Former New Orleans' Mayor Uncle released from prison early

Glenn Haydel, uncle of former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial has been released from a federal prison camp in Pensacola, Fla., to a halfway house in Lafayette.

Haydel, 62, who pleaded guilty to bilking the Regional Transit Authority of $550,000, is scheduled to be discharged for good March 25, according to the federal Bureau of Prisons. Once moved to halfway houses, inmates are often released well ahead of their scheduled release dates, meaning Haydel could be free by the end of the year.

Ironically, Haydel's wife, Lillian Smith Haydel, could be headed to prison just as her husband is released. Smith Haydel, who pleaded guilty more than two years ago to bribing a New Orleans public schools official in exchange for insurance contracts, is set to be sentenced for that crime Oct. 31.
However, she is likely to receive lenient treatment because she agreed to testify against other insurance brokers who made similar payments.

Glenn Haydel had a lucrative consulting contract with the RTA during Morial's eight-year tenure as mayor. He pleaded guilty to transferring $350,000 of the agency's money into a personal bank account. Another $200,000 was paid in six checks to unnamed individuals and businesses "to facilitate the illusion of legitimacy," according to his indictment.

Haydel paid the stolen money back shortly before turning himself in to federal prison officials in November.

Haydel's release date was moved up mainly because he completed a drug treatment program at the Pensacola camp that allows inmates to shave up to 12 months off their sentences, according to Felicia Ponce, a Bureau of Prisons spokeswoman.

Haydel also received credit for "good time," which can reduce a well-behaved inmate's sentence by about two months per year, Ponce said.

The federal records show that Haydel is in the custody of the community corrections management office of New Orleans. He is staying at the City of Faith facility in Lafayette, according to an employee who answered the phone there.

The essence of Marc Morial: He has relatives either being released from prison or going to prison. He has friends and associates going to prison. His administration was filled with corrupt individuals. Does former Mayor Marc Morial deal with anyone who is a law abiding citizen?

Recognizing The Signs of Domestic Abuse

"It may not be easy to identify abuse, especially at first. While some relationships are clearly abusive from the outset, abuse often starts subtly and gets worse over time. For example, abuse may begin with occasional hurtful comments, jealousy or controlling behavior. As it gets worse, the abuse may become more frequent, severe or violent. As the cycle of abuse worsens, your safety or the safety of your children may be in danger.

You may be a victim of abuse if you're in a relationship with someone who:

* Controls finances, so you have to ask for money
* Looks at you or acts in ways that scare you
* Acts jealous or possessive, or accuses you of being unfaithful
* Tries to control how you spend your time, who you see or talk to, where you go or what you wear
* Wants you to get permission to make everyday decisions
* Gets angry when drinking alcohol or using drugs
* Scares you by driving recklessly
* Threatens to kill him or herself

You are very likely in an abusive relationship if you have a relationship with someone who does even one of the following:

* Hits, kicks, shoves, slaps, or chokes you or threatens you with violence or a weapon
* Forces you to have sexual intercourse or engage in sexual acts against your will
* Calls you names, insults you or puts you down
* Prevents you from going to work or school
* Stops you from seeing family members and friends
* Hurts, or threatens to hurt you, your children or pets
* Destroys your property
* Controls your access to medicines
* Blames you for his or her violent behavior or tells you that you deserve it
* Says that his or her abusive behavior is no big deal or even denies doing it
* Tries to force you to drop charges
* Tries to prevent you from calling the police or seeking medical care"

If you find yourself in an abusive relationship, seek help.

Generational Violence

"The boys in your life need your time and energy. Your son, grandson, nephew, younger brother. The boys you teach, coach and mentor. All need you to help them grow into healthy young men.

Boys are swamped with influences outside of the home – from friends, the neighborhood, television, the internet, music, the movies… everything they see around them. They hear all kinds of messages about what it means to “be a man” – that they have to be tough and in control. There are numerous conflicting and some harmful messages being given to boys about what constitutes “being a man” in a relationship.

Boys need your advice on how to behave toward girls. Boys are watching how you and other men relate to women to figure out their own stance towards girls. So teach boys early, and teach them often, that there is no place for violence in a relationship."

The moral of this is simple: Domestic abuse is generational. When a boy grows up in a home where he sees nothing but violence, he becomes an abuser too.

Family Violence - How To Prevent It

"The Family Violence Prevention Fund works to prevent violence within the home, and in the community, to help those whose lives are devastated by violence because everyone has the right to live free of violence.



For more than two decades, the Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF) has worked to end violence against women and children around the world. Instrumental in developing the landmark Violence Against Women Act passed by Congress in 1994, the FVPF has continued to break new ground by reaching new audiences including men and youth, promoting leadership within communities to ensure that violence prevention efforts become self-sustaining, and transforming the way health care providers, police, judges, employers and others address violence."