Ian Federov

Ian Federov is a close family member of a federal prisoner in the United States. Ian is serving time outside the prison after dropping everything in life and moving within walking distance of the Prison. Let's call this family prisoner Jack.

Sob Story

Jack was a blue collar worker in a Fiberglass plant, Machine shop, then saving lives as a Paramedic / Firefighter for 10 years. Then he fucked up! He was accused of a heinous crime (which means condemned), stripped of his livelihood, house, kids, possessions. His history.

As if he never existed.

Never been born.

Then he was told by his only court advocate that his case is hopeless and cannot be defended. That he might as well be buying up lottery tickets. The only way is to plead guilty. Right or wrong. Guilty or not, because it matters not. Ninety-seven percent of all US Federal cases result in a plea bargain. And good luck even looking up the phrase plea bargain in the constitution...because it isn't there. If the country of Iraq cannot beat these people what chance does Jack have? None. Fortunately, 2.2 million men and women share something in common with him...

They're all in Time Out.

Reform School

Those Americans are sent away (put away) for a ridiculously long time. A mandatory minimum time made up by folks who have never seen a prison, or have experience in crime & punishment. Your Congress. Your best!

People who know more about committing atrocities than correcting them.

Boys in Blue

There are no cameras allowed in prison. No voice recorders allowed by strict edict. Sure, Lock-Up on MSNBC will show you the grounds, "model" inmates talking about getting in touch with God, and Correctional Officers (CO's) who are physically fit. What they won't show is the shoddy plumbing for inmates; prisoners with a realistic outlook; or average, grossly overweight, officers, so fat that a trip up a flight of stairs might be that same as taking a suicide pill. Some officers are bigger criminals than the people whose freedom they are responsible for.

"It's no mere coincidence that the guard described as the ringleader in the Iraq prison scandal, Charles Garner, worked before the war...where? In a prison. In America. He didn't learn to torture from the CIA or Special Ops; he picked up his abuse skills right here and took them to Iraq-outsourcing at it's worse." -Bill Maher

Did You Feed The Dog Today?

Prisoners are subjected to conditions most people would not allow their pets to endure. Extreme temperatures, clinically-insane cohabitants, etc., etc. Why does this happen without complaint? It doesn't. If a prisoner falls in the shower and nobody hears it, did they fall? Many families and fair-weathered friends have turned away from them. They think that if the US says these people are bad, then they must be bad.

See, the thing is, it's easier to accept that you're family member or friend is a bad guy, than to wrap your mind around the possibility that your government is corrupt. It's so much easier to to condemn and ignore, than to admit that it could all be falling apart, and that at any moment, you might be the one wearing orange.

Wrong!

Pick Up the Phone

Prisoners must be heard. These are Americans, folks. Most will leave prison and move in right next door to you (1 in 99 Americans). If your friend or loved one is in jail or prison, they need you!

Not Christmas/Birthday card need. I'm talking financially; morally. Love, goddammit! You may need them for the very same support. Pledging to help is not enough.

Pledge to a flag.

Visit a prisoner.

Send money.

If you think for a moment that a State or Federal Institution gives a shit if your friend or relative is getting his medication or enough nutrition, shame on you. Send 50 bucks a month, Cheap-O. What you get is far more than "...a picture of the child your sponsoring" in a developing country (all the photos are the same kid by the way). You get loyalty, gratitude, and respect of a fellow American who might literally (see Jack's profession) save your life one day. They might even keep you out of a Nursing Home in your twilight years.

Wouldn't that be something?

Not Your Problem?

If this doesn't stir your conscience or invoke a feeling in the cockles of your heart then at the very least leave them alone. Leave your former friend or loved-one in peace to reform him/herself. It takes a lot to get back on your feet after being "down".

So bite your tongue.

Hold your unnecessary restraining orders. Try not to kick 'em while they're down. You can get more back-child support and/or restitution from a reformed, productive, working citizen than a destitute, desperate, ex-con hell-bent on nothing other than taking revenge on you for making his/her prison experience even worse.

Everyone wins!

Surprise!

Here's a twist. Perhaps Ian Federov is a pseudonym? A by-name. An alias. He is a she. The wife of a prisoner. Seeing her husband every week, every minute that she can. Because she loves him. She helps him by sending money for food and books to read. The limit to what is allowed. When they aren't obstructing even her attempts at that. It hurts her to hear of others that have no one. Have nothing.

But she is there for him, not them.

They are waiting for you.

And you.

And you.

Enjoy Time Out Comics.