James, I am a psychology student & I have been tasked with the assignment to follow one inmate's blog and find out some things about daily life, fears, living with other inmates, victimizations you encounter and other things. I have read many of your letters and I have to say that my heart goes out to you and many others who have made mistakes and are now living out the rest of their years behind bars. I don't know what you did nor do I need to, but I can say that I truly believe that there is good in all people. It seems that you have come to terms with your sentence and you are learning how to cope. I'm glad they have support groups for you guys in there and I hope that they help. I believe that as adults almost all of us have been faced with choices that (if we made the wrong choice) could've landed us in jail. Some of us were more fortunate to grow up with a more supportive family home as others weren't so lucky. I thank God that he has watched over me the way that he has and I just want you to know that not everyone in the world sees inmates as horrible people. I see that some of you just made bad decisions for various reasons. I do wish you well. God Bless - Amelia
I can understand the overage cost associated with both the phone calls and the televisions. The calls would need to be monitored to make sure no shenanigans are taking place, the televisions probably need to be sealed to keep the inmates from pulling out bits to use as weapons.
I am surprised to read that they are allowed in cells however. I have always had a picture in my mind of inmates basically being put into a common room for television privileges. A flat screen tv, three meals a day and a roof over your head sounds like a good deal for a life sentence, no?
There does need to be more correctional effort and less warehousing on the part of inmates that will be allowed back into society. I think it is an egregious error on the part of the state (any state) to not work more towards rehabilitation, or the effort of some kind of trade. With the U.S. manufacturing base being what it is though, trades are unfortunately not always a viable option.
As far as international aid, regarding Nigeria and the like... It seems like the world just allows that to fester, and I have never understood why. It is not the place of the USA to keep everything running smoothly (heck, taxes barely are able to keep the prisons functional from all the inputs of prisoners on this board), and I have always wondered why a more international effort is not made to contain the insanity that goes on there.
Thanks for writing! I finished the transcription for your post.
Robert,
The prices you list for those TVs are unconscionable. I have a 32-inch LED flatscreen in my bedroom that I bought brand new for $198!! It's funny, in an ironic kind of way, the specific details that really catch my attention. That was one of them. A television... how petty. But holy cow, how much are you and your loved ones expected to pay for your transgressions? I don't at all feel that life in prison should be a cake walk, but for heaven's sake, maybe we could at least pretend to be civilized and stop punishing the FAMILIES and loved ones of criminals for crimes—after all, you're never going to earn a TV at the 8 cents an hour or whatever it is they pay you for your honest labor. Someone who loves you has to buy it for you... at twice the price it would cost at Wal-Mart. Where does that money go? The inmates who make the TV get pennies (in Texas, where I live, they don't get paid at all, not even cents on the dollar); we have a rough idea of what the parts cost... is that money at least going into a victim fund? Or is it just being absorbed by the State?
Disgusting.
Again, it's funny how the little things jump out at us. I can't believe how angry this made me. I feel as though "justice" in this country is never done until criminals are dead and their families are destroyed. How does this help anyone?!
Oh man, I'm so mad. Sorry. I'm going to pull it in now. I hope you're doing well!
k.
P.S.: I agree with Nicki: the things you say are extremely interesting! Please keep writing. I hope our feedback helps keep you motivated to do so.
Unfortunately, many inmates across the country are mentally or physically ill, intellectually disabled, or otherwise unable to really share their honest thoughts about their experience. Because you are a sane, smart man, I implore you to please keep writing about everything you see, hear, and feel. I know stupid things like TVs are, well, stupid, but those things are part of a greater whole that is causing exceptional damage to the fabric of our entire society. Please keep writing!
Thank you for writing Robert. You're right about so many things in this post, but the one thing you're wrong about is that your thoughts & concerns aren't interesting. They are & I can tell you they are the same concerns all people with a social conscience share. There is so much wrong with the world & we look to our leaders to address important issues. When all is said and done though, they are busy playing the game of politics & not representing the interests of the people.
I transcribed your most recent letter, and I decided to read your other posts. You've only written a handful of times in the past two years, but dang, girl, you've really managed to grab my heart.
I'm going to write you a proper (private) letter ASAP; I just need to head out and find the right card to send with it. I have no idea what you did or how long you're supposed to pay for that or whether it's true, and I don't actually care. I really like you. I think you and I could really be friends. You're clever, thoughtful, funny, and freakin' interesting. I'm really proud of you for your academic achievements, and maybe you can help me figure out what the heck I should do with my hair (no one will ever cut it the way I ask them to... it's a disaster).
Until I talk to you more personally, I just wanted you to know I am thinking about you and hoping everything is going well for you.
RSS
I am surprised to read that they are allowed in cells however. I have always had a picture in my mind of inmates basically being put into a common room for television privileges. A flat screen tv, three meals a day and a roof over your head sounds like a good deal for a life sentence, no?
There does need to be more correctional effort and less warehousing on the part of inmates that will be allowed back into society. I think it is an egregious error on the part of the state (any state) to not work more towards rehabilitation, or the effort of some kind of trade. With the U.S. manufacturing base being what it is though, trades are unfortunately not always a viable option.
As far as international aid, regarding Nigeria and the like... It seems like the world just allows that to fester, and I have never understood why. It is not the place of the USA to keep everything running smoothly (heck, taxes barely are able to keep the prisons functional from all the inputs of prisoners on this board), and I have always wondered why a more international effort is not made to contain the insanity that goes on there.
Robert,
The prices you list for those TVs are unconscionable. I have a 32-inch LED flatscreen in my bedroom that I bought brand new for $198!! It's funny, in an ironic kind of way, the specific details that really catch my attention. That was one of them. A television... how petty. But holy cow, how much are you and your loved ones expected to pay for your transgressions? I don't at all feel that life in prison should be a cake walk, but for heaven's sake, maybe we could at least pretend to be civilized and stop punishing the FAMILIES and loved ones of criminals for crimes—after all, you're never going to earn a TV at the 8 cents an hour or whatever it is they pay you for your honest labor. Someone who loves you has to buy it for you... at twice the price it would cost at Wal-Mart. Where does that money go? The inmates who make the TV get pennies (in Texas, where I live, they don't get paid at all, not even cents on the dollar); we have a rough idea of what the parts cost... is that money at least going into a victim fund? Or is it just being absorbed by the State?
Disgusting.
Again, it's funny how the little things jump out at us. I can't believe how angry this made me. I feel as though "justice" in this country is never done until criminals are dead and their families are destroyed. How does this help anyone?!
Oh man, I'm so mad. Sorry. I'm going to pull it in now. I hope you're doing well!
k.
P.S.: I agree with Nicki: the things you say are extremely interesting! Please keep writing. I hope our feedback helps keep you motivated to do so.
Unfortunately, many inmates across the country are mentally or physically ill, intellectually disabled, or otherwise unable to really share their honest thoughts about their experience. Because you are a sane, smart man, I implore you to please keep writing about everything you see, hear, and feel. I know stupid things like TVs are, well, stupid, but those things are part of a greater whole that is causing exceptional damage to the fabric of our entire society. Please keep writing!
Take care
Nicki
I transcribed your most recent letter, and I decided to read your other posts. You've only written a handful of times in the past two years, but dang, girl, you've really managed to grab my heart.
I'm going to write you a proper (private) letter ASAP; I just need to head out and find the right card to send with it. I have no idea what you did or how long you're supposed to pay for that or whether it's true, and I don't actually care. I really like you. I think you and I could really be friends. You're clever, thoughtful, funny, and freakin' interesting. I'm really proud of you for your academic achievements, and maybe you can help me figure out what the heck I should do with my hair (no one will ever cut it the way I ask them to... it's a disaster).
Until I talk to you more personally, I just wanted you to know I am thinking about you and hoping everything is going well for you.
-k.
Terra, that is so much good news! And I think the shelf in the library is a huge deal... even the smallest first step is usually the hardest one!
Congratulations on your poem being published! I hope you keep letting us know what's going on in your life.
P.S. The Leelah Alcorn situation is absolutely heartbreaking. I hope every parent in America is aware of this story.