The Mayoral Dispatch
LIVE from ‘shadow prison’ Larned State Hospital "A Conversation with Civilly Committed Daimon Allen"
Introduction:
Join host Joshua Berglan and civilly committed individual, Daimon Allen, as they engage in a thought-provoking conversation about the realities of life at Larned State Hospital. From past offenses to drug addiction and the injustices faced within the facility, this blog post offers an eye-opening look into the challenges faced by civilly committed individuals.
Daimon's Story
Daimon shares his personal journey, including the reasons for his civil commitment and the treatment he has experienced. As a result of the conversation, it becomes clear that there are numerous misconceptions surrounding civil commitment, as well as a lack of proper treatment and support for individuals like Daimon.
Injustices and Mistreatment
Joshua and Daimon delve into the injustices and mistreatment that occur not only at Larned State Hospital but also at other facilities. From mental health diagnoses to discrepancies in care, the conversation highlights the need for change within the mental health and criminal justice systems.
Lessons Learned and Personal Growth
Despite the challenges faced, Daimon reflects on the lessons he's learned, emphasizing the importance of empathy and personal responsibility. He shares how his experiences have shaped him, but also acknowledges the long-lasting impact of abuse and mistreatment.
False Hope and Manipulation
Daimon and Joshua discuss the manipulative tactics used by the facility to dangle the possibility of progression and release without clear timelines. This false hope and manipulation only serve to further exacerbate the emotional turmoil experienced by individuals like Daimon.
Comparing Larned State Hospital to Federal Prison
The conversation turns to the potential merits of federal prison as an alternative to the current facility. With better visitation rights and less mistreatment, both Joshua and Daimon ponder if this could be a better option for individuals like Daimon.
Conclusion
This blog post offers an intimate and candid look into the life of a civilly committed individual, shedding light on the injustices and challenges faced within facilities like Larned State Hospital. By sharing his story, Daimon hopes to inspire change and bring attention to the need for reform in both the mental health and criminal justice systems.
Larned State Hospital Sexual Predator Treatment Program Stats as of September 2023
Excerpt from Austin DesLaurier [ All lies]
SPTP staff approach a person assigned to the program from many directions that include: (1)
staff stress that the program is not an extension of a person’s prison sentence; (2) staff stress that
as mandated by law a person’s placement ensures that when a person’s risk for re-offending has
diminished he/she must be released if the court agrees; (3) staff acknowledge that changing well-
established behavior patterns is a challenge; and (4) a roadmap is laid out for success for an
individual. Sexually Violent Persons (SVP) programs across the country vary in the number of
stages used and the task content of each stage. However, every program uses the stage concept
offering a way for each person to gauge his movement through the program. In addition, for an
individual to successfully re-enter society a strong coordinated coalition approach among the
systems most involved such as legal, criminal justice, and social must be proposed and initiated.
If a person is not ready for life in the community, he can be safely returned to the inpatient
program, and once prepared, he can become a contributing taxpayer and member of society.
https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/kansas-sex-offender-treatment-program-aims-
reduce-recidivism
Larned State Hospital budget [2021]
https://www.kslegresearch.org/KLRD-
web/Publications/BudgetBookFY21/2021BudgetAnalysisRpts/LarnedStateHospital.pdf
LSH budget [2022]
https://kdads.ks.gov/docs/librariesprovider17/media-center/legislative-testimony/2022/mh-
hospitals-budget-testimony---various-committees-2.2022.pdf?sfvrsn=d6885c0b_3
One of the biggest court cases of LSH residents
https://clearinghouse-umich-production.s3.amazonaws.com/media/doc/82164.pdf
2019 statute
http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2020/b2019_20/statute/059_000_0000_chapter/059_029a_0000_
article/059_029a_0001_section/059_029a_0001_k/
Mental Health America opposes civil commitment
https://mhanational.org/issues/position-statement-55-confining-sexual-predators-mental-
health-system
Kansas mental health Coalition public testimonies - including regarding KDADS
https://kansasmentalhealthcoalition.wildapricot.org/PUBLIC-TESTIMONY-2023
Articles
Controversial Christian linked to skyrocketing number of predators [2005]
https://www2.ljworld.com/news/2005/sep/25/controversial_christian_linked_skyrocketing_numb
er/
Sex predators: What goes on at Larned facility may shock some taxpayers
https://www2.ljworld.com/news/2005/sep/25/sex_predators_what_goes_larned_facility_may_sh
ock_/
Larned 2015 audit [whose recommendations have not been followed]
http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2016/b2015_16/committees/ctte_jt_cjjo_1/documents/testimony/
20161115_14.pdf
https://www.ksrevisor.org/statutes/chapters/ch59/059_029a_0001.html
Kansas man placed in sex predator program sees it as life sentence [2015]
https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/state/2015/05/25/kansas-man-placed-sex-predator-
program-sees-it-life-sentence/16629898007/
Kansas Civil Commitment program under Scrutiny [2016]
https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2016/feb/29/kansas-sex-offender-civil-commitment-
program-under-scrutiny/
The most common way to leave SPTP is to die [2016]
https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article55098475.html
Documents reveal overtime at Larned State Hospital
https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/state/2016/01/17/documents-reveal-appalling-
overtime-larned-state-hospital/16604030007/
Secrecy at troubled Kansas state hospital
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article187204708.html
Lawmakers question state's sexual predator treatment program
https://www.hutchnews.com/story/news/local/2016/12/26/lawmakers-question-state-s-
sexual/20997048007/
Didn’t Pass your exams? You can still work in Kansas State Hospitals [2018]
https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/health-care/article208620099.html
Sex Crimes and Criminal Justice [Kansas, 2018]
https://washingtonspectator.org/koeppel-sex-crimes-and-criminal-justice/
Sex Crimes and Criminal Justice: Formerly Incarcerated Sex Offenders Say Civil
Commitment Programs Deny Proper Rehabilitation [2019]
https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2019/jan/8/sex-crimes-and-criminal-justice-formerly-
incarcerated-sex-offenders-say-civil-commitment-programs-deny-proper-rehabilitation/
Detainees at MN Shadow Prison Resist Indefinite Detention in Sex Offender Program
https://perilouschronicle.com/2021/07/14/detainees-at-mn-shadow-prison-resist-indefinite-
detention-in-sex-offender-program/
What is civil commitment? Recent report raises visibility of this shadowy form of
incarceration
https://www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2023/05/18/civil-commitment/
Civil Commitment Does More Harm Than Good
https://www.truthdig.com/articles/civil-commitment-does-more-harm-than-good/
Delayed, Deficient or Denied: Medical Care in the Civil Commitment Gulag [2023]
https://washingtonspectator.org/delayed-deficient-or-denied-medical-care-in-the-civil-
commitment-gulag/
Civil Commitment: A Shadowy Limbo of Detainment that is Neither Safe, Fair nor
Therapeutic
https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2023/dec/1/civil-commitment-shadowy-limbo-detainment-
neither-safe-fair-nor-therapeutic/
Prison Reform Advocates Call to End Civil Commitment in Illinois
https://www.chicagoappleseed.org/2023/06/14/advocates-call-to-end-civil-commitment-upon-
release-from-prison-in-illinois/
Protestors make alarming allegations about statewide sex offender treatment program in
Littlefield
https://floridaactioncommittee.org/the-dobbs-wire-resistance-building-against-notorious-texas-
shadow-prison-where-people-are-locked-up-indefinitely-for-imaginary-future-crimes/
Professional Speakers [Youtube]
Sex Offender Laws Do More Harm Than Good - Professor Heather Cucolo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvkUkneAxkU&t=448s
Abolishing Fear‑Based Sexual Offense Laws - Emily Horowitz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOWMtjdhegs&t=2163s
The evidence for ending sex offense registries
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQUJR9X-kvM&t=371s
Jeff Lowry: Sexually Violent Predator Civil Commitment, The Money Pit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfSPXQp5BTE&t=481s
Podcast episodes
Decarceration nation : Civil Commitment
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3vNxgleS0HciHj3thUQavb?si=B0iYxjUPS-W8eS-
Fm7ALiw
Emily Horowitz From rage to reason
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2t9YGLE5odZ6oZy6XbQppW?si=u6YMKPpvRESxhHb
PT6fsCg&nd=1&dlsi=9535f621dc8b4fab
Making Sex offenders pay- and pay and pay and pay
https://freakonomics.com/podcast/making-sex-offenders-pay-and-pay-and-pay-and-pay/
Documentaries
Untouchable
https://www.untouchablefilm.com/film/
Passcode : Screener0620
Additional ‘
The process of civil commitment in Kansas
https://www.doc.ks.gov/kdoc-policies/AdultIMPP/chapter-11/11-116a-administration-of-the-
sex-predator.pdf/view
https://casetext.com/statute/kansas-statutes/chapter-59-probate-code/article-29a-commitment-of-
sexually-violent-predators
Transitional Hearing Requirements under the Kansas Sexually Violent Predator Act
https://jaapl.org/content/50/3/476
Residency restrictions on SVP in transitional or conditional release
https://kansasjudicialcouncil.org/Documents/Legislation/2017%20Legislation/report%20on%20
KSA%2059-29a11(b).pdf
Austin desLauriers - testimony
https://www.dcf.ks.gov/Agency/Testimony/Documents/2012/Legislative-testimony-support-HB-
2313.pdf
Latest Insights and Trends: Explore Our Recent Blogs
The Mayoral Dispatch
