Question by Maricopa County: Do you feel sorry for this illegal or was justice served?
He was one of 107 Mexican men who had started out that morning in shackles at the York County Prison and had been placed by immigration officials on a chartered plane at Harrisburg International Airport for a flight to the border. The journey was part of a now daily exodus that has made the south-central region of Pennsylvania a critical hub in the federal government’s efforts to deport undocumented immigrants.

Now 37, Mr. Cruz had not been in his native country since crossing illegally more than two decades before. He was leaving behind his parents, siblings, a young daughter he hardly knew and a seven-year prison stint in Virginia that followed a 2002 night of binge drinking and a hit-and-run crash. He had no clothes except his brown prison jumpsuit and a pair of blue slippers.Mr. Cruz, who became a devout Christian during his time in prison, plans to continue his religious studies and spread the word of God as a Mennonite missionary in his homeland.When Mr. Cruz crossed the border as a teenager in the 1980s, it was “kind of easy,” he said last month while awaiting deportation. The United States had far fewer border patrol agents than it has today.

His parents were already living in Los Angles, and Mr. Cruz wanted to join them. Most of his four brothers and three sisters would make similar journeys.

After a decade living on the west coast, the family decided to move to Harrisonburg, Va., to get away from the growing dangers of gangs and crime in Los Angeles. In Virginia, Mr. Cruz found work in a poultry factory, where he put turkeys on hooks before they were slaughtered.

By then, Mr. Cruz’s older brother had developed a drinking problem. Mr. Cruz, a regular churchgoer, initially resisted such temptations. But he soon started drinking with his brother.

“It was just little by little,” he said. “Then I was an alcoholic.”

The pair also smoked marijuana, despite admonitions from their parents. Mr. Cruz attended rehabilitation programs, but he didn’t have any success until he left his family to live on his own in Phoenix.

There he met Rosario Mendoza, a devoted Christian who helped him recover from his addictions. She also persuaded him to reconcile with his parents and return to Virginia. Mr. Cruz brought Ms. Mendoza with him, and the couple had a daughter named Paula.

Mr. Cruz also reconnected with his old group of friends, and he again started drinking and using drugs.

In November 2002, an intoxicated Mr. Cruz tried to drive home after watching a boxing match. He struck a woman’s car and kept driving before crashing again. He woke up in the hospital with a broken shoulder and neck and chest injuries. He later learned that the woman in the car had been pregnant and suffered a miscarriage.

During his first night in prison, Mr. Cruz tried to hang himself with a sweater. Guards put him under suicide watch.

At the prison health clinic, a nurse gave him a Bible and told him, “I’ll be praying for you.”

Her words provided comfort. Mr. Cruz resolved to change. He pleaded guilty to criminal charges and accepted a 10-year prison sentence and the loss of his visa to stay in the United States, which his parents had helped him get a decade before.

At Green Rock Correctional Center in Chatham, Va., Mr. Cruz immersed himself in Christianity, attending Bible study and theology classes sponsored by Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University. He served as a translator at weekend services for other Latinos in the prison.

Best answer:

Answer by Tom
No. I feel justice was served. He is, after all, an ILLEGAL immigrant.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

California is one of the largest and most populated states in the country. Located on the western part of the United States, against the Pacific Ocean, it borders Oregon on the north and Mexico on the south. It has a diverse population and many parts of the state, such as Los Angeles, are overcrowded. There is heavy use of drugs, as well as alcohol in the state, as a result of which there are over 1000 California Rehab Centers, more than anywhere else in the country, with Orange Country having the majority.
Experience has shown that long term’ treatment is much more effective than ‘short term’ (less than 30 days) with California Rehabilitation programs. Following treatment at the center, there is extended care, followed by weekly checkups and group therapy. It has been found that continued reinforcement is needed for the program, whether drugs or alcohol, if it is to be successful.
This treatment is obtained at a tremendous cost, not only to the government and the individual, but to society as well. Many break-ins, robberies, family abuse’ and other problems of society, are directly attributed to this problem. Federal, state and local governments, alone, spend hundreds of thousands of dollars each week with arrests, trials and imprisonment of these people. Records for 2005 show that almost half a trillion dollars was spent on substance abuse and addiction problems in the United States. It is reported that only two percent went toward rehabilitation.
Treatment at the centers can vary, however the majority of long-term programs (30-45 days) have intense, cognitive behavioral therapy, either individually or in a group, working up to life skills and a return to normal life. There are centers that are specifically for a particular gender, such as one for women, in Costa Mesa, California, which is a private pay facility. There are also county-funded programs, with managed care options.
Because of the frequency of the problem of overcrowding, in the prison system, by alcohol and drug abuse people, the legislation introduced Proposition 36, which sends many people with this problem into rehabilitation, rather than prison. This has caused a dramatic increase in the number of rehabilitation centers in the state. In addition, because it is acknowledged that it is difficult for addicts to remain drug or alcohol free, in some cases there is monitoring and inpatient residential programs after treatment.
Among the many rehab centers in California, there are a number that are sponsored by religious organizations. One of the most successful of this type of rehab center has a program is directed toward young teens with alcohol and drug problems. It offers housing, treatment, training and other guidance not only to teens but to children and adults as well.
This program, as well as similar ones, has been very successful and has been copied by other cities throughout the United States. It is felt that, by treating people, the younger the better, lives can be improved by being free of alcohol or drug abuse. When completing a program, reinforcement must be continued for a long time if it is to be successful.
Alcohol and drug abuse affects everyone in the country, and every level of life. In California, alone, it takes hundreds of thousands of dollars to fight the problem, that could better be used for things such as education. California rehab centers are at the front in treatment of people with this problem but there is still a long way to go.

Question by Sugarbaby: Are there any free or discount drug rehabilitation out there?
A close friend of mine is addicted to Heroine, and Cocaine, and wants to get clean. she’s tried on her own, but continues to fall into that lifestyle. She wants to get professional help, but can’t afford it. We live in Los angeles. She’s trying to get MediCal, but even then it will be hard foe her to find a program she can afford. Anyone know of any free or discount re-hab programs or psycologists or something who coudl help her in California?

Best answer:

Answer by mdbpdac
Here are a few links that I found. Below are some links that I found when doing a search for “low-cost drug rehab in California” The first two links have prices listed for various treatments. The last link, you have to call them and they will give you prices for treatment. I hope these links help. I wish you the best of luck in finding an affordable treatment.

What do you think? Answer below!

California is one of the largest and most populated states in the country. Located on the western part of the United States, against the Pacific Ocean, it borders Oregon on the north and Mexico on the south. It has a diverse population and many parts of the state, such as Los Angeles, are overcrowded. There is heavy use of drugs, as well as alcohol in the state, as a result of which there are over 1000 California Rehab Centers, more than anywhere else in the country, with Orange Country having the majority.
Experience has shown that long term’ treatment is much more effective than ‘short term’ (less than 30 days) with California Rehabilitation programs. Following treatment at the center, there is extended care, followed by weekly checkups and group therapy. It has been found that continued reinforcement is needed for the program, whether drugs or alcohol, if it is to be successful.
This treatment is obtained at a tremendous cost, not only to the government and the individual, but to society as well. Many break-ins, robberies, family abuse’ and other problems of society, are directly attributed to this problem. Federal, state and local governments, alone, spend hundreds of thousands of dollars each week with arrests, trials and imprisonment of these people. Records for 2005 show that almost half a trillion dollars was spent on substance abuse and addiction problems in the United States. It is reported that only two percent went toward rehabilitation.
Treatment at the centers can vary, however the majority of long-term programs (30-45 days) have intense, cognitive behavioral therapy, either individually or in a group, working up to life skills and a return to normal life. There are centers that are specifically for a particular gender, such as one for women, in Costa Mesa, California, which is a private pay facility. There are also county-funded programs, with managed care options.
Because of the frequency of the problem of overcrowding, in the prison system, by alcohol and drug abuse people, the legislation introduced Proposition 36, which sends many people with this problem into rehabilitation, rather than prison. This has caused a dramatic increase in the number of rehabilitation centers in the state. In addition, because it is acknowledged that it is difficult for addicts to remain drug or alcohol free, in some cases there is monitoring and inpatient residential programs after treatment.
Among the many rehab centers in California, there are a number that are sponsored by religious organizations. One of the most successful of this type of rehab center has a program is directed toward young teens with alcohol and drug problems. It offers housing, treatment, training and other guidance not only to teens but to children and adults as well.
This program, as well as similar ones, has been very successful and has been copied by other cities throughout the United States. It is felt that, by treating people, the younger the better, lives can be improved by being free of alcohol or drug abuse. When completing a program, reinforcement must be continued for a long time if it is to be successful.
Alcohol and drug abuse affects everyone in the country, and every level of life. In California, alone, it takes hundreds of thousands of dollars to fight the problem, that could better be used for things such as education. California rehab centers are at the front in treatment of people with this problem but there is still a long way to go.

As the population of California goes on increasing there is a considerable increase in the automobiles too. Hence due to increase in congestion in the traffics it becomes mandatory for all cars to have car insurance.

The results are easily available online and many websites have cropped up which provide information about the insurance policies and quotes. The websites easily display results for California car insurance quotes that also in less than five minutes. It hardly takes a click of the mouse to get the quotes and then people can decide the suitable insurance as per their likes.

Keeping an eye on the California car insurance quotes it can be seen that the residents are well taken care of in case of the unfortunate incident of an accident. A minimum amount of liability insurance is needed here. It can be seen through online survey that the current requirements are 15/30/5. These numbers tell us that how much amount in thousands should be paid for bodily injury and also the property damage each driver should have. 

California Car Insurance Quotes -Bodily Injury Liability

In the above equation the first two numbers give us the coverage for the bodily injury. Bodily injuries mean that the expenses made for the third party i.e. the person in the other motor vehicle. It can be said to be around 15000$ to 30000$ maximum. The California car insurance quotes make clear these statistics and give a clear idea as to how much compensation will be given during any accident.

California Car Insurance Quotes – Property Damage Liability

California insurance policies also give a clear picture as to the damages incurred on traffic signs and other party’s vehicle. The stipulated amount is around $ 5,000 minimum. These are suggested to be the minimum as per the California car insurance quotes but Californian government always encourages more than these amounts. Moreover the government also insists on the car being insured or underinsured. There is seen a decline in the insurance premiums as seen in the California car insurance quotes. In the year 2006 to 2007 there was seen a drop of 4%.

The California car insurance quotes give us an idea about the insurance premium to be paid in regard to the person’s vehicle and also driving history. The California car insurance quotes tell us a lot about the car insurance and its schemes. Moreover it is always recommended that a minimum of car insurance should be done in order to achieve a peace of mind. Through the California car insurance quotes online one can always get quotes from all the companies available and decide on the best choice available.

As the population of California goes on increasing there is a considerable increase in the automobiles too. Hence due to increase in congestion in the traffics it becomes mandatory for all cars to have car insurance.

The results are easily available online and many websites have cropped up which provide information about the insurance policies and quotes. The websites easily display results for California car insurance quotes that also in less than five minutes. It hardly takes a click of the mouse to get the quotes and then people can decide the suitable insurance as per their likes.

Keeping an eye on the California car insurance quotes it can be seen that the residents are well taken care of in case of the unfortunate incident of an accident. A minimum amount of liability insurance is needed here. It can be seen through online survey that the current requirements are 15/30/5. These numbers tell us that how much amount in thousands should be paid for bodily injury and also the property damage each driver should have. 

California Car Insurance Quotes -Bodily Injury Liability

In the above equation the first two numbers give us the coverage for the bodily injury. Bodily injuries mean that the expenses made for the third party i.e. the person in the other motor vehicle. It can be said to be around 15000$ to 30000$ maximum. The California car insurance quotes make clear these statistics and give a clear idea as to how much compensation will be given during any accident.

California Car Insurance Quotes – Property Damage Liability

California insurance policies also give a clear picture as to the damages incurred on traffic signs and other party’s vehicle. The stipulated amount is around $ 5,000 minimum. These are suggested to be the minimum as per the California car insurance quotes but Californian government always encourages more than these amounts. Moreover the government also insists on the car being insured or underinsured. There is seen a decline in the insurance premiums as seen in the California car insurance quotes. In the year 2006 to 2007 there was seen a drop of 4%.

The California car insurance quotes give us an idea about the insurance premium to be paid in regard to the person’s vehicle and also driving history. The California car insurance quotes tell us a lot about the car insurance and its schemes. Moreover it is always recommended that a minimum of car insurance should be done in order to achieve a peace of mind. Through the California car insurance quotes online one can always get quotes from all the companies available and decide on the best choice available.