Say No to Drugs

Since I’ve been released from prison, all I’ve been doing is working and sitting at the house. It seems like there’s too much at risk if I go out and do anything else. So this whole week I’ve been waking up at 6 a.m., going straight to work, then coming straight home.

A few of my old friends have tried to get a hold of me on MySpace, but I just ignore them. They’ll soon figure out that I just want to be left alone.

Actually one thing I have been looking into since I got out is taking classes to become a drug and alcohol counselor. That would be perfect for me, because it’ll give me a great opportunity to help other people and also I can relate with drug addicts real well, because I too am a drug addict and I’ve been in some real bad situations myself.

I would possibly like to travel around the country and talk to kids about the dangers of drugs and my whole experience in prison – maybe speaking on behalf of an anti-drug organization.

Other than that I’m doing real well. I haven’t picked up a single drug or drink and I don’t even feel that I need to. I couldn’t ask for more.

Teen in Jail - one year later

Ted began writing the Teen in Jail blog on July 14, 2009 while he was incarcerated in the Pinellas County Jail in Clearwater, Florida. He had been arrested for drug trafficking on October 30, 2008.

Ted was subsequently convicted of drug sales of MDMA (Ecstasy). Ted had gone ahead to see if the coast was clear for a drug dealer when he was apprehended by waiting police. In exchange for him casing the scene, he was to be paid $150. The 50 pills the drug dealer was selling did not contain pure Ecstasy – some were “dummies,” otherwise Ted probably would have received more time – even though he did not have any of the pills in his own possession.

Three prior charges from previous arrests were incorporated into Ted’s sentencing – possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana and criminal mischief. He was facing 25 – 30 years of prison, so he chose to plead guilty in return for a 2-year prison term.

Two months later on December 19, 2008, the drug dealer (that Ted had cased the scene for) was also arrested for the same MDMA trafficking incident on October 30th and posted bail. The dealer was again arrested on October 5, 2009 for multiple charges of possession and sales of Oxycodone and Diazepam. Almost a month later, the dealer was again arrested for trafficking MDMA and is now serving time at RMC Work Camp. The dealer is due to be released on May 30, 2013. He received a 3 years, 9 months sentence for 12 charges, including possession and sales of Methamphetamine, marijuana and other various controlled substances.

The Teen in Jail blog chronicles Ted’s two-year incarceration in jail and various Florida prisons, a work camp and a prison reentry center – Pinellas County Jail in Clearwater, the Reception and Medical Center (RMC) in Lake Butler, the Central Florida Reception Center (CFRC) in Orlando, Brevard Correctional Institution in Cocoa, Lancaster Correctional Institution and Lancaster Work Camp in Trenton, and the Largo Residential Reentry Center in Clearwater. Ted’s current release date is August 13, 2010 – less than a month from now. This release date reflects gain time for good behavior.

Ted started the Teen in Jail blog to let people know what it’s like behind bars and to keep other kids from making the same mistakes.

Ted was not allowed to write about many incidents and people (correctional officers and other inmates) during his two-year incarceration, so he plans on finding a literary agent to possibly publish his full story in a book.

Wasted years

Two years of my life gone…and for what? A couple hundred dollars. I could’ve made that in a week working a decent job. I was too hard-headed for that though. I just wanted quick money and I didn’t care how I got it.

I’ve robbed people, broke into houses, sold drugs and sold my stuff. I loved money, but I loved to get high and have a good time more. It’s been that way since the first time I ever smoked weed. Sure I’ve had a lot of fun, but when I think back to all the people I’ve hurt, it just wasn’t worth it. It only took me seven years to realize it.

I could never repay all the money I’ve stolen. I put myself where I am today.

Hopefully, the people I hurt can forgive me, but I know there is no reason why they should and I wouldn’t hold it against them if they didn’t. All I can do is continue what I’m doing and hopefully inspire others before they make the same mistakes I did.

Peer pressure

If anyone has ever worked at telemarketing then you know that a lot of people there like to get high. So far I haven’t seen much of it at my job, but it is around and I’d be lying if I said I haven’t seen people smoking weed.

I didn’t realize it while I was in prison, but now that I’m out, it seems to be calling my name. Before I continue, let me say this – “Nothing is worth going back to prison. NOTHING!” I haven’t touched pot or any other drugs since I’ve been out, but the temptation is always there.

I feel like I’ve come so far and my worst fear is getting out and messing up everything I’ve worked for. I just keep telling myself that if I can stay clean in prison and work release, I can do it when I get out too.

Worries

Even though I’m still finishing my prison sentence and I still belong to the Department of Corrections, now that I’m at work release I have new things to worry about: money, clothes and hygiene. Some of the things that really worry me are running into a group of old friends or drugs. It’s so easy in prison to stay clean because even though drugs are around, it’s not like on the street. So far I’ve been doing good, but a lot of people here have been sent back to prison for drug use, so I know it’s still around.

What worries me is – say I make it out of here in August, get out and move away. Then I’m going to have to start over somewhere else and I’ve never done that on my own before. I’ve been incarcerated during the years I should’ve been learning how to live on my own. It feels like I’m being kicked out of a cage into the chaotic world.

I know that if I really needed something, I could go to my parents, but I don’t want to have to do that for the rest of my life. For instance, when I get out, I have to pay these court costs off so I can get my license back, get a car and save up even more money so I can get an apartment. I don’t know how or where I’m going to get all this money. I know I have three months left, but that’s not a lot of time to save money, especially when they take 65% of everything I make.

Maybe when I get out I’ll work for a couple more months and save every penny I get. It just seems impossible to make it in the world sometimes.

Caught with coke

It’s been a pretty eventful week so far here at Lake Butler. Today I was sitting in my cell and the guard was walking around and he caught someone upstairs with cocaine. At first I thought it was just a joke, but then I saw the guard lead someone away in handcuffs.

I couldn’t believe somebody actually had that stuff. You would think that if you’re smart enough to figure out how to smuggle it in here, then you would be smart enough not to get caught. Well I guess it’s the curse of a drug addict.

I never saw anyone with cocaine at Brevard or Lancaster. I’ve seen marijuana, but never coke.

Even though I’m in a cell all day, it’s crazy what kind of stuff you hear going on if you just sit back and listen.

This post was also written over two weeks ago.

Attempted murder at RMC-Main

Ted’s alluded to severe fights in the various prisons before. He once told me how one guy was stabbed 23 times during his last week at Brevard. But this week at RMC in Lake Butler, Ted personally witnessed a bad incident.

I posted Ted’s description of his cellblock yesterday. There are two rows of cells (on top of each other) and an aisle with a wall of windows facing the cells. Ted observed the entire fight in the reflection of the glass.

Two inmates – one black and one white – began to fight. It was pretty severe and went on for several minutes – with no CO in sight.

Finally, the white guy turned to flee. The black guy grabbed a hold of the back of the white guy’s shirt, picked him up and threw him face first down an entire flight of stairs. A CO finally appeared afterward.

Ted also heard on another occasion a CO say to someone in another cell, “What’s this? Oh, this is cocaine, huh?” So apparently a stash of cocaine was found. Ted also mentioned a shank was discovered on the cellblock this week.

Photo: The inside of Lake Butler in 1976 from the FL DOC website. Notice the extra beds in the aisle. Click photo to enlarge.

War stories

All day long all I hear is people telling each other how when they get out they’re going to get drunk or high – or they’ll tell old stories about how they used to get drunk or high. It’s a daily occurrence. I have people all trying to talk to me about such things.

To be honest, I really don’t want to hear their war stories. Most of the time, I’ll try to change the conversation and if that doesn’t work, I’ll get up and leave.

I know I’ve written about old war stories myself, but that was just to show some of the things I myself have been through. I’m not proud of any of it. I used to be. I really can’t explain why. I though maybe my friends would be impressed by the things I did, but none of that matters anymore. The gangs, the drugs and the violence only raised the crime rate and made our community unsafe, even if back then I claimed that I was “helping the hood.” Ha. Was I an idiot or what?

Joseph Vigliotti

Well, I don’t know where to start. I guess I’ll say who I am. I’m Joseph Vigliotti. My friends and family call me Joe. I’m 20 years old and have been in Lancaster Correctional Institution since June 2009. To the boys in here, I’m Fro Joe, Viggy, Joey and Vigliotti. To the COs, I’m Inmate Vigliotti, G15656.

See back in 2007, I stole a couple of things I shouldn’t have. I was just two months into my 18th year of living and dating a girl I would spend two years of my young life with. It all started after seeing a Harry Potter movie. We came back from the movie theater and it was just about 1 a.m. I had to work the next day at a reptile farm.

Well, my girl at this time had a couple of problems with her neighbors, so she sweet talked me into stealing from these people. I stole their stuff and not even a week later, the detective was at my girlfriend’s house and she told the police everything.

I helped the lead detective recover the majority of the stolen property from my hiding spot in the woods. I went to County two weeks after that. I was in County Jail for three months. I got out in October, worked for a concrete company, was placed on probation and violated probation in December 2007. I went back to my county jail in January and got out in February. I was on probation from March of 2008 to January of 2009. I violated again. (Both of my violations were from failed or tampered with pee tests.) Went back to jail and got out in the very beginning of March. I went back to drugs and drinking hard during this period. I got arrested again in April for resisting arrest without violence. I bonded out a day later. Then I had a court appearance on May 7, 2009, got arrested as soon as I walked in the courthouse, and I have been behind bars ever since.

I am not a special dude. I’m our average Joe. I live in Levy County, Florida - a county that has almost nothing. I am 20 minutes from Gainesville and have access to some of the biggest sand hills in Florida. I enjoy mudbogging, clubbing and funny movies. I used to eat pills, smoke marijuana and drink tremendous amounts of alcohol. After years of doing nothing and sitting in Lancaster, I really want to better myself. I have a family that tried to help me, but I turned my cheek to them and kept going down this path. I have my whole life to live, but now I have this experience on my record and my mind.

If anybody could read this and it helps them or touches them in any way, I want you to look at yourself, help yourself, help your loved ones, read ANY passage out of a Bible, don’t drink that beer, don’t roll that swisher, don’t do that cocaine. Don’t be a follower – be a leader. Lead yourself to be you – not who they want you to be, but YOU and do what you have to. A wise man once told me – “Life is easy. Living is hard.”

So please don’t follow me. Don’t let your children be like me.

I want to thank Teddy Braden for letting me say a little bit of my mind. I love ya bro. Okay, I’m done wasting your time. I’ll be here.

- Joseph Vigliotti

Photo from Joe's MySpace page.

Photos from a past life

I spoke with Ted tonight on the phone. He sent some blog entries out to me on Monday, but they were returned to him because he forgot to put a stamp on the envelope.

Ted did tell me he was finally approved for a work release camp. He's just waiting for a bed to become available. Inmates who are going to work release camp choose two camps to go to - usually camps close to their homes. Ted chose two camps in his home county - both are within 30 minutes of his home. That's much better than the current three-hour distance.

People often ask if Ted is truly a changed person now. Everyone who knew him before and has talked with him agrees that yes, he is a different person. He has admitted gang involvement and how it has ruined his life. He wants to help other kids avoid the same mistakes he's made. He does not want to hang around anyone in prison that wants to go back to drugs and gangs. He constantly talks of bettering himself, although he does fear that there will be huge obstacles, such as finding a decent job.

I remember one thing that a counselor told Ted in a juvenile drug rehab center when he was 15: To truly be successful in changing your life, you must cut all ties from your past life. Your old friends will only drag you down and get you back into drugs and crime.

Photos: Ted in his past life (from his MySpace page):

This is your brain on drugs

"This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs" is the most widely-shown TV message of any created by the Partnership for Drug-Free America in its 20-year history. Click on the video below to see this famous commercial from 1987.

Drugs aren't harmless - not even marijuana. Many parents believe that marijuana isn't that bad because they smoked it when they were younger. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana today is more dangerous than it was in the 60s and 70s . Some reports estimate that today's marijuana is five times the strength than it was in the 1970s while other reports estimate the strength is as high as 25 times that of earlier decades. That's a lot of dead brain cells.

Drugs aren't cool. You could end up in prison or worse. Read more about how drug use destroys your life: Get Smart About Drugs.

Drug search

Earlier today as we were sitting in the dorm playing cards and just hanging out, the lieutenant and a K-9 dog and his trainer came in. They told everyone to sit on their bunks and face away from the CO’s office. I sleep against a wall, so I had a brick wall in my face and couldn’t see anything. We weren’t allowed to turn around until they were done with their search.

The trainer let the K-9 off his leash to run around the dorm to smell for drugs. After the dog ran around for 5 to 10 minutes, the trainer opened all our lockers and had the dog sniff each locker. Then when he was done with all the lockers, he brought the dog to each individual bunk to sniff. When the dog came to a bunk bed, he had to stand on his two hind legs to smell the top bunk. The whole search lasted about 30 to 40 minutes and no drugs were found.

Ted has told me that drugs do indeed get smuggled into prisons via visitations. Visitors are patted down and their coats and belongings are searched. Visitors to Lancaster are allowed to bring in up to $50 in cash, a single car key with no electronic key openers (unless a car cannot be opened without one), a photo ID, an unopened pack of cigarettes and a lighter in a clear Ziploc bag or see-through plastic pouch.

I’ve noticed that visitors with young children are allowed to bring in a transparent bag containing diapers, formula, bottles and toys, and that seems to be the most likely way to smuggle in any contraband. Items can also be hidden in the visitation rooms to be picked up later.

The penalty for smuggling drugs into a prison constitutes a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in Florida Statutes 775.082, 775.083, or 775.084. Translation: Up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Repeat offenders can get more time and a higher fine.

For the complete visiting rules, see Florida Statutes Chapter 33-601.711-737 or the Florida Statutes State Correctional Code. Specific references for what may or may not be brought to visitations are addressed in FS 944.47 (see below).

944.47 Introduction, removal, or possession of certain articles unlawful; penalty.

(1)(a) Except through regular channels as authorized by the officer in charge of the correctional institution, it is unlawful to introduce into or upon the grounds of any state correctional institution, or to take or attempt to take or send or attempt to send there from, any of the following articles which are hereby declared to be contraband for the purposes of this section, to wit:

1. Any written or recorded communication or any currency or coin given or transmitted, or intended to be given or transmitted, to any inmate of any state correctional institution.

2. Any article of food or clothing given or transmitted, or intended to be given or transmitted, to any inmate of any state correctional institution.

3. Any intoxicating beverage or beverage which causes or may cause an intoxicating effect.

4. Any controlled substance as defined in s. 893.02(4) or any prescription or nonprescription drug having a hypnotic, stimulating, or depressing effect.

5. Any firearm or weapon of any kind or any explosive substance.

6. Any cellular telephone or other portable communication device intentionally and unlawfully introduced inside the secure perimeter of any state correctional institution without prior authorization or consent from the officer in charge of such correctional institution. As used in this subparagraph, the term "portable communication device" means any device carried, worn, or stored which is designed or intended to receive or transmit verbal or written messages, access or store data, or connect electronically to the Internet or any other electronic device and which allows communications in any form. Such devices include, but are not limited to, portable two-way pagers, hand-held radios, cellular telephones, Blackberry-type devices, personal digital assistants or PDA's, laptop computers, or any components of these devices which are intended to be used to assemble such devices. The term also includes any new technology that is developed for similar purposes. Excluded from this definition is any device having communication capabilities which has been approved or issued by the department for investigative or institutional security purposes or for conducting other state business.

(b) It is unlawful to transmit or attempt to transmit to, or cause or attempt to cause to be transmitted to or received by, any inmate of any state correctional institution any article or thing declared by this subsection to be contraband, at any place which is outside the grounds of such institution, except through regular channels as authorized by the officer in charge of such correctional institution.

(c) It is unlawful for any inmate of any state correctional institution or any person while upon the grounds of any state correctional institution to be in actual or constructive possession of any article or thing declared by this section to be contraband, except as authorized by the officer in charge of such correctional institution.

(2) A person who violates any provision of this section as it pertains to an article of contraband described in subparagraph (1)(a)1., subparagraph (1)(a)2., or subparagraph (1)(a)6. commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. In all other cases, a violation of a provision of this section constitutes a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

Why I got into trouble

For some reason, my mom is convinced that she is somehow responsible for my behavior and bad choices I’ve made in the past.

Sure, maybe she spoiled me too much, but that’s not the reason I joined a gang or started using drugs. My mom did everything she could to keep me out of trouble and provided everything I needed to succeed, but it was my decisions that led me to where I am today.

So then what caused you to make poor decisions, join a gang and do drugs, you might ask? Well, I’ve though a lot about it and I’ve come to this conclusion: Every kid at a certain age goes through a stage where he/she doesn’t want to listen to his parents. Kids are in too much of a rush to grow up. Depending on the group of friends they have and what type of atmosphere they’re exposed to will play a big part in who they become.

Also it’s a very good idea for them to have hobbies or some kind of activity that they enjoy to help fill up their free time. That was one thing I never had. I didn’t play many sports, play an instrument, go paintballing or anything else. I had way too much free time and freedom. I was in such a rush to grow up that I wanted to do what I saw all the older kids doing. They drank, smoked cigarettes and weed, and did pretty much whatever they wanted to do without their parents telling them what to do. Eventually I started doing what they did and it made me feel more adult-like. After awhile, I stopped going to school and missed any and all opportunities that came with it. I wasn’t playing sports, I wasn’t doing chores, I really didn’t do anything. I wasn’t doing anything I was supposed to.

All I wanted to do was get high and hang out with my friends. Nothing else mattered. Well today I’m paying for all that. If I could go back and change things I would, but since I can’t, I’m trying to make the best of it.

My advice to any parents who are willing to listen is simply this – and you’ve probably heard it all before, but it couldn’t be more true. Don’t let your children get to the point where you can’t control them. Set firm rules and you can’t under any circumstances let them break those rules without punishing them. It’s up to you how you punish them, but don’t go easy, but don’t be too cruel either. Let them know you mean business. For those parents whose kids are already getting out of control, all I can tell you is make sure they get what they deserve. Let their punishment fit the crime and hopefully they’ll realize it’s not worth the trouble. If that means they have to spend a few weeks in the JDC (Juvenile Department of Corrections), then so be it. Some people just have to learn the hard way. Look at me.

Surviving in prison

Over the last year, a lot of different people have given me advice about how to survive in prison. They’ll say don’t do this, but make sure you always …, but really, there’s nothing you can do to prevent trouble.

My best advice to survive prison doesn’t start when you get to prison, but when you’re out on the street.

If you’re out there – do whatever you want to do – no matter what anyone says. Just know that one day you’ll go to prison. That’s a guarantee. It will happen sooner or later.

So while you’re out there, take some boxing lessons and make sure you know how to fight because when you come to prison, you’ll be doing a lot of it whether you want to or not.

A time will come when you have to defend yourself and nobody is going to be there to help you.

Other than that, stay in the Bible and pray. God will always answer your prayer – no matter if he answers them the way you want or not.

Last thing – if you feel your enemy is too great – read Psalms 59. It helped me a lot.

Prison Survival Manual

Psalm 59
Deliver me from my enemies, O God;
protect me from those who rise up against me.
Deliver me from evildoers
and save me from bloodthirsty men.
See how they lie in wait for me!
Fierce men conspire against me
for no offense or sin of mine, O LORD.
I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me.
Arise to help me; look on my plight!
O LORD God Almighty, the God of Israel,
rouse yourself to punish all the nations;
show no mercy to wicked traitors.
Selah
They return at evening,
snarling like dogs,
and prowl about the city.
See what they spew from their mouths—
they spew out swords from their lips,
and they say, "Who can hear us?"
But you, O LORD, laugh at them;
you scoff at all those nations.
O my Strength, I watch for you;
you, O God, are my fortress,
my loving God.
God will go before me
and will let me gloat over those who slander me.
But do not kill them, O Lord our shield, [b]
or my people will forget.
In your might make them wander about,
and bring them down.
For the sins of their mouths,
for the words of their lips,
let them be caught in their pride.
For the curses and lies they utter,
consume them in wrath,
consume them till they are no more.
Then it will be known to the ends of the earth
that God rules over Jacob.
Selah
They return at evening,
snarling like dogs,
and prowl about the city.
They wander about for food
and howl if not satisfied.
But I will sing of your strength,
in the morning I will sing of your love;
for you are my fortress,
my refuge in times of trouble.
O my Strength, I sing praise to you;
you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.

Gangs in prison

This is probably something I should have realized years ago, but I’m realizing it more and more in prison.

I look around and I see all these gangs in prison – wearing their clothes a certain way or having gang tattoos – but I don’t see what they can offer you.

They say they can offer protection, but to me that just puts a target on your head. They also say theirs [the name of their gang] softly in numbers. Well most of the fights I see are gang-related and there are hardly ever more than two people fighting – while the rest of their gangs just stand around and watch.

It is a little different on the street. Gangs on the street tend to be more loyal to the gang, but like I said in the beginning – they don’t have anything to offer.

Sure they’ll say you could make money and have girls, but is it worth it? I’d rather find a girl who wants nothing to do with gangs and doesn’t care if I’m rich.

Just look at what you get offered to join a gang and then look at what life has to offer you not being in a gang.

A real cut up

Last night as I was sleeping, I was awakened by someone at the other end of my wing.

He was screaming “Help…Help me!”

At first I thought it was just one of these knuckleheads trying to be funny, but I started to wake up a little more and I could tell he was in trouble.

All of a sudden the CO came running into the wing trying to figure out what was going on. He ran to the cell and handcuffed them both. He took them both somewhere where nobody could see and came back shortly afterward and started searching the cell.

I guess when the CO started coming, the guy that was trying to cut his cellmate flushed his razor blade down the toilet before the CO got to them.

Even so, he was sent to the box for who knows how long and his cellmate was put into protective custody unharmed.

I’ve only been here three weeks. I wonder what will happen next…

Showers in Lake Butler

This was written before Ted left for the Orlando reception center.

I am currently being held at Lake Butler RMC – Main. I am in I block, which is the old isolation dorm.

Here we get three showers a week – which last anywhere from 30 – 60 seconds, depending on what time we start.

Because it’s so hot in here and there’s no A/C, as soon as you get out of the shower you’re sweating again and it’s just like you never took any kind of shower in the first place.

When you get in these showers, it’s always either too hot or too cold.

The showers are two-man showers separated by bars.

It’s really hard getting used to showering with another person next to you.

I suppose it could be worse. Maybe?

Constant harassment

Every morning we wake up to go to breakfast at 4:30 and last night was no different. We woke up, went to chow, and came back. When we got back, everybody’s stuff was torn up and thrown all over the place.

That’s not really unusual, but this time a lot of people got their cigarettes taken by the CO even though we’re allowed to have them. Just as everybody was making their beds again, one of the COs came walking through smoking the inmates’ cigarettes. You might ask ‘Well how do you know that he was smoking theirs?’ I know because he said so.

He passed my room and went to the cell next to mine and asked him “What would you do for your cigarettes?” He replied, “What do you want me to do Sir?” So the CO made him sing the Barney theme song out loud, then made him sing the YMCA song – but instead of saying “Y..M..C..A,” he had to sing “Y Am I Gay!”

Then for the next two hours, he sat one cell over messing with that man over every little thing, so I couldn’t sleep the whole time. Then after he was finally through, he refused to turn the lights off so we could go to sleep.

These COs here just love to come to work to make you mad.

I got to be honest – he was kinda funny for the first five minutes, but he got real old, real fast.

Transferred to permanent camp

I received another letter today (the third in three days). Ted was transferred to Brevard C.I. in Cocoa, FL (near Daytona) last night. I called and he is currently in an air-conditioned dorm, but will not be staying there. He is in minimum security.

About Brevard C.I.:

Brevard only houses youthful/adult males from ages 19-24.
There's a maximum capacity of 1,032 in Minimum, Medium, Closed and Community housing.
There are two open bay housing units and 10 cell housing units.

Services offered are:

Academic Programs:
Adult Basic Education/GED
Literacy

Vocational Programs:
Air Conditioning/ Refrigeration and Heating
Architectural Drafting
Commercial Foods/ Culinary Arts
PC Support
Pipe Trade Systems Technology
Commercial Truck Driving

Wellness Education Services:
Fresh Start Smoking Cessation
Wellness Education
Sports Leagues

Library Services:
Library Program
Minor Law Collection

Substance Abuse Programs:
Tier 1- Substance Abuse Education
Tier 3- Long Term Residential Therapeutic Community (RTC)

Chaplaincy Services:
Chapel Library Program
Kairos Week-ends
Prison Fellowship Monthly
Religious Education
T.D. Jakes Satellite Location
Way Home Bridge Builders
Worship Services

Institutional Betterment Programs:
Parent and Child Together in Print

Other Ongoing Programs:
Life Skills

Sick in prison

I’ve been sick the last three days, and for the whole three days, I’ve been asking the correctional officers (COs) for Tylenol.

They keep telling me they’ll do it when they aren’t so busy, but for some reason I still ain’t got any.

I can’t see too much from my cell, but from what I can see, the correctional officers are never busy. They just sit around spitting out tobacco.

Now I know it’s their job to make us not want to come back, but the least they can do is get me some Tylenol.

My head and body won’t stop hurting and the more I complain about it, the less they come around my cell.

Also besides not being able to get medicine, the worst part about being sick in here is having to walk to and from the dining hall and having to sit out on the rec field for about two hours in the hot sun.