Happy Father's Day...Hello?

In Memory of Susan Denise Atkins-Whitehouse

Happy Father's Day..........Hello?

During Susan's parole hearing in January 1993,
the Presiding Board of Prison Terms Commissioner
questioned Susan about her arrest record.

They dragged Susan through her past;
again.

Susan was 44 years old on this hearing date.
The Board of Prison Terms dragged Susan back to 1966,
when Susan was 18 years old.

The life Susan lived in her youth
is incomprehensible to many,
probably to most.

The Board of Prison Terms
expected Susan to answer questions about her youth
as though it occurred yesterday.

In reliving the dates of her arrests,
it causes Susan some obvious discomfort,
but she is required to answer the questions,
no matter how repetitive,
or pointless,
some of them may seem;

Commissioner: "As far as your arrest record, it goes back to 9-12-66.
You were arrested in Salem, Oregon for possession
   of a concealed weapon, receiving stolen property"
Susan: "Yes"
The commissioner asked Susan some questions
   about that, then asked Susan...

Commissioner: "How old were you then?"
   Susan: "I think I was eighteen"

Later....

Commissioner: "And then on 9-29-66 you were arrested by the U.S. Marshall,
   in Portland, Oregon. Is that correct?
   Susan: "Yes"
Commissioner: "And did you steal a car?"
   Susan: "No sir I did not..."

   Susan went on to explain to the commissioner
the situation she was in, and how she came to be
   arrested for car theft,
even though she did not steal a car.

Commissioner: "On 4-21-68 you were arrested in Ventura.
   For reproduction of a Driver's License?"
Susan: "Yes"
The commissioner questioned Susan about that.

Commissioner: "On 6-22-68 in south Ukiah you were arrested for
   possession of a dangerous drug with a prior"
Susan: "Yes sir"
The commissioner follows with another question
regarding that arrest.
The questioning continues...

Commissioner: "How old were you in 1968? That was..."
   Susan: "In when?"
Commissioner: " '68 "
Susan: "I was twenty"
Commissioner: "On 6-4-69 you were arrested for, in Los Angeles,
   for violation of probation. You were released to
   the Mendocino Sheriff"
Susan: "Yes"

The Board that was hearing Susan's case
couldn't care less what she said.
It's obvious to anyone.

And apparently, they did not consider
the historical repercussions of their actions,
or lack thereof.

Maybe they should have...
Commissioner: "6-7-90.........'69, South Ukiah violation of probation.
On 8-16-69, Los Angeles Sheriff's Department
for grand theft auto..."

Susan tells the commissioner she doesn't remember
if those charges had been dropped or not,
because she doesn't remember the charge...

Susan's Attorney: "That was when they issued
the search warrant for Spahn's Ranch"
Susan: "Oh, okay. Okay"
Susan's Attorney: "And the search warrant..."
   Susan: "Okay. Right. And we were taken,
   I was taken to County Jail.....Los Angeles County Jail,
   held for I believe 72 hours and then released"

Suddenly and abruptly,
the commissioner's line of questioning comes to a screeching halt.

The commissioner gives no indication
to Susan or her attorney,
that he is about to change his line of questioning;

The commissioner's next question:

Commissioner: "Says you were born in San Gabriel, California?"
   Susan: "Yes sir"

The commissioner continues to question Susan
about her childhood.

The Board of Prison Terms had dragged Susan
through her arrest record,
then suddenly dropped Susan into her childhood,
with no forewarning.

The emotional turbulence that this kind of questioning
can cause could be distressing to anyone.

Susan handled it well -

Happy Father's Day...........Hello?
Hello.................?

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In Memory of Susan Denise Atkins-Whitehouse