October update on Ted Braden (Teen in Jail)

Ted was released from the Largo Residential Reentry Center on August 13, 2010.

Since that time, he has been doing quite well. He went to get a one-time shot to stop smoking on August 26, 2010. (For further information, visit www.stopsmokingamerica.com. It is located in Tampa.) The one-time shot and follow up one-week anti-anxiety medication cost $462, but it was well worth it. According to the iPhone app “Quit It,” he has been smoke-free for one month and 26 days. He’s saved $342.47 by NOT smoking 1,142 cigarettes in that time (at one pack a day).

He also had oral surgery on his wisdom tooth at a discount dental center run by the University of Florida in St. Petersburg. Ted could have had this done for free in prison, but he would have had to leave the work release center to go back to a “real” prison to have the dental work done and it might’ve taken weeks for him to get back to the Center - if at all. The tooth was cut out by a dentist for $342. It would have cost upwards of $750 or more with an oral surgeon. His face was swollen for days.

Ted did go on a trip with me for six days during the Labor Day holiday. One day, he and I just decided to get in the car and drive! We traveled through Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Lousiana and back to Florida. (More on that trip later.)

Ted was paid $300 by his former job at Discount Energy as a settlement. He was owed upward of $750. Ted wrote a blog entry about his dealings with Discount Energy which I will be posting soon.

One person left a comment that Ted had been re-arrested for possession of marijuana and probation violation. This is not the case.

First of all, Ted was not put on probation after his prison sentence. Secondly, Ted has studiously avoided contact with all of his former “friends,” all of whom have no clue where he is living. Ted is living with another family (out of the old neighborhood) and babysits a two-year girl for eight hours a day, five days a week. He is surprisingly very good with children. He is not taking drugs of any kind and not smoking.

Ted does not currently have a computer where he is living. We are working to remedy that. One blog reader was looking into getting him a laptop. Ted is also not sure what to write on the Teen in Jail blog now. He says it was a blog about jail and prison, and since he is no longer in either, is not sure where to take it from here. We’ve discussed starting some other type of web site, but haven’t hit upon the perfect idea yet. Any suggestions of a new site would be welcomed. You can still send emails to teeninjail@yahoo.com.

Photo: Ted smiling (finally!) at Cafe du Monde in New Orleans on September 4, 2010.

D.O.C. raid

Right now I’m running on about 30 minutes sleep. I picked the wrong night to stay up late because right after I went to sleep last night, nine cars full of Department of Correction officers came and raided the compound.

They came in and made everybody get up and go outside and sit in 14 rows with 20 inmates in each row facing away from the compound. Meanwhile, other officers searched through all the rooms with K-9 units.

The whole time the rooms were being searched, the officers were going one row at a time making everybody take their clothes off to strip search them. I was sitting at the very front of all the 280 inmates, so I ended up being one of the last to get searched.

The whole time I was waiting to get searched, I kept seeing cell phones, MP3 players and other contraband flying over my head [over the balcony rails]. It seems like everybody had something!

Anyway, this whole search lasted from about 1:30 a.m. until 5:30 a.m. Nobody got any sleep last night. I know I didn’t and I still had to work the next day.

This entry was written about about two weeks ago.

Ted's home visit

Ted had his first (and last) home visit on Saturday, August 7, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Minus the transportation time, he was able to spend three hours at home.


The following video shows Ted greeting his dog Cocoa, his stepfather Doug and his grandmother Joyce, who is 100% disabled.


Ted watched the movie 2012 with his family and ate pizza and ice cream cake before having to return to the work release center.


Ted will not get another home visit as he is scheduled to be released this coming Friday the 13th. Ted says he will not go out of the house on that day (because of the date!)

Video of teen girl in jail being beaten

It can be argued that girls have a tougher time in jails and prisons than males. There are numerous correctional officers that feel the need to show their dominance and power over inmates.

Take, for instance, the below video on YouTube which shows a teen girl in jail in King County, Washington. The abusive deputy was caught on tape. (Press the Play button even if you don't see the video screen.)

The surveillance video shows the deputy kicking a young girl, slamming her to the cell floor and striking her repeatedly. The deputy grabs her by the hair to take her out of the room.

The deputy pled not guilty in the case. (Feb. 27, 2009)

Teen girl talks about jail-cell beating.

Update on case (July 2010): Deputy gets away with abusive behavior.

Best of Teen in Jail

Here is a sampling of some of the best (and most widely-read) Teen in Jail blog entries. Ted was not allowed to write about a lot of what went on in prison and plans to write a book about his whole experience when he is released.

All day in a cell
http://www.teeninjail.com/2009/10/all-day-in-cell.html

My first arrest
http://www.teeninjail.com/2009/08/my-first-criminal-charge.html

A lead pipe to the face
http://www.teeninjail.com/2009/07/lead-pipe-to-face.html

Five mugshots since I turned 18
http://www.teeninjail.com/2009/08/five-mug-shots-since-i-turned-18_04.html

What life could’ve been like
http://www.teeninjail.com/2009/09/what-life-could-have-been-like.html

My biggest regret
http://www.teeninjail.com/2009/09/my-biggest-regret.html

Hope
http://www.teeninjail.com/2009/08/hope.html

Why I did what I did
http://www.teeninjail.com/2010/01/why-i-did-what-i-did.html

Your real friends
http://www.teeninjail.com/2009/08/your-real-friends.html

Is my life over before it even begins?
http://www.teeninjail.com/2009/08/is-my-life-over-before-it-begins.html

An uncertain future
http://www.teeninjail.com/2010/01/uncertain-future.html

Hell on Earth
http://www.teeninjail.com/2010/01/hell-on-earth.html

Why I got into trouble
http://www.teeninjail.com/2009/12/why-i-got-in-trouble.html

Surviving in prison
http://www.teeninjail.com/2009/11/surviving-in-prison.html

Constant harassment
http://www.teeninjail.com/2009/10/constant-harassment.html

A bad week
http://www.teeninjail.com/2009/11/bad-week.html

A real cut up
http://www.teeninjail.com/2009/10/real-cut-up.html

Teen in Jail: One year later
http://www.teeninjail.com/2010/07/teen-in-jail-one-year-later.html

My last few days

I’m finally down to my last 17 days in this place. It doesn’t seem like that’s any time at all, but it’s dragging by so slowly.

I try just to focus on work, but it’s hard knowing that soon when I leave my job each day, I won’t be going back to the prison release center after work. I can go back to my house.

I won’t have to be around a bunch of people I don’t want to be around. I won’t have to stand in line everyday to get a meal. I won’t have to wake up at 5:30 a.m. every morning surrounded by a bunch of other people who are just as grumpy as you because they have to get up so early.

Ah, I can’t wait. 17 days left….

After the brick wall

When I look back on the last two years, I can’t believe so much has happened.

Since before I got arrested, I knew I was headed toward a brick wall. I just didn’t care.

Now two years later, I’d like to think this whole experience made me a little wiser. Now I see the potential in my life. I know how to use my past to better my future.

Sure it’s not going to be easy now that I’m a convicted felon. Plus when I get out of this place, I’ll have to start all over again. As long as I stay focused for the first few months of getting out of prison, I should have some money saved up so I can get my license back. After that, it’ll get a little easier.

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.

Transition manual

I just finished completing a 100-hour transition workbook. Everybody in prison has to do one to go home. (Well I guess they would let you out eventually if you didn’t do the workbook, but I’m not trying to wait.)

It asks you questions about everything: family problems you have, what you’re going to do when you get out, etc… It took me over two weeks to write the 340-something pages, but I finally finished it last night.

It’s only four days late, but at least it’s finally done. I would’ve had it done on time, but it’s hard when you’re gone to work 12 hours a day. I don’t really feel like doing anything when I get home from work except sleep.

Ted was also awakened at 3:45 a.m. three times over the past week to get a random drug test, which made him all the more tired.

Photo: Yukon Suspension Bridge over the Tutshi River, Canada - Kelly Shannon Kelly. Click to enlarge.

Close to the end

TWO MONTHS LEFT! It’s so close, but it seems like it’s never going to get here. As long as I get the rest of my gain time, I should get out on August 23, 2010. Right now my release date is September 2nd, but I still have one more month of gain time I can get in July.

It’s hard not to count days, but when you only have 56 and a wake up, it’s really difficult not to. I’ve seen so many people go home from here and I see how excited they were and I just can’t wait.

I’ve been away for 20 months and in two more months, it’ll finally be over. The only thing I’ll still have to do to put all this behind me for good is pay my court costs.

Talented people

One thing I’ve noticed about being in prison is that there is so much wasted talent. Some people write some of the best poems I’ve ever heard and others can take apart anything with an electric motor and make tattoo guns. I keep thinking that if inmates actually used their skills for good things, there would be a whole lot less people in prison.

Of course there are people like me, too, that had to go to prison to discover their strengths. Even though I always knew I could write pretty well, if I hadn’t gone to prison, I would have never used my writing to help people. Honestly, I probably would have never written anything at all.

So I guess even though it was hard, in some ways I’m grateful I discovered my talent. It is sad though. Nobody should have to go to prison to find out that they are good at something.

Celebrities who've been in prison

• Sophia Loren, actress; 1982 - served 18 days in Italy for tax evasion charges
• Li'l Kim, rapper, songwriter, actress; 2005-2006 – charged with conspiracy and perjury
• Martha Stewart, television and magazine personality; September 2004-March 2005 – charged with fraud, obstruction of justice and conspiracy
• Robert Downey Jr., actor; 1997,1999 – drug charges and violating probation
• Mike Tyson, boxer; 1992-1995 – charged with rape
• Lil Wayne, rapper; 2010 – drug charges and misconduct involving weapons
• Gary Glitter, rock and pop singer; 1999, 2006-2007 – charged with possession of child pornography, engaging in sex with a minor, rape of two under-aged girls
• Christian Slater, actor; 1997 – charged with three counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of battery
• Kelsey Grammar, actor; 1988 – charged with drunk driving and cocaine possession
• Joe Francis, founder of Mantra Films which produces Girls Gone Wild; April 1997 – sentenced to 35 days for contempt of court

Read more here.

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.

Culture shock

I can’t describe in words how good it feels to only be 10 minutes away from home. Even though I’m still not free, at least there’s no razor wire fences, no guard towers, no truck driving around the compound all day and night, no more prison blues (clothes), no more saying “Braden 131948” before I go to sleep every night, etc. I could go on forever.

Even though I’m allowed to go out by myself and look for a job, I’m still worried. What if I see someone I know? What would I say if they saw me? It’s going to be hard to do the right thing. Hopefully I won’t have to deal with that for a little while. I just want to be able to get used to living a normal life before I have to deal with old friends.

As of now, though, I’m so grateful to be here. It’s kinda weird because hardly anything has changed, yet at the same time, everything is different. I can’t explain it.

Well all I need to do now is find a job.

Photo: Famous painting "The Scream" by Edvard Munch.

Prison in the Bible

The words “prison” or “prisoner” appear 116 times in the Bible. Some notable Biblical characters that have been in prison are Joseph, Jeremiah, Samson, John the Baptist, Peter and Paul. Jesus himself was arrested - John 18:12 “Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him.”

One of the most prominent books of the New Testament is the Revelation of St. John. John wrote this book while in prison on the island of Patmos after God gave him dreams and visions showing him how all things would happen at the end of time.

1. Genesis 39:20

And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

2. Genesis 39:21

But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

3. Genesis 39:22

And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.

4. Genesis 39:23

The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.

5. Genesis 40:3

And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.

6. Genesis 40:5

And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison.

7. Genesis 42:16

Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies.

8. Genesis 42:19

If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses:

9. Numbers 21:1

And when king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south, heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies; then he fought against Israel, and took some of them prisoners.

10. Judges 16:21

But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.

11. Judges 16:25

And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.

12. 1 Kings 22:27

And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.

13. 2 Kings 17:4

And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.

14. 2 Kings 25:27

And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison;

15. 2 Kings 25:29

And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life.

16. 2 Chronicles 16:10

Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.

17. 2 Chronicles 18:26

And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.

18. Nehemiah 3:25

Palal the son of Uzai, over against the turning of the wall, and the tower which lieth out from the king's high house, that was by the court of the prison. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh.

19. Nehemiah 12:39

And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above the fish gate, and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, even unto the sheep gate: and they stood still in the prison gate.

20. Job 3:18

There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor.

21. Psalm 69:33

For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.

22. Psalm 79:11

Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;

23. Psalm 102:20

To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;

24. Psalm 142:7

Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

25. Psalm 146:7

Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:

26. Ecclesiastes 4:14

For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.

27. Isaiah 10:4

Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

28. Isaiah 14:17

That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?

29. Isaiah 20:4

So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.

30. Isaiah 24:22

And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.

31. Isaiah 42:7

To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

32. Isaiah 42:22

But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.

33. Isaiah 49:9

That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.

34. Isaiah 53:8

He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

35. Isaiah 61:1

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

36. Jeremiah 29:26

The LORD hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that ye should be officers in the house of the LORD, for every man that is mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in prison, and in the stocks.

37. Jeremiah 32:2

For then the king of Babylon's army besieged Jerusalem: and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah's house.

38. Jeremiah 32:8

So Hanameel mine uncle's son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it for thyself. Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD.

39. Jeremiah 32:12

And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle's son, and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison.

40. Jeremiah 33:1

Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying,

41. Jeremiah 37:4

Now Jeremiah came in and went out among the people: for they had not put him into prison.

42. Jeremiah 37:15

Wherefore the princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and smote him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe: for they had made that the prison.

43. Jeremiah 37:18

Moreover Jeremiah said unto king Zedekiah, What have I offended against thee, or against thy servants, or against this people, that ye have put me in prison?

44. Jeremiah 37:21

Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah into the court of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread out of the bakers' street, until all the bread in the city were spent. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.

45. Jeremiah 38:6

Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.

46. Jeremiah 38:13

So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.

47. Jeremiah 38:28

So Jeremiah abode in the court of the prison until the day that Jerusalem was taken: and he was there when Jerusalem was taken.

48. Jeremiah 39:14

Even they sent, and took Jeremiah out of the court of the prison, and committed him unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, that he should carry him home: so he dwelt among the people.

49. Jeremiah 39:15

Now the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying,

50. Jeremiah 52:11

Then he put out the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him in chains, and carried him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death.

51. Jeremiah 52:31

And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the first year of his reign lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him forth out of prison.

52. Jeremiah 52:33

And changed his prison garments: and he did continually eat bread before him all the days of his life.

53. Lamentations 3:34

To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth.

54. Zechariah 9:11

As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.

55. Zechariah 9:12

Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;

56. Matthew 4:12

Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;

57. Matthew 5:25

Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

58. Matthew 11:2

Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

59. Matthew 14:3

For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.

60. Matthew 14:10

And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.

61. Matthew 18:30

And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

62. Matthew 25:36

Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

63. Matthew 25:39

Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

64. Matthew 25:43

I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

65. Matthew 25:44

Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

66. Matthew 27:15

Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.

67. Matthew 27:16

And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

68. Mark 1:14

Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

69. Mark 6:17

For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.

70. Mark 6:27

And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

71. Mark 15:6

Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.

72. Luke 3:20

Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.

73. Luke 12:58

When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.

74. Luke 21:12

But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.

75. Luke 22:33

And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

76. Luke 23:19

(Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)

77. Luke 23:25

And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

78. John 3:24

For John was not yet cast into prison.

79. Acts 5:18

And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

80. Acts 5:19

But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,

81. Acts 5:21

And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

82. Acts 5:22

But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned and told,

83. Acts 5:23

Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.

84. Acts 5:25

Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.

85. Acts 8:3

As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

86. Acts 12:4

And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

87. Acts 12:5

Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

88. Acts 12:6

And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

89. Acts 12:7

And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

90. Acts 12:17

But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.

91. Acts 16:23

And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

92. Acts 16:24

Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

93. Acts 16:25

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

94. Acts 16:26

And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

95. Acts 16:27

And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

96. Acts 16:36

And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.

97. Acts 16:37

But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.

98. Acts 16:40

And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.

99. Acts 22:4

And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

100. Acts 23:18

So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.

101. Acts 25:27

For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.

102. Acts 26:10

Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.

103. Acts 27:1

And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band.

104. Acts 27:42

And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.

105. Acts 28:16

And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.

106. Acts 28:17

And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.

107. Romans 16:7

Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

108. 2 Corinthians 11:23

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

109. Ephesians 3:1

For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

110. Ephesians 4:1

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

111. 2 Timothy 1:8

Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

112. Philemon 1:1

Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

113. Philemon 1:9

Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

114. 1 Peter 3:19

By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

115. Revelation 2:10

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

116. Revelation 20:7

And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

Photo: Samson in chains, knocking down the pillars. (Judges Chapter 16)

Orlando again

This entry was also written over three weeks ago before Ted was transferred to the Largo Residential Reentry Center.

After spending eight days at Lake Butler, I’ve been transferred again. Now I’m at the Orlando Reception Center again. I hate this place the most. So far, it’s not that bad though. Right now, they’ve got me on Wing 3 (or Bay 3, as they call it) with only 18 other people. Plus everybody seems to get along. So far.

It’s a good thing I’m only with 18 other people. That means I’m less likely to have to fight in self defense and ruin my opportunity to go to work release.

At least I don’t feel like I have to watch my back every second of the day like I did last time [I was here]. That’s a big relief.

My roommate was telling me that he’s been here for the last two months and he’s only seen one fight. That means this place calmed down a lot in the last 4 – 6 months.

Well anyway, no matter how this place is, I should be out of here in about a week. Give or take. Man, I can’t wait.

Dangerous contraband

For some reason, last night I couldn’t go to sleep in my cell. I was tossing and turning, but I just couldn’t sleep. Well anyway, at 1 a.m. or so, the guards came walking by searching the halls for contraband. They walked by my cell and kept going. They got to the end of the hall and I heard one of them say, “What’s this?”

I heard more talking, but the only word I could really understand was “shank.” I looked out my cell as they walked back and one of them was holding a prison shank made out of what looked like a piece of metal from a bunk.

It’s a scary thought what some of these guys are planning. It couldn’t have been hidden too long because the guard found it pretty easy. So most likely it belonged to somebody who’s here with me. I’m just glad nobody got stabbed with it, even though it wouldn’t be too hard to make a new one.

This post was also written about three weeks ago at RMC-Main in Lake Butler

Waiting

Today is Thursday here at Lake Butler. My roommate who came from Lancaster C.I. with me (and who’s also going to work release) left this morning. From what he said, he’s going to a work release somewhere way down south. He left on his third day here. I hope the work release I go to will come and get me soon.

There’s one more person here from Lancaster that I know and he arrived here a week before me. If he doesn’t leave tomorrow, he’ll have been here two weeks. I hope it doesn’t take me that long to go. I know two weeks isn’t that long, but in here it feels like forever.

Now I’m in a two-man cell all by myself with people walking bay my cell who have life sentences. Of course, I talk to some of them, but when you talk to somebody with so much time, you’re never really sure what to say.

Well hopefully I’ll leave soon. At least everybody seems to get along with me.

Big fight

Last night as my roommate and I were waiting for master count, we heard a person (or people) running. We ran to the bars to see what was going on. At first we thought it was a guard coming after someone, but when we looked out, we saw two older guys fighting. There was a white guy and a black guy. They were hitting each other blow for blow.

It seemed like they were fighting forever, when suddenly the white guy turned to run. A mistake. When he turned to run, the black guy grabbed him by his shirt and literally threw him down the stairs face first. I couldn’t believe the white guy was alive.

Before the white guy even had time to stop falling, the black guy was on top of him beating his face in. It looked to me like the black guy was trying to kill him. This whole time the guards were nowhere to be found. I felt sorry for the guy getting beat up.

Anyway, the black dude must have hit him in the face like 8-10 times. I was sure the white guy was dead or at the least, unconscious.

Finally after what seemed like a lifetime, the guard came in. To my surprise, he didn’t break it up. He simply asked the guy to stop. The black guy hit him good one more time and stopped. He was put in handcuffs and lead away.

Amazingly, the white guy got up. I couldn’t believe he was standing. He was actually pretty big. I’m surprised he lost. The black guy had some size on him, but wasn’t as big as the white guy.
As it turns out, somebody stole a necklace with a cross on it from the black guy and I guess he thought it was him.

As the guard was leading the black guy away, I could hear him yelling, “You might as well put me on death row because if I see him again, I’ll kill him.” I believe it too. My roommate told me that the black guy told him he’d been in prison for 27 years.

This blog entry was written at RMC-Main in Lake Butler at the end of March.

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.