At the Alaska Salvation Army, people are often helped, (or not helped), depending on personal relationships they have with staff. This ranges from the favoritism given clients in sexual relationships with staff (e.g. see Banned), to financial favors done discreetly (e.g. see AK Railroad example near the bottom of Funding) to the minor example below.
- One client had an assessment done and was offered a bed in Residential. Five days before his treatment was to begin, he came in to Detox.
- His girlfriend visited him in Detox, and he went outside to smoke a cigarette with her.
- A supervisor was having a bad day, and accused him of smoking marijuana. The other staff member present (PNA "Jackie") said she was sure that the client was not smoking marijuana.
- Neither the supervisor nor anyone else ever saw or smelled marijuana. The supervisor expelled him.
- This client never had any previous disciplinary problems at Clitheroe. The supervisor probably picked him to vent at because she knew he would not make any formal complaint.
- A second client wanted treatment a short time later. When I came to work, the staff member I was relieving told me the client was using heroin in detox. Soon after, a men's residential client also told me that the client was using heroin at the moment. I asked the 2 supervisors present what they wanted done. They said that since he had been searched when he was admitted it would not be right to search him again.
- A little while later, two clients from the women's unit said he was offering them heroin. One of the two women was a heroin addict. They spoke with the 2 female clients, and again the supervisors said not to worry about it.
- The final time I told the supervisors that his use was causing problems, one supervisor said that the client could stay or leave. His choice.
- As a general rule, drug use is obviously frowned upon at Clitheroe. But if a client has a buddy on staff, they will not be expelled no matter what they do.
- Why did that client not have to worry about being kicked out?
Supervisors knew that this client was a passing acquaintance of mine. Apparently the 2 supervisors were trying to do me a "favor" and bring me into their crooked fold.