No books are to be sent to the Reception and Medical Center

I called RMC – Main on Friday morning and spoke with Ted’s prison case manager. Ted had written that he was allowed to have books sent to him, so I ordered five books from book publishers on eBay. His case manager told me he was not allowed to receive books at the reception center. He had to wait until he went to his permanent facility. I asked what would happen to the five books I sent to him. She said they would go into the prison’s library. Ted doesn’t have access to the library. It must be just for permanent residents of the prison.

The case manager also said that he would be moved within five weeks. He arrived at RMC – Main on September 29th and he will be there five weeks as of November 3rd.

I also asked when he would be able to call home. He has to fill out a phone form before he can call home. Calls can’t be made to cell phones.

Florida could start sending prisoners out of state

Still no additional blog entries from Ted from prison. I have some older unposted entries that he wrote in jail and will start posting those or some video clips of him when he was younger if I don't receive anything in the mail tomorrow.

In the meantime, someone sent me the following article from the Associated Press today. Interestingly enough, Ted actually parked Governor Crist's car at a grand opening of a resort on Clearwater Beach where he worked as a valet.

MIAMI - People sentenced for a Florida crime could someday do their time thousands of miles away.

A law signed by Gov. Charlie Crist would let Florida for the first time send state inmates to out-of-state prisons. Corrections officials say they oppose joining at least eight other states who outsource some of their prison beds. But the governor and a private prison company that supported the law say it could someday be an option the state wants.

When other states have sent inmates out of state it has almost exclusively been to private facilities, though Florida's law would also allow the department to contract with other states.

Florida has the nation's third largest state prison system and topped 100,000 inmates late last year.

Letter from RMC #1

I received one letter today from Ted, but no blog entries. He said he sent them separately in case some of them are confiscated. Hopefully I'll get them tomorrow. So here are parts of his letter:

Mom,

I got your $50 that you put in. Thank you.

Right now I'm in a two-man cell and my roommate is a white kid who's my age. He's cool. We play a lot of cards. It's all there is to do.

I pretty much explained where I was in my last letter. It's just like every prison you see on TV except dirtier. Nothing works right.

Also I have a pretty decent mattress and pillow, but who can sleep when people are constantly shouting from cell to cell all night.

Some things I'm allowed to get are books from book dealers or book publishers, pictures, stamp and envelopes (I got yours Thanks), and a watch and necklace under $50 apiece.

While I'm at this camp they aren't doing anything about my wisdom teeth so I'm going to get it done at my main camp.

Well, I guess I'll tell you everything else in my blogs.

I love you a lot and miss you. Pet Cocoa for me.

Your favorite son,

Teddy

Photo: Ted's dog Cocoa

Prison life

Right now I’m in a two-man cell. It’s 23-hour lockdown and there’s no A/C, so I’m always sweating.

Every day the guards wake us up at 5 a.m. and walk us to the chow hall. Actually believe it or not, the food is better here than in the county jail, but unlike the county jail, you have at the most 5 minutes to eat. I’m still trying to learn to eat fast.

Also when you eat, you can’t talk or even look at the person next to you. I don’t know if it’s like that at every prison, but that’s how it is here.

After breakfast we go back to our cells ‘til about noon, Then we go to lunch. Then after that, guess what? We get to go back to our cells ‘til about 5 p.m. for dinner. I bet you can’t guess what we do after that. You’re right! We go back to our cells.

Once or twice a week after dinner, we get to go to canteen (commissary) and buy food, sodas, cigarettes, etc…

All in all, time drags by.

Right now my earliest release date is July 12, 2010, but they can’t hold me longer than October 29, 2010.

Prison guards

Let me start off by saying the guards in the county jail suck, but the guards in prison are way worse.

In county jail, the guards can only put their hands on you for two reasons: one for fighting, and two, if you try to escape. But in prison the guards can put their hands on you just because you looked at them wrong.

It seems like the guards in prison are supposed to be in a bad mood 24/7. It doesn’t even matter if you’re doing what you’re supposed to do – they still yell at you for something anyway.

And another thing – I haven’t heard a guard speak yet without cursing. It’s always “F this” and “F that”, and “you stupid whiteboy M&%$# Fer”.

I still don’t understand why they keep calling me a whiteboy like it’s a bad thing. The thing that doesn’t make the most sense is the guards calling me a whiteboy are WHITE!

Well that’s a prison guard in a nutshell.

Photo: Andy Dufresne and a prison guard in The Shawshank Redemption

All day in a cell

As ya’ll probably already know, I spend most…all of my day in a cell.

I used to think I knew what it’s like to be bored, but being in a cell all day gives being bored a whole new meaning.

Since I just got here, I don’t have much. I don’t have any cards, no books, no commissary – well just about anything we’re allowed to have, I’m lacking, so all day I lay in my bed and look at the back of my eyelids.

I try to sleep all day, but a person can only sleep so much, so I keep finding myself looking at the wall.

One thing about my cell – it’s sooo dirty. It looks like it hasn’t been cleaned in YEARS! There’s unidentifiable stuff all over the walls and floors. Also there’s bugs everywhere. There’s ants, spiders, cockroaches, flies, mosquitoes, and some other bugs I’ve never seen in my life. As I’m writing this, I’m looking at at least 8 – 10 ants and two other bugs I’ve never seen.

Man I can’t wait to get out!

(Blogger’s note: Ted is a heavy snorer and sleeps with his mouth wide open almost continuously.)

First day in prison

This is the first blog I’ve wrote since I got to prison. I’m currently at Lake Butler, and to be honest – I have no idea where that is.

In the last few blogs, I said that I would have to watch what I write and that I would have to keep it PG-13. Now I actually realize how much stuff I can’t write about without correctional officers taking my letters. Instead of PG-13, I’m going to have to keep them rated G.

It’s now my second day here and it feels like months.

Within minutes of arriving here, I found myself standing in a room naked with about 20 other guys being strip searched.

The rest of my first day consisted of sitting on a wood bench in my boxers – being yelled at. I know they’re just trying to scare us, but to be honest – it’s starting to work.

Also throughout my first day, they gave me a hard time about my gang tattoos. They don’t even care if I was in a gang or not. Just the fact I had tattoos that even looked gang related.

By the way – keep in mind that I’m keeping the details to the barest minimum. My first day was pure hell and it’s only just begun…

(Stay tuned for more horrific details.)

Photos: Prison intake mug shot; Tattoos: "Courage an Honor" and "The World is Mine"

The trip to prison

On Tuesday, September 22nd at 2:30 a.m., I was woken up and told that I was going to be transferred, so I got up and packed my stuff.

I left my pod and was brought to the maximum security part of the jail. There I sat in a small one-man cell with six other people that were going to prison too. We must have sat in there for about two hours. During that time, we were fed breakfast.

After breakfast, we were led to a hallway with even more people on their way to prison. In the hall, we were shackled and handcuffed to the person next to us. There was about 20 of us altogether.

After we were handcuffed and shackled, we were lead to a bus. When we walked it was like a 3-legged race because of the shackles. The bus we got on was a big white bus that said ‘Pinellas County Sheriff Transport’ along the side with bars all along the windows.

When we got on the bus, we went through two gates toward the back of the bus where we sat in some uncomfortable plastic seats. The guards that were transporting us were armed with assault rifles.

I’m not sure how long the trip was to Lake Butler, but I’d have to say it was about 4-5 hours and the whole time we had to stay handcuffed and shackled to the person next to us. I tried to get some sleep, but couldn’t do it. There was no way to get comfortable.

This was the beginning of the worst day of my life…

When I get to prison

OK, here's the deal.

When I get to prison, I am going to continue to write these blogs, but unfortunately everything I send out is going to be read, so I am going to have to keep everything I say PG-13, so to speak.

Everything that I'm not able to post from prison, I will post when I get out.

I am hoping it doesn't get to the point where the prison doesn't want me to write blogs at all. I don't think it will come to that and even if it does - my mom will take over until I get out [writing entries about my past crimes and incarcerations].

I hope all of you will continue to read my blogs.

A prisoner's first day

The following story is from www.prisonsecrets.com. An inmate recounts his first day in prison…

My First Day in Prison

"My first day in prison was one I’ll never forget. I was in jail, and as bad as THAT seems, I was in fear of the unknown - Prison! If you have ever been to prison then you know what to expect, but I had no idea. I asked others who were in the jail to explain it to me, but all the explaining in the world couldn’t prepare me for what I had in store.

The guards in the jail got me up early to prepare me for the ride to prison. After breakfast and a shower, they handcuffed me and took me to the transport room.

When I got there I saw several other guys who were handcuffed and shackled and sitting there waiting to leave. They took my cuffs off and strip searched me to make sure I wasn’t carrying any weapons (or anything else I wasn’t supposed to have). A strip search isn’t a cavity search. They aren’t going to try to check inside your butt unless they think you have something in there that you aren’t suppose to have.

You get totally naked in front of whoever is there. You face the guard that is strip searching you and you hold your hands and arms up so they can see that you don’t have anything in your hands of taped to your armpits. You open your mouth and move your tongue around so they can see that you don’t have anything in your mouth. Then you run your hands through your hair (if you have any) and pull your ears forward so they can look in and behind them. Next you turn around. You pick up your feet one at a time to show that you don’t have anything taped to the bottom of your feet. Lastly, you bend over and cough. The guard inspects your butthole to see if he thinks you have any drugs or weapons stuffed in there. If they think you have something in there, they do a cavity search on you immediately so you don’t have a chance to get rid of it. And no I didn’t receive one that day (thank god!)

After my strip search, the guard went through my clothes. Not just pockets, but along seams and collars etc. to see if there is anything in there.

Once the strip search was over, the guard took my clothes and gave me my underwear and socks back and took the rest to be transported. He gave me a jumpsuit to wear and some slippers for shoes.

Then he told me to kneel down on the bench facing the wall. When I did, he put shackles on my ankles. Afterward, I stood up (with great difficulty because of the shackles) and he put handcuffs on me. Next they put a chain all the way around my waist and secured the handcuffs to it so you couldn’t raise your arms. Then I sat with the others till everyone that was going was treated in like fashion. Only one guy got mouthy. Everyone else was in shock, not knowing what to expect next.

We were then lead outside to the bus. once we got there, they un-cuffed every other guy and would hook your arm through the other guy’s and re-cuff you again, so you were cuffed to another guy (as if the shackles, belly chains, and handcuffs weren’t uncomfortable enough). And then they seated us all on the bus.

The bus had a thick metal screen and bars on the windows. And when we got on the bus, there was a gate behind the driver’s seat that they locked after we all got inside it. I’m sure with everyone being cuffed and shackled to each other, we weren’t about to attack the driver. Being shackled to someone else made moving around very hard.

After they loaded all of our belongings on the bus and our records, we were off. It would be a three-hour-plus ride to the prison and it was only about 9 or 10. I’m not really sure because they took all of my jewelry (which includes my watch). All we were allowed to have was our underwear, t-shirt, jumpsuit, and slippers. Oh yea, and all these chains.

The ride there was long and uncomfortable. Some guys were starting to talk about how bad they were and what was going to happen. I assume they were just trying to cover up their own insecurities and fears.

As we pulled up to the prison, I wasn’t sure what I was feeling. I tried not to show I was scared, but I was. I tried to act like I was just going to the mall. I wanted so much to be somewhere else, but I couldn’t go. I guess I deserved all that I got. I don’t even want to relive the experience as I tell you about it, but it is as vivid today as it was then. It was a traumatic day.

As we neared the entryway, you could see the razor wire on the fences that surrounds the place, and you could have heard a pin drop inside that bus. Nobody made a sound.

We pulled up to the gate and the guard got out and walked to meet another guard inside the gate. Then the one gate opened and the bus pulled in and the gate closed behind us. At this point we were surrounded by fence and razor wire. It was a fenced in entrance. The guard took a mirror on a pole and looked all underneath the bus. Then he opened the hood and looked around the engine. After that, they talked for a little bit before the gate at the other end opened up and we were moving towards the prison.

We pulled up next to the building and stopped. It seemed like a long time we just waited for the guards to tell us we could get off the bus. Finally they unlocked the gate and told us to start getting off the bus.

As we got off the bus they separated us from the other person that we were chained to, but we all remained shackled and cuffed with belly chains, and we were told to follow the guard inside. You don’t want to take very long steps because the chain on your shackles would fight your strides and it would hurt, so walking was hard to do as well.

Once inside they began taking our chains off. It sure felt good to get them off. Then we were processed one by one – name, date of birth,etc. The guard told me a number and told me not to forget it. I didn’t want to act like I wasn’t paying attention so I didn’t tell him that I didn’t remember it already. I was hoping to ask someone else later.

At this point, everything happened really fast it seemed. It was as if we were running (not literally) through a car wash. They lead us into a room and started to strip search us again. I guess they thought that the other guards didn’t do a good enough job. Once we were naked, we went through a door and it was concrete everywhere. Concrete walls, ceiling, and floors. I was lead to some barber chairs and told I was getting my hair cut. They buzzed it all off. Then I was lead to a shower stall (with no shower curtain), given some liquid soap and told to take a shower (while the guy watched). I’m assuming that this was my delousing.

After the shower I was stopped by another inmate that worked there. You could tell he worked there because he was the only inmate that wasn’t naked, and he asked me what size jumpsuit I wanted. I told him that I didn’t remember my number and he said, “Don’t worry; it’ll be on everything you get. You aren’t going to forget it.” Then he gave me a bag of stuff and a jumpsuit and said, “All I need was in there.”

The bag was a mesh laundry bag and I opened it to get a towel out to dry off. It was then that they said I was to get dressed, and I did.

Then all of us were taken to a cell block. We had been lined up, single file, and marched to the block.

Once we got there, they called out each person’s name (and number), handed them a paper, and told us to put our belongings in your cell, shut the door, and come back to the dayroom area. Our name, number, and cell number was all on the paper. As I walked to my cell I looked at my paper trying to quickly memorize my number so I wouldn’t forget it. Little did I know at that time, that I will never forget that number as long as I live.

I put my things away and looked around. There was a mattress on a metal framework that was bolted to the wall. Farther down was my toilet (sometimes called “The Head”). It’s a stainless steel one that’s attached to the sink. On the opposite wall was a desk and chair to write on. The whole place looked filthy. I wonder when it had been cleaned last. Well, I can look things over later. I shut the cell door and went to the dayroom area (which was just some school like desks all lined up in rows. On the desk was a publication that said, “Inmate Handbook” on it. I sat down and started looking at it.

There were several guards. None seemed to smile or be the least bit friendly. They were calloused (you could tell) from all the people who have come before me. There was no sympathy or understanding. It was their way or else. And at that time I didn’t know what “or else” was, but I didn’t want to find out either.

There was a lot of people talking about what all has happened to us so far and everyone was looking at their handbook when one of the guards said, “Attention people!” and everyone was silent. I don’t remember his exact words, but I’ll try to tell you (for the most part) what he said.

He said, “Gentlemen, I am Captain ____?____ (I don’t remember his name). I am the senior officer here. You have just been admitted into prison. You now belong to me. Your mommy and your daddy can’t help you now. You will do as I say. And if you don’t do as I say, you go to the hole. You have a handbook in front of you. It will tell you what you can and cannot do. If you disobey any of the rules, you go to the hole. If you get smart with any of my Officers, you go to the hole. Don’t get out of line, don’t talk back, and don’t do anything that you aren’t allowed to do or you’ll be going to the hole. This is my prison and I don’t tolerate any insubordination.

This is the isolation block. You will be in cells for the time being while you adapt to prison life. You will be locked down 23 hours a day while you’re here. It is my experience that those who commit suicide in prison usually do it here. If you’re thinking about killing yourself, you’d better do a good job, cause if I catch you, you’re going to wish you were dead!

If you do what you’re told while you’re here, you will have a much more pleasant stay here. You are at the Receiving Center and eventually you will be shipped to your Parent Institution. Until that time you will do as you are told, or I will make it my personal mission to make your time as hard as possible while you’re here. Now I will turn you over to your block Officer. Good day gentlemen.”

As the big man left, another guard began to talk. He told us to follow the rules. And what our laundry and shower schedule would be. He told us if we had any questions to ask. Then he said that we had the next hour for our one hour today to shower, make a phone call, watch TV, or whatever. Then he went up to the desk.

I went to get on the phone but I was too slow. They were already full. I didn’t want to visit with anyone so I just went back to my cell. I went through my handbook and found the mailing address in it. Eventually I got on the phone and called my family. I told them where I was in case they wanted to visit me, and how they could send mail to me.

At the end of the hour, they sent everyone to their cells and locked us down. It got really quiet and with nothing to do and nothing to read, you had a lot of time to think.

After a short time, I heard some odd noises out in the cell block. When it’s quiet like it was, you can hear everything. Not only that but sound echoes around in an empty cell block. So I went to my door and looked out the small window to see what it was. There were some inmates with blue shirts and pants on (like the one that issued me clothing) and they were opening the shoots on our doors. I kept watching and while the one guy opened the rest of the shoots, a couple of other guys were delivering trays of food. It must be chow time. That’s another thing that drives you nuts at first. You have no idea of what time it is. It might be 9 a.m. or it might be 1:30.

The trays were rectangular plastic trays with compartments. The food? Well it’s not mom’s good cooking. It was tuna noodle casserole, two slices of white bread, spinach, lime Jell-o with pear slices, and milk. I don’t like spinach or lime Jello, and the noodles were cooked long enough to become a glob of starch instead of individual noodles. So I salvaged some tuna on the bread to make a sandwich, pulled out the pears for dessert, and had 2% milk to wash it all down. I wasn’t being too picky, I just did 5 months in the county jail and I know it’s either find a way to make a meal or go hungry.

After eating, I set my tray back in the shoot in my door and lay back on my bed to relax and let my food settle. I guess because I had spent so much time in the county jail, I had gotten into a routine. Now we just wait around till supper and we’ll be doing the same thing. Time goes by really slow. Minutes seem like hours. And that’s no exaggeration.

After what seemed like a long time there was some voices that started to progressively get louder and louder until it seemed as though they were yelling. I went to my cell door to look out the window, but I couldn’t see anything. I kept watching and finally saw some guards come in. I saw maybe four or five. They rushed in and you could hear some scuffling noises and some more voices. Then I saw them taking a black guy in handcuffs behind his back to the door of the cell block. I don’t know what happened, but I’m sure they took him to the hole. Maybe tomorrow when we have our hour out of the cell, I’ll ask somebody.

I had been staring at the ceiling for some time, when they started bringing the trays around for supper. It doesn’t take long to figure out this kind of a scheduling. As I waited for the surprise meal, I couldn’t imagine doing years here. What will tomorrow bring. And then, there it was. Hot dogs and beans. I can eat that. It’s not great, but it fills the empty spot in my gut.

Then I placed my tray into the shoot and waited for the guy in blue to come by and get it. This has been some day. A lot has happened. I guess I’ll read my handbook some more.

I lie on my bed and read and got rather bored. There was nothing to do. I got up and paced the floor for a while. I looked out the window to see what I could see. Not much. Nothing of interest.

At one point I had to use the bathroom. Yes that metal monstrosity at the end of my bed. The prison toilet. God I was hoping not to have to use that. Well, I got some toilet paper wet and tried to clean the rim so I could sit down. I got it wet and the dried it off. I guess that’s as good as it gets. I sat down and the metal was cool. I still remember the shock that I felt when I flushed it the first time! The whole thing seemed to turn ice cold! Wow! I was totally unprepared for that! Lucky for me, that was the only surprise I got. I guess it could have been worse.

Later on I started to feel sleepy. I got up early. I am going to try to lie down and sleep. As I laid there, my head spinning with the day’s events. I fear the thought of days and weeks and months and years. It feels long already, but for now, the day is over.”

But the day wasn’t over. He tossed and turned all night. And I’m sure that this is going to be a long time in prison for John.

I know there was no blood and gore, but it was John’s first day at the reception center. When he goes to his Parent Institution, he won’t be isolated and he won’t be in a single man cell. Basically he’s safe from everyone except himself right now. As safe as he can ever be, …. Behind The Walls…

Ted's current location - RMC Main

Ted was not sent to the Central Florida reception center in Orlando. He is currently at the RMC - Main Unit (Reception and Medical Center) in Lake Butler in Union County in North Florida according to the FL Department of Corrections web site. It is unknown how long he will remain there or why he was sent to a medical center.

You can see Ted's profile by clicking here.

Letters can be written to Ted at this address:

Braden, Theodore, DC# 131948
RMC – Main Unit
7765 S. CR 231
P.O. Box 628
Lake Butler, FL 32054-0628

The great unknown

In a previous blog, I wrote about how scared I was to get out, but I have to admit I’m even more scared to go to prison.

The scariest part is not knowing what to expect.

In a prison, you have to keep a certain mentality at all times. I’m not trying to be like that. When I get there, I’m just going to keep to myself.

If I told you that I wasn’t scared, I’d be lying to you.

I think the worst part about having to go to prison is having to watch my mom cry.

All in all, I think I’ll be alright though. I’ll be home before I know it.