Dear Reader

I've been through a lot of stressful situations since my incarceration in 2007. With about 6 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Institutional Division, I have seen this system (while meeting only the minimum of humane conditions) is designed for only one thing. That's to prey on the inmates' mental faculties to degrade the inmate, invade his privacy, and frustrate the ability to choose pursuits through which he can manifest himself and gain self-respect in so that it erodes the very foundations upon which he can prepare for a socially useful life. The things that these officers do only create angry, broken, aggressive, violent, and hostile individuals and then release them back into society only to be unprepared to meet the demands of civilian life beyond the razor wire fence and contribute to the high recidivist rate.

As David Rothenberg, the founder of The Fortune Society, has asked, "how many men in solitary will be released from prison someday and how will they be able to function in society after such dehumanising conditions?" That is a question to which prison authorities are never able to provide a response. It's sad to sit here and watch as those that are mentally ill, become mentally ill, and very stressed out individuals do whatever it takes to just to be able to move around and get some fresh air or to a more humane place. They are also seen as weak and easy prey and broken individuals. To really understand the effects and underlying causes of an individual whose broken and dehumanised from being in solitary confinement please visit the Solitary Watch website at www.solitarywatch.com and look up Prison Isolation Cells Hold Thousands of Inmates with Mental Illness. A sure sign that solitary confinement is the prison system's admission that it is incapable of reclaiming lives.

I am appealing to the reader that I myself do not want to find myself being a statistic in the continuous cycle of recidivism and want with the utmost passion to change all aspects of my life to be able to become a law abiding, productive citizen in society. So, I ask that if you are in a position to adopt a prison I will be eternally grateful and give whatever I can back. I am looking for a sponsor to be able to help me on my way to a better and productive life by enrolling me into the PASS (the Prison Assistance Scholastic Service) which is the only national school for prisoners and their rehabilitation. The self-help based curriculum is done via the mail, and takes approximately 6-12 months to complete. Successful students receive a diploma in Personal Psychological Development. The curriculum is divided into two semesters and includes courses in: Parenting, addiction, gang diversion, conflict resolution, victim awareness, domestic violence, anger management, non-violent communication, re-entry into society and living with purpose. The entire course cost %500.00. This must be paid in full prior to enrollment or participation in the program. You can sign me up by sending the $500.00 (payable to PASS or the Prison Assistance Scholastic Service) to PO Box 2009, San Francisco, CA 94111, or you can call PASS at 1-888-670-PASS to enrol me. Payment can also be made via Mastercard or Visa at www.passprograms.com.

If you or anyone who is in a position to adopt a prisoner but unable to afford to enrol me into the PASS program and would still like to sponsor me, you can do so in the following areas:

1. Hygiene items - can be purchased through the TDCJ website at www.tdcj.state.tx.us and has a limit of %50.00 every three (3) months through the website but even the smallest amount is appreciated.

2. Purchasing writing supplies - can be done through Office Max or Office Depot. Writing tablets (8 1/2 x 11 Gluetop only) and envelopes.

3. Purchasing books - mainly self-help books in all areas and I can send you the order form if you like.

This is to ensure you that I'm serious in my willingness to change the negative into positive and not to take for granted what help I am blessed to receive but no money will be sent directly to me and there is no financial gain for me but merely preparing me for a more productive life for when I am blessed to be released back into society and reunited with my family.

I thank you all who have read this for your time, consideration and effort into sponsoring me, whether you do or don't, I still thank you for everything.

Sincerely,

Lorenso Gomez Jr. #1431496
McConnell Unit
3001 S. Emily Dr.
Beeville, Texas 78102

PS. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me at the address list above and I'll be glad to assist you with any additional help you may need to further assist you.

Thank you!