Prison Pages

By Myrlin

As I write this column, it is Inauguration Day and our 44th president, Barack Obama, is about to be sworn in. History is in the making, and I can only hope there will be some changes coming in the way we incarcerate or work to rehabilitate those being held in our vast prison system. Many refer to it as the prison-industrial complex, and organizations such as Critical Resistance work to bring an end to it as it currently exists. Prisons have become big business in many ways, with private prison operators like the Corrections Corp. of America offering shares on the New York Stock Exchange. Next come the many businesses offering the latest in stun guns, jail cells, padlocks, razor wire and all the other trappings of a prison. Imagine the huge conventions that are held each year hawking all of this gear. And with all of this interest in prison hardware, not a thought is being given to rehabilitation and reintegration of these folk back into society.

A number of years ago I attended the Southeast Regional Conference held by Critical Resistance. It was held in New Orleans, at the Tremay Neighborhood Center in the middle of an area housing many of the city’s African-American citizens. I spoke with some of the residents and heard talks noting the fact that a very large portion of the adult men of the community and heads of households were incarcerated, leaving a number of struggling families without breadwinners. Later I became aware that Louisiana’s largest prison, Angola, is located on the site of largest slave plantation in the state and that the work at Angola hasn’t changed a whit. Black Americans, for the most part, continue to do the same work in the cotton fields that they have always done. What would we do without the ability to incarcerate large numbers of people who can work the fields?

I recently spoke with a person coming out of the Texas system who defined the work at the Texas prisons as being little different from what I have noted happens in Louisiana at Angola. Texas inmates work the fields raising cotton, vegetables, beef and other food crops.

They receive no pay for the time in the fields although they are granted days off their sentence in exchange for the work they do. As a result, any monies the inmates have in their accounts come from family members and friends. As many of their families are quite poor, this places a greater strain on their budgets. It is even made more of a strain when the state first deducts any monies owed it for medical visits, court costs and many other things.

This was clearly illustrated by a letter I received from one of my personal correspondents who is resident in a prison in Florida. I had been complaining that it is difficult for me to handle the many requests I receive from him and talking staph infections that eat holes in the foot, to your bones. It costs 42 cents to mail a letter plus 42 more cents and money order costs which your friends and love one’s send to you. To top that off, fifty cents is deducted from your money before you even get a chance to spend it. Now the craziness don’t stop there. There is 1% percent deducted on every dollar you spend. (Example): If you send me 20 bucks, I start at $19.50. If I spend $19.50 they deduct 20 cents on your next week or your next money you receive. (It’s crazy) I hope I have explained why Florida slavery is the cause and problem for friends and family members. So bear with us please. We know our friends and family did not cause our incarceration, we put our carcasses here. from other Florida inmates. He wrote that he understood and then went on to describe the situation there. (Oh, by the way, the Florida inmates often refer to Florida as the “Razor Wire State.”)

I’m so sorry that our Florida inmates seem to ask for a little gratuity most of the time. I’m going to tell you why. First of all, Florida Departments of Corrections does not pay the inmates. Like other Northern states, they run a slavery containment system. Recently they have cut down the portions on all meal trays. We get our boots taken away because it’s cheaper to issue these thin rubber based sneakers which wear out in three weeks tops. But it costs the inmate four dollars when he has to go to the Medical for feet infections. Not your average Athlete’s Foot sores or rash, I’m

With the inauguration of the first African-American president, it is hoped that many of our prison policies will be rethought. The disparity in the numbers of black inmates as compared to any other racial group might finally be addressed. The large numbers of innocent people who are incarcerated might also be considered in a much more aggressive manner. The moral issues around the death penalty, especially considering the possibility of executing an innocent person, might be given a new review. Then too, it is clear that the costs of running the prison system are coming into focus as states deal with their budget deficits. California is currently considering discharging all who are on parole for minor offenses as the costs are overwhelming the state. Just looking at some of the recent headlines appearing on Truthout.org gives a picture of some of the problems.

• America Behind Bars: Why Attempts at Prison Reform Keep Failing by Lilana Segura, AlterNet (A bloated prison system is against the country’s best interests. Yet ‘tough on crime’ rhetoric has gotten in the way of reform.)

• New High in U.S. Prison Numbers by N.C.Alzeman, The New York Post (Growth attributed to more stringent sentencing laws.)

• Torture in Our Own Backyard: The Fight Against Supermax Prison by Jessica Pupovac, Alternet (In supermax prisons, 23 hours a day of solitary confinement is the norm. How did our prison system become so cruel?)

• And Justice for All: We Must Reverse Our Zeal to Incarcerate by Nomi Prins, The Women’s International Perspective (The U.S. has the most prisoners and the highest jailing rate of any country – the insanity must stop.)

• Cash-Strapped States Cut Juvenile Justice Programs by Jim Daveneport, The Associated Press. (South Carolina budget cuts remove young juveniles from treatment programs and moving them to prison.)

• At Overcrowded Florida Prison, Some Inmates May Just Camp Out by Richard Luscombe, The Christian Science Monitor (The state’s plan to house some inmates in tents could save money, but it’s drawing criticism.)

• Arsenic Levels Too High in Kern Valley State Prison’s Drinking Water by Michael Rothfield, The Los Angeles Times

• Budget Woes Prompt States to Rethink Prison Policy by David Crury, The Associated Press.

Congratulations, Mr. President, your work is cut out for you. Now with the oath of office behind us, let’s get back to my column. I want to take a moment to thank Boomer and Free for having considered taking over the work of Brothers Behind Bars. I have great gratitude for their efforts yet welcome back the task with similar gratitude and thanks. Oh, yes, I continue to grumble over how much there is to do considering the growing number of inmates reaching out to us but I am thankful that we are able to give them the hope that they speak of receiving from us. All they ask is to have someone to write to and who will care about them as the person and Child of the Universe that they are. They ask you to help them have dreams and the hope of seeing themselves as real. To obtain the list of those reaching out to us please write Brothers Behind

Bars, PO Box 68, Liberty, TN 37095. Although the address for RFD Magazine is changing, the Brothers Behind Bars address remains as it was. And please consider being generous in your contributions for the list as the postage and other costs continue to escalate.

One of the greatest joys I have as editor of the list is to receive the many contributions of poetry and artwork that these people currently behind bars share with us. As Valentine’s Day approaches and our thoughts turn to love, I want to give two poetic examples and then share some artwork with you. These all appear in the winter issue of the list along with the personal ads from their creators.

How Do I Love Thee?

By: Michael Tackett

My best friend and my lover My companion through the journey of life All these things you are to me Through good times and through strife.

I look into your eyes And see all my dreams in there, My heart knows no boundaries My soul knows no fear.

God’s placed you by my side And there you’ll always stand, Shoulder to shoulder, eye to eye Forever hand in hand.

Most times I walk beside you… Oft times I walk behind…

To be able to watch over you When you have a troubled mind.

My need for you is great. My love for you is true. My Husband and my Hero, I give my life to you.

Michael Tackett #484031

Baraga Maximum Correctional Facility

13924 Wadaga Road Baraga, MI 49908

Strictly Sexual

Our love life is so intense, You stretch me out and give me a kiss, You spread my legs, knees up and wide, You crawl between and deep inside. You taste my wetness as I’m going insane, You use your mouth to make me––you game.

You slip a finger deep inside. You put tits to tits and grind up and down, side to side…

You bite gently on my nipples as I pull gently on yours.

You fill me with wonder, pleasure and joy… The pace speeds up and I meet my climax, You kiss me breathless and I wonder what’s next.

by: Countess Sha’uri Randy Stamper #1108110

CP 316 3 John Bennett

Drive Fort Madison,

IA 52627 cinean will Joy. memories of affected 2003, avant-garde film "uncrowned Poet scholstudent Institute Lifetime spanning five Pleasure gave him "the old avantdedicatbreath 3-disc set of Broughton's a selfstereotyped chil1968 film to and magician, teases and unforgettable Modern Art in 1988, enjoyed in bright Lipzin artist and Institute.