Surviving Straight Inc ®

This request for an apology was written in 2006, when Marcus Chatfield approached me about his idea and he asked me to write it. So, I wrote it and posted it online in 2006 to obtain signatures. As of April 2017, there are 687 online signatures. If you are a former Straight executive and would like to contact me about this petition, I can be reached at surviving_straight_inc@yahoo.com. Christine Flannery, Cincinnati Straight survivor - 1984-1986.

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/straight-inc-survivor-s-letter-requesting-acknowledge.html

Technical difficulties with the old version of the petition made it necessary to repost it to another website. If you are unsure whether or not you signed the old version, email me at surviving_straight_inc@yahoo.com and I will find out for you.

The old version can be viewed here

Original Petition Signatures before moving to above location - 581 signatures

To:  Nancy Reagan, President George Bush, Sr., Former Straight, Inc. Executives, Other Responsible Parties

Survivors of Straight Inc. gathered for a memorial service on November 11, 2006, which was held simultaneously in St. Petersburg, Florida and Springfield, Virginia. We assembled together to collectively remember those former clients of Straight. Inc. who have passed away. Some took their own lives shortly after enduring severe mistreatment and abuse while in Straight, Inc. Others committed suicide for unknown reasons or passed away due to various causes.

Feeling connected to one another by our common traumatic experience in Straight, Inc., Survivors also joined together to acknowledge our personal loss and the pain and suffering stemming from that horrifying ordeal. Many of us lost our integrity, our innocence, our sense of self worth, our youth, our ability to trust others, our family relationships, etc. In addition, many of us still suffer from diagnosed psychological disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder, severe depression, social phobias, panic disorders, etc. caused by our imprisonment in Straight, Inc. Many Survivors still endure vivid Straight, Inc. nightmares, can still hear the screams of children as they were abused, and cannot forget the abuse we personally endured or witnessed as vulnerable children.

We, the undersigned, Survivor’s of Straight, Inc., respectfully request public acknowledgement from you that Straight, Inc. unjustly committed various crimes, abused children, and utilized extremely unethical practices against innocent young clients, which included, but were not limited to the following:

1) Brainwashing (aka coercive thought reform);
2) Physical abuse;
3) Usage of illegal and or unethical restraints – children routinely restrained children at the direction of staff for minor infractions (i.e. not motivating, not paying attention, etc.);
4) Unethical forms of extreme humiliation, including but not limited to; beltlooping, no privacy/watched while urinating, defecating, or bathing, motivating;
5) Food deprivation (ie. peanut butter diets, inadequate portions of food);
6) Sleep deprivation – caused by unwarranted, prolonged daily group hours (12), other time spent in the building (up to at least 3 additional pre and/or post group hours), lengthy commuting time, and in many cases, due to intentionally withholding sleep as punishment for not “cooperating” to coerce compliance;
7) Verbal abuse – unduly harsh confrontational tactics that included swearing, screaming, yelling, spitting, belittling, humiliating, etc., a child in front of a large group of child clients;
8) Sexual abuse;
9) Psychological abuse;
10) Coerced confessions;
11) Unjustifiable and lengthy isolation in intake and/or time out rooms;
12) Denial of necessary medical care;
13) Kidnapping;
14) False Imprisonment;
15) Accepting clients with little/no drug history (the so-called “dry druggie” theory);
16) Employing uneducated, unprofessional teenage staff.

In addition to acknowledgment that the above-mentioned abuses, crimes, and unethical practices occurred, we respectfully request your formal apology for the following; allowing the abuse, unethical practices and crimes to continue for years, lending your name to, sponsoring, recommending, and/or endorsing Straight Inc., for sending children to Straight Inc., or for failing to properly and/or adequately oversee and monitor Straight, Inc.

We, the Survivors of Straight, Inc. are the walking wounded, but we walk with our heads held high as a community, determined to overcome the injustice we were forced to endure as children while held in Straight, Inc. We are all fighters who feel empowered by the strength we draw from each other. Many Straight, Inc. Survivors are also determined to be healthy, prosperous and productive adults and are resolved to heal and move on.

The community of Straight, Inc. survivors has taken many steps toward healing. Each of us has taken a different approach: some have sought therapy, many regularly communicate and lean on each other for support, and some participate in activities geared toward educating the public about harmful “treatment” methods, etc. On November 11, 2006, we took another step by holding a memorial service to remember all who were lost. Yet closure is elusive. Receiving acknowledgement and the apology we are owed from those who once had the power to help us, but for whatever reason failed to protect us, would be a significant step toward resolving the flagrant injustice of Straight, Inc. and would facilitate our healing process.


Sincerely,

Straight, Inc. Survivors

**the request for apology does NOT apply to former group/peer staff, it applies to former executive level staff

***other responsible parties applies, but is not limited to - other people with a responsibility to protect children such as judges who sent children to Straight, child protection agencies who ignored complaints, other responsible oversight agencies, Mel & Betty Sembler who were the founders of Straight, Inc. and countless others who turned a blind eye to the obvious abuse occurring at Straight Inc. or to others who promoted Straight.

692 combined online signatures (as of Sept 27, 2017) 

Mr. Mullinax's Public Acknowledgment and Apology to Straight, Inc. Survivors

January 1, 2009

An Apology to Survivors of Straight Inc. from a Former Executive Staff Member

This letter is in response to the Straight, Inc. Survivor's Letter Requesting
Acknowledgement and an Apology.

My name is Richard Mullinax. From 1985 - 1989, I was a staff member at Straight Incorporated, a drug and alcohol treatment facility for adolescents. If my memory serves me correctly, the dates, locations and positions of my employment were as follows:

Fall 1985 – Group Staff Trainee, Springfield, VA

Fall 1985 – Spring 1986 – Junior Staff, Springfield, VA

Spring 1986 – Winter 1987 – Senior Staff, Springfield, VA

Winter 1987 – Spring 1987 – Executive Staff, Springfield, VA

Spring 1987 – Fall 1987 – Executive Staff, Cincinnati, OH

Fall 1987 – Spring 1988 – Executive Staff, Springfield, VA

Spring 1988 – Spring 1989 – Executive Staff, Atlanta, GA

There were brief periods between 1985 and 1989 that I was not employed by Straight, and I may have some of the months wrong above.

For 19 years, I gave very little thought to my actions as a staff member of Straight. Then, in the Spring and Summer of 2008, I began to interact with Straight Survivors and listened to their experiences. As the weeks and months progressed, I became increasingly aware of the damage I caused to Straight Survivors as a staff member. After much reflection on the events of the 1980’s I have become very much aware that many Straight Survivors lost their integrity, innocence, sense of self worth, youth, ability to trust others, family relationships and more as a result of my actions as a staff member, and I deeply regret that I am responsible for this as a Staff Member.

I realize now that many Survivors still suffer from diagnosed psychological disorders such as post traumatic stress disorder, severe depression, social phobias, panic disorders, etc. caused by imprisonment in Straight, Inc, and that many Survivors still endure vivid Straight, Inc. nightmares, can still hear the screams of children as they were abused, and cannot forget the abuse they personally endured or witnessed as vulnerable children. I am deeply ashamed of my role in this, including not putting a stop to it.

By publishing this this letter in a public forum, I publicly acknowledge that
Straight, Inc. unjustly committed various crimes, abused children, and utilized
extremely unethical practices against innocent young clients, which included,
but were not limited to the following:

1) Brainwashing (aka coercive thought reform);

2) Physical abuse;

3) Usage of illegal and or unethical restraints – children routinely restrained children at the direction of staff for minor infractions (i.e. not motivating, not paying attention, etc.);

4) Unethical forms of extreme humiliation, including but not limited to; beltlooping, no privacy/watched while urinating, defecating, or bathing, motivating;

5) Food deprivation (ie. peanut butter diets, inadequate portions of food);

6) Sleep deprivation – caused by unwarranted, prolonged daily group hours (12), other time spent in the building (up to at least 3 additional pre and/or post group hours), lengthy commuting time, and in many cases, due to intentionally withholding sleep as punishment for not “cooperating” to coerce compliance;

7) Verbal abuse – unduly harsh confrontational tactics that included swearing, screaming, yelling, spitting, belittling, humiliating, etc., a child in front of a large group of child clients;

8.) Sexual abuse; (while I was not aware of this while on staff, in recent months I have become aware, through the testimony of other Straight survivors, that this did happen)

9) Psychological abuse;

10) Coerced confessions;

11) Unjustifiable and lengthy isolation in intake and/or time out rooms;

12) Denial of necessary medical care;

13) Kidnapping;

14) False Imprisonment;

15) Accepting clients with little/no drug history (the so?called “dry druggie” theory);(Specifically, I was personally responsible for conducting client intakes that resulted in children with little history of drug or alcohol use);

16) Employing uneducated, unprofessional teenage staff. Specifically, I allowed myself to be employed by Straight as a counselor, knowing full well that I had no outside training and no education.

Additionally, I apologize for the allowing the abuse, unethical practices and
crimes to continue for years, and lending my name to, sponsoring, recommending,
and endorsing Straight Inc., and for admitting children, their siblings and
parents to Straight Inc., and for failing to properly and adequately oversee
and monitor Straight, Inc.

I regret my decision to go on staff and I regret my actions as a Straight staff
member. I made the decision to go on staff and I made the decision to advance
to Executive Staff. I am responsible for these actions and take full
responsibility. As a former Straight client myself, I, of all people, should
have known better.

I am aware of several former Straight clients who have taken their own lives.
Many of these people I knew personally. I can't begin to understand the
circumstances of each death, but I have no doubt that in some of these deaths
Straight had a role in this. My heart aches for the victims of suicide and
their loved ones. I wish I could bring them back.

I would like to turn the clock back to 1985 and make better decisions. However,
I am unable to undo the damage I have caused. I am unable to make any financial
restitution to former victims, as well. However, in recent months, I have had
the honor and privilege of interacting with former Straight clients who were
victims of my actions and the actions of other Straight staff. It is my hope
that these interactions have been a step toward healing the wounds that have remained for 2 decades.

Along those lines, there is something I can do; I can make myself available to
Straight Survivors. If you or someone you know feels it would be productive to
communicate privately with me for any reason, please contact the moderator of this web site.

It is my hope that other Executive Staff and administrators will take this
opportunity to acknowledge and apologize for their part in Straight, Inc. If
any former staff would like to communicate with me privately for any reason,
please contact the moderator of this web site. 

In closing, it is my sincere hope that survivors of Straight can find the
healing and closure that they need and deserve. I look forward to being a part
of that healing.

Sincerely,

Richard Mullinax
Straight Inc. Staff
1985 - 1989

January 18, 2011 - Amendment to Letter of Acknowledgment & Apology dated 12/31/2008

It has been 2 years since I issued the above letter of acknowledgment and apology. After very careful consideration, I feel it necessary to amend my letter so as to avoid causing any further harm to Survivors of Straight, Inc. 

In the third to the last paragraph, I stated, 

" … there is something I can do; I can make myself available to Straight Survivors. If you or someone you know feels it would be productive to communicate privately with me for any reason, please contact the moderator of this web site and request that I contact you. I am happy to do so, especially if it would help in the healing process." In some public postings of the letter, I later added contact information.

I believe now that I was in error in making this commitment for 2 reasons:

1. This statement can be interpreted in many ways, one of which is that I was offering to counsel others on their own experiences in Straight, Inc. I am most certainly not a mental health professional. I was not a mental health professional in 1989 and I am not a mental health professional today. I did not intend to imply that I am qualified to, or would, offer advice, counseling, suggestions or direction of any kind. 

Since writing this letter, I have had numerous interactions with Survivors regarding the letter. While I have shared my own experiences, I have been cautious never to offer advice, counseling, suggestions or direction of any kind. Nonetheless, I believe it necessary to amend this letter for this clarification. 

2. By some estimates, there are over 50,000 former Straight clients. Had I considered this 2 years ago as I should have, I would have not made the offer of private interaction. To the best of my knowledge, I have kept my commitment to interact with Survivors, thus far. However, extending such an invitation to so many will eventually result in an inability on my part to meet that commitment. I believe this would be detrimental to Survivors and cause yet further harm. I was wrong to make a commitment I may eventually not be able to keep. 

I stand by the public nature of this letter and all other statements it contains, including and especially the second to the last paragraph.

Respectfully,

Richard Mullinax 

In Memory of Rich Mullinax 1966 - 2017

Years ago, in 2006, when I posted the petition for an apology on my website, I wasn't sure if any former Straight Executive would ever respond let alone apologize and take full responsibility for the abuse they oversaw or participated in at Straight Inc.

On New Years eve a couple years later I got a call from a man I never talked to in my life. Turns out it was Rich Mullinax calling me to tell me about the apology he had written and asked me to post it publicly on my website. He also included his contact info and invited Straight survivors to contact him if they wanted to. He was inundated and spent a couple of years personally responding to every single person...Rich was determined to do the right thing and to help the healing process of survivors.

Since then, many Straight survivors have talked about how much that apology meant to them and helped them. What Rich did, to me, was nothing short of phenomenal. He owned what he participated in and made sure he did everything in his power to make things right.

On a personal note, Rich was my friend and person who I respected. He had so much courage and a heart of gold. I spent countless hours on the phone with him over the years as he shared his insight as a former Straight executive and as a Straight survivor himself...I spent time with him and his family on a trip to Georgia one year. He not only had a huge impact on my life...but on the lives of so many other survivors...to say he will be missed is an understatement....losing Rich Mullinax is just devastating.


Christine Flannery
Cincinnati Straight - 1984-1986



Stephanie Johnson, April 2016, Former Executive Stoughton, MA Straight Inc

"I just heard that someone was upset that I'm on this board and that I'm former Executive Staff. I'm confused as this is a board for clients, families, and friends. I consider myself to be able to help some of the hundreds I worked with should they for any reason want to reach. As staff, we were all different with different experiences. I know for myself, at age 23, fresh out of college, I was naive and bought into the Lady Di and Nancy Reagan propaganda. Most of my coworkers were well educated and they. We're with the program. We had clinical meetings with the psychiatrist weekly, weekly team meetings, etc, etc. the administrator was a well thought of professional. What I never knew of until right before I left was the tip of the ice berg. What happened that I didn't see. Kids getting restrained was over utilized and a frequent topic. What went on out of the buildings was never discussed and I am mortified to have been any part of an organization that was so disgustingly negligent and abusive for so many. I know people who are grateful for what they got out of the program but they didn't deserve the trauma to go with it. For any and all actions I may have taken or may not have taken, I truly apologize to each of you Stephanie A Johnson"




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