Dying Woman Ordered Back to Jail
Diane McCloud was released so she could seek a new heart in January 2011.
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A Hempstead woman who was released from jail so she could spend her dying days in a hospice has been ordered back to prison after a judge received information that she could live another six months, according to ABC News.
Diane McCloud, 47, of Hempstead was serving a 15-month jail term for thefts at Target on two separate occasions when she was diagnosed with late stages of congestive heart failure. Dr. Sanjay Doddamani, chief of cardiology at Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC), told McCloud’s defense attorney, Leonard Isaacs, in December 2010 that the woman had less than six months to live if she did not receive a heart transplant.
With the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office in full agreement, Nassau County Court Judge Francis Ricigliano vacated her sentence. Still hooked up to an IV, she was wheeled via hospital bed from court into NUMC’s coronary care unit.
McCloud was accused of stealing $2,347 worth of merchandise from Target in Westbury on Dec. 23, 2009, and $1,558 in items from the same store on Jan. 6, 2010, authorities said. She was charged with two counts of fourth degree grand larceny, both felonies, but she pleaded guilty to two lesser counts of misdemeanor petty larceny on Sept. 17, 2010. She was sentenced to consecutive terms of 12 months and three months for the two thefts, officials said.
She was scheduled to be released from prison on Aug. 20, 2011, at the earliest for good behavior, her attorney said.
McCloud was arrested once again on July 16 for robbing an Oceanside CVS, according to Chris Munzing, a spokesman for the Nassau County District Attorney's office. McCloud admitted to stealing diet pills, skin cream and Crest whitening stripes. The exact value of the stolen items is unknown.
McCloud was already on thin ice after she was caught smoking cigarettes in April, and she was also previously reported for not taking mandated drug screenings as ordered.
"The judge gave a swift ruling," Munzing said after the July arrest. "She will now serve the remainder of her term followed by six months for the petty larceny charge."
The county also would not pick up the costs of a heart transplant if she remains behind bars.
Do you think McCloud should be sent back to jail? Tell us in the comments.
In This article
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Nassau County Correctional Center
100 Carman Ave, East Meadow, NY -
Nassau University Medical Center
2251 Hempstead Tpke, East Meadow, NY -
Jenn
8:28 am on Friday, January 27, 2012
She was lucky enough to get a judge who cared about her "last days" and gave her a pass - then she comes out and steals again? Did I read that right? Is the July16 date after her release? If that's the case, then yes - she needs to go back to jail. She should have considered herself blessed instead of free to do as she pleases. Now she may have tainted that option for anyone else in the future. (at least with this judge)
What a waste.
pat dellatto
1:15 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
I am a nurse practitioner and I used to work at the Nassau County Correctional Facilty (NCCF). after stealing what probably amounts to about 10 dollars, Diane McCloud is ordered back to jail for an extra 6 months? If someone has no money to pay for a good attorney, they are lost to the system, and will serve months of time because legal aid attorneys have little resources and little time to spend on these cases. They then find themselves behind bars for long periods of time.
The NCCF is supposed to be a jail for low crime whereby persons spend less than one year in the jail. the reality is that they may spend many months or past one year for petty crimes because of either poor legal aid representation, or because they are still waitng for a trial date. NCCF is a place which I find suitable for no one, as conditions there are so harse, with no heat, no hot water, no proper clothing to combat the cold, and poor and inadequate food, discrimination, and lack of health care for inmates who are - some of them- very ill.. No one cares about inmates until they see one of their own, either a family member or friend, arrested and jailed. The people serving time in the NCCF are most of them not "bad" people-I know- I worked there. Diane McCloud I pray will be out soon with her family, getting the care she needs.
paul
7:53 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
To pat dellatto,
I read your remarks.
If you read your first sentence you indicate or make it sound like you lost your job at the correctional facility because you stole what amounted to $10.00.
Furthermore your statements about the conditions seem a bit over the top.
There are agencies and a slew of attorneys that would jump on your negative remarks about the facility.
If it is as bad as you say it is then file a complaint.
Is it possible that you were the only one that was cold?
The food is not suppose to be 5 course meal.
Discrimination? What are you talking about please explain if you would like to....
Sick prisoners get medical attention when they need it.
Regarding the woman who was let out had another chance at freedom and blew it, she gets what she deserves. More jail time.
Jenn
9:54 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
@Pat: This is ridiculous, I am tired of hearing about people who "only stole xyz" or "only drank a little before driving" or "ONLY......" - Stop. Just STOP. A crime is a crime. She was given a second chance and went back to committing more crimes - does it matter how small or large the crime was? No.
Timmy B.
10:40 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
Jenn I agree.. nobody told her to steal in the first place.. she got out and stole again.. oh well see ya.. sorry you cant afford a good attorney.. it sucks.. maybe if you didnt steal AGAIN or even in the first place.. you wouldnt need an attorney..
pat dellatto
11:52 am on Saturday, January 28, 2012
It is sad that we have so many callous people in this world who don't care about human beings. There is not only these such abuses that I described in this jail, such as with the food, no heat, no hot water, no proper clothing, poor medical care, but other more serious physical and mental abuse, and this occurs not only in the NCCF, but in many jails and prisons throughout the country and abroad. I did work in the NCCF, and I left because I was not able to get the care for the inmates that I felt was needed. I now have a private office here in East Meadow providing heatlhcare as a nurse practitioner. I also founded and direct the Nassau Inmate Advocacy Group, and I am also working with colleagues to restart an oversight committee which is much needed for the jail. Hopefully, as it is already in the County Charter, it will be up and running soon. Thank-you, Pat Dellatto, NP
paul
12:04 pm on Saturday, January 28, 2012
To pat:
The things you are doing are good.
That is how you help correct the negative situation (if it exists) as you described.
On another note:
"McCloud was arrested once again on July 16 for robbing an Oceanside CVS, McCloud admitted to stealing diet pills, skin cream and Crest whitening stripes."
Now Pat, if she would have taken lets say some canned food because she was unable to pay for them and needed it for survival etc. maybe we would understand but please tell me which one of these items she would have needed for the benefit of her survival?
Answer NONE!
Those are not a necessity for life.....
As far as the smoking, that is another issue.....
Timmy B.
11:19 pm on Saturday, January 28, 2012
so, Mr. Dellatto.. are you also speaking about the women /men who are being held there who have beaten, or starved a minor, perhaps raped somebody, or robbed a senior citizen.. perhaps shot and killed a law enforcement officer.. are these the ones you are saying have poor medical, no heat, no hot water and are experiencing mental abuse?? or are you speaking of a particular group being held in jail.. just asking.. just words..
paul
11:22 pm on Saturday, January 28, 2012
To Timmy B:
I think your Mr is a Ms...
Timmy B.
7:32 am on Sunday, January 29, 2012
Thanks Paul.. typo!! ha