first time.
We don't speak for anyone but ourselves.
However,
if we were in Susan's seat,
we would hope, and expect,
that those who are judging us KNOW us,
and are not judging us from what they read on a piece of paper,
seemingly for the first time.
We also acknowledge we may be
waaaaaay off track from what is the norm...
The manner in which the commissioner addresses Susan,
and the manner in which she is reading aloud
her reference material in front of her,
is almost as if this is the commissioner's first day,
appearing to know little to nothing about Susan.
It also seems as though the commissioner is seeing the report
in front of her for the first time.
We don't speak for anyone but ourselves.
However,
if we were in Susan's seat,
we would hope, and expect,
that those who are judging us KNOW us,
and are not judging us from what they read on a piece of paper,
seemingly for the first time.
We also acknowledge we may be
waaaaaay off track from what is the norm...
During the discussion,
the commissioner mispronounces the name of the doctor
who performed the evaluation on Susan.
Susan corrects the commissioner.
It's apparent the commissioner did not
discuss Susan's evaluation with anyone before this hearing.
If she had,
we believe the commissioner would have known,
at least,
how to pronounce the doctor's name correctly.
It's seems obvious the commissioner's only knowledge of Susan is from this
first time reading of a printed report she was given.
Someone's future is on the line.
We believe that warrants some discussion
amongst those who judge
and those who evaluate.
As we continue on,
the commissioner reads to Susan the psychological evaluation
which Susan had taken.
We join the reading already in progress;
the commissioner mispronounces the name of the doctor
who performed the evaluation on Susan.
Susan corrects the commissioner.
It's apparent the commissioner did not
discuss Susan's evaluation with anyone before this hearing.
If she had,
we believe the commissioner would have known,
at least,
how to pronounce the doctor's name correctly.
It's seems obvious the commissioner's only knowledge of Susan is from this
first time reading of a printed report she was given.
Someone's future is on the line.
We believe that warrants some discussion
amongst those who judge
and those who evaluate.
As we continue on,
the commissioner reads to Susan the psychological evaluation
which Susan had taken.
We join the reading already in progress;
Commissioner: "...But there is another factor preventing inmate Atkins
further improvement. It is the extraordinary pressure resulting from
those notorious and unprecedented crimes that makes it difficult
for this inmate to further change and improve. Especially when
considered together with her personality characteristics"
Susan: "I'm not sure exactly what he means by that"
While hemming and hawing,
the commissioner responds to Susan's inquiry -
Items in [ ] are our insertions for emphasis.
This conversation has to be heard to be believed;
Commissioner: "Well....[pause]....I.....I....I think [the commissioner thinks] what he's trying to
indicate to you..........uummmm........that........and.........and I got this feeling
[the commissioner got this feeling] throughout the whole psychological report
is that you're trying very hard while you're in the facility to
overcompensate in trying to prove every.......to everybody at this time"
(This statement seals the fact the commissioner's
only knowledge is from the report she is reading from...)
Susan: "Okay, okay"
Commissioner: "Okay?
Susan: "I got it"
Commissioner: "In the.......in some of the testing in that.......then they show
the very strong inclination for drug addiction, was apparent
coming out through the testing. And mistrust and.........wait a minute
let me get that [the commissioner has to get that]
Susan: "Mistrust.......me mistrusting people or...."
Commissioner: "The others.....yeah"
Susan: "other people mistrusting me?"
Commissioner: "mmm......uuuhh.......the others relate to her presenting.......to your presenting
suspicion and mistrust. Authority problems and a difference in
moral standards compared to normal responses. These are just
some of the things that came out in the testing..."
The commissioner is not talking with Susan.
The commissioner is just reading to Susan.
Susan knows how to read herself.
The commissioner wraps up her reading of the report.
further improvement. It is the extraordinary pressure resulting from
those notorious and unprecedented crimes that makes it difficult
for this inmate to further change and improve. Especially when
considered together with her personality characteristics"
Susan: "I'm not sure exactly what he means by that"
While hemming and hawing,
the commissioner responds to Susan's inquiry -
Items in [ ] are our insertions for emphasis.
This conversation has to be heard to be believed;
Commissioner: "Well....[pause]....I.....I....I think [the commissioner thinks] what he's trying to
indicate to you..........uummmm........that........and.........and I got this feeling
[the commissioner got this feeling] throughout the whole psychological report
is that you're trying very hard while you're in the facility to
overcompensate in trying to prove every.......to everybody at this time"
(This statement seals the fact the commissioner's
only knowledge is from the report she is reading from...)
Susan: "Okay, okay"
Commissioner: "Okay?
Susan: "I got it"
Commissioner: "In the.......in some of the testing in that.......then they show
the very strong inclination for drug addiction, was apparent
coming out through the testing. And mistrust and.........wait a minute
let me get that [the commissioner has to get that]
Susan: "Mistrust.......me mistrusting people or...."
Commissioner: "The others.....yeah"
Susan: "other people mistrusting me?"
Commissioner: "mmm......uuuhh.......the others relate to her presenting.......to your presenting
suspicion and mistrust. Authority problems and a difference in
moral standards compared to normal responses. These are just
some of the things that came out in the testing..."
The commissioner is not talking with Susan.
The commissioner is just reading to Susan.
Susan knows how to read herself.
The commissioner wraps up her reading of the report.
The commissioner continues on explaining to Susan
what the passage she just read means;
(what the commissioner thinks it means)
apparently not having spoken to anyone about it,
apparently having just read it for the first time.
Someone about to determine,
along with two others,
how another human being continues on in their life.
Whether that person becomes a member of free society,
or remains a prisoner.
It's unfortunate, and sad to know, that to some,
it's just a job.
The commissioner concludes her report,
and tells the presiding commissioner "That completes (inaudible)"
The presiding commissioner then calls the third commissioner to speak,
and they continue on discussing parole plans...
home
what the passage she just read means;
(what the commissioner thinks it means)
apparently not having spoken to anyone about it,
apparently having just read it for the first time.
Someone about to determine,
along with two others,
how another human being continues on in their life.
Whether that person becomes a member of free society,
or remains a prisoner.
It's unfortunate, and sad to know, that to some,
it's just a job.
The commissioner concludes her report,
and tells the presiding commissioner "That completes (inaudible)"
The presiding commissioner then calls the third commissioner to speak,
and they continue on discussing parole plans...
home
