CNN is reporting today that the federal bureau of prisons is denying a request from the family of a man in jail for meth (due to be released in one year) for an extended stay with his ten year old daughter who is dying of cancer. Jayci Yaeger of Lincoln, Nebraska is barely clinging to life and continually is requesting to see her father. The father is jailed in South Dakota but is due to be released to a half-way house in Council Bluffs, Iowa in August. The girl will likely be dead by that time.
Here’s another story on the situation from KETV in Omaha.
This brings about the question as to what our prison system is REALLY all about. If it’s supposed to be about redemption and restoration and making that person a functioning member of society denying them the chance to see their dying child before they’re gone forever is not a good way to do it. It’s also really imposing a punishment on this little girl by not letting her see her father in person one last time before she dies. You can’t tell me stopping this man from seeing her is good for him, her or society as a whole. Yes, he committed a crime. He’s in prison. He is paying his debt to society. A civilized society also knows that punishment is not without mercy in extraordinary situations and a dying child qualifies in my mind as extraordinary. She’s not with cancer and has years to go. She has weeks or even days.
This is a time for American citizens to stand up and say it’s a time for mercy. This little girl does not deserve to die crying for her father just because he made a stupid mistake. This act of mercy is not about him, it’s about HER. Send e-mails to the warden and let him know that he needs to do the merciful thing and let this man visit his child before she’s gone.
Then after the visit send the guy back for the rest of his sentence. We’re not talking about letting him out early or commuting his sentence or denying that he needs to pay a penalty for his crime. We’re talking about letting a little girl have something we all cherish…a moment with our father…before she leaves this world.
How can someone say this is not an extraordinary circumstance?
I’m also putting out a call to any blogger who stumbles on this story to please repost it on your site. Even if you’re a strong law and order person, I would hope you can see this situation is not your typical situation and find it in your heart to show compassion on this little girl and let her see her father. Perhaps if the voice of the American people stands up and says that while we believe in law and order we also believe in compassion and mercy the message will get through to the warden.
Jason just spent 2 1/2 weeks with Jayci in Omaha at the Children’s Hospital there. It was also alleged that he was arrested again for meth….. Hmmmm
And I bet he read Jayci stories every night and took her to preschool before his initial arrest! I know the family……………….. Mom also has spent time in York, NE at the Women’s Correctional Facility for drug charges WHILE Jayci had cancer! The media isn’t reporting that! While her parents were enjoying their drugs, Jayci wasn’t receiving the appropriate medical attention that she needed. The MEDIA isn’t reporting that! Who said that drugs are a victimless crime?!? Tell that to Jayci!
Jayci is an awesome little girl. She has been unconscious/semi-conscious for almost 2 weeks now. I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy. I feel that the Feds have been more than willing to let Jason see and talk to his daughter. As a mother I am sure that I would want the same thing for my child- oh yeah- I am married to a LAW ABIDING husband, so I guess I don’t have to worry about that.
For Jason’s sake and Shelbi’s (his other daughter) I hope and pray to God that he has changed. Sweet baby girl Jayci, I hope you find comfort and know that there are millions of people that know your story know and love you.
“Get The Facts”…what I posted was based on the news articles. Are you saying the news reports do not contain facts?
If he was with Jayci for two and a half weeks (which would be great) why didn’t that appear in any of the news reports? Why wouldn’t the Feds immediately point that out? And if he was there…wouldn’t they have someone watching him all the time he’s not at the hospital? How could he get drugs again?
I’d love to see the evidence to back up what you’re saying because that would be very damning to bring to the press.
I will give you the facts I’m Jason sister. Jason got to come down around two half weeks ago for 2 hour visit with Jayci then he went back. Jason has not been arrested with meth charges again.
If you were a good family friend you would know mom and dad are heart broken over what they have done in the past.
Jason did start doing drugs till after jayci canner came back the sec. time.
Jason is back to our old Jason the one we know and love
“Are you saying the news reports do not contain facts?”
You’re kidding, right?
How about ending the drug war and freeing all drug (political prisoners) related inmates. The USA has too many people in jail. Prisons are a failure. They do not reduce crime nor prevent it. Its time to think outside the box (prison).
how is it possible to help the family? does anyone have contact info?
I hope this little girl gets to see her daddy, its a shame the warden won’t allow this man to be with his dying daughter! what kind of human being is he? he needs to be locked up!!! my heart breaks for the family.
I have been reading a lot about this case. I have seen some conflicting information in some of the news articles. Bottom line is this, if he was just abusing drugs, I think the prison system should let him see his daughter before she dies. But, if he was selling to others, this makes him a drug dealer. As a drug dealer, he should not be permitted to see his daughter.
I can relate to this as my ex-husband is in federal prison serving a 5 year sentence for a white collar crime. What I’ve come to learn is the fate of this man, and his daughter, is determined by one man, the warden. It’s very unsettling to me that one man, possibly having a bad day can make a decision that affects so many lives. My exhusband has had two wardens during his time….the first relaxed, compassionate, very family oriented and inmates were allowed furloughs for family illnesses, funerals, etc. Then, a new warden comes in and no one gets furloughs….just his stance. That system is unfair. This is political….it’s not about a dying girl in the warden’s eyes. Why can’t the authority see that these inmates are still human, they still agonize and suffer like the rest of us. This is about the child, this is about a father. A father who will one day hate the system for it’s injustice which does no one any good. I have 3 children with my ex-husband. I can’t imagine if one of them were deathly ill and he couldn’t visit. What does that teach the rest of our children about the juditial system. What’s it’s taught my children already is that it’s not fair and judges and wardens can make decisions based on their own personal agendas. My heart goes out to the family, to Jayci and to Jason.
The prison camp sent out a news release Thursday afternoon detailing why Jason will not be released to see his daughter:
“Officials at the Federal Prison Camp are sensitive to the request from inmate Yaeger and his family to allow him to visit his daughter. In response to inmate Yeager’s request, he has been escorted by prison staff on three separate occasions to allow him to be with his daughter during this difficult time. Two of these trips have occurred within the past month. We have also assisted inmate Yaeger in maintaining telephonic contact with his family and daughter.
“The Bureau of Prisons routinely utilizes furloughs and escorted trips in response to family emergencies, whichever is deemed most appropriate based on a review of security and safety concerns for both the inmate involved and the community.
“Bureau of Prisons officials have reviewed inmate Yaeger’s request for a compassionate release and have determined his situation does not meet the criteria set forth by the Bureau of Prisons Program … Inmate Yaeger’s request for extended placement in a Residential Re-entry Center is currently in litigation; therefore, we are unable to comment further on this request.
“The Federal Bureau of Prisons does not have the authority to release or suspend a court imposed sentence. Our agency’s mission is to protect society by confining offenders in controlled environments of prisons and community-based facilities, which are safe, humane and appropriately secure. ”
http://www.kolnkgin.com/home/headlines/16762906.html
Has Jayci received medical care, or at least an opinion, from a first class treatment center, such as MD Anderson, Sloan Kettering, NYU, etc.?
Sometimes a nationally prominent cancer hospital can accomplish what a local one cannot. Is it a forgone conclusion that she cannot be saved?
David:
I want to know the same thing. Can’t something be done or attempted? It seems so sad to just let this happen, how can we find out?
Heidi, Jason’s siter, would you mind telling us some history on Jayci? I don’t care what her dad has done, he deserves to be with her. I would like to know the history and why Jayci is so terminal now. YOu have no idea how much this affecting me, I see my own child when I look at her and I cannot imaging what it would be like. I feel so helpless.
First of all there is a serious problem (Ever growing in today processed food society) with the entire family regarding their overall health which has been passed onto another generation (Jayci). The father Jason and the mother of Jayci obiviously come from a background of ether Diabetes-Alcoholism-early Cancer. The drug problem should never be handled in a criminal forum but a in a health care facility … There are answers out there to save all of them and it deals with high grade nutrition … The breakdown is in the first step of metabolizing Essential Fatty Acids and the enzymes the metabolize them. In all cases like this the DELTA 6 enzyme is faulty and leads to missing pieces of the cell membrane functions called ECOSINOIDS. Important to get the co-factors Vitamin/Minerals for the entire system to work properly. This is a very sad story pertaining to the brutal Drug War that should never have happened in the first place.