My last death row correspondent, D, no longer wishes to continue writing (perhaps because his sentence has been finally commuted to life imprisonment), and I have been allocated a new prisoner to write to. This man had been on death row in Texas for ten years, and the conditions (especially compared to those of my last correspondent) are appalling. D was at least allowed an X box, and his exercise was taken in the open air. He was also allowed to speak with other prisoners. This is not the case in Texas. The conditions are as follows:
The men are kept in solitary confinement in a small cell, which contains a steel bunk, steel sink and steel toilet. Food is passed through a slot in the door on plastic trays. There is a tiny window shaped like a long letterbox, which is placed high on the outside wall. They have no television and only those with good disciplinary records will be allowed radios. There are no work facilities or study programmes. There is a commissary that sells stamps, stationery, toiletries, food and beverages. The food provided by the authorities is generally poor and those who can afford to will try to supplement their diet as much as possible. The prison is a non-smoking area and it is a disciplinary offence to smoke tobacco. (Of course, recreational drugs are not tolerated.) Prisoners recreate alone in cages big enough to pace around in. They are allowed recreation for one hour three times a week. The visiting is non-contact (behind glass), even for immediate family.
I have only just received this information, and am, quite literally, lost for words.
The yellow rose of Texas ain't what she used to be. Nothing pretty any more.
ReplyDeleteOh, Frances. This is appalling. I'm thinking I might write about this in the near future and link back to you, if that's ok. It feels like something that should be spread. Like wildfire.
ReplyDeleteHow did you come to correspond with these prisoners? You know this subject is on my mind from my Flash 55.
God Loves Texas. A poem I wrote a long time ago. Maybe needs a revisit and a post of its own.
Thank you for showing us this.
Dreadful!
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Kay.
ReplyDeleteHi, Yvonne. I agree. I write via anorganisation called Lifelines, who are very suppotive of their writers, and keep us all in touch with one another. They have a long waiting list of prisoners who want pen friends. Do let mw know if you'd like any more details.
Thanks, Pat.
And here I am, writing about such shallow stuff as the latest addition to my wardrobe. I should feel ashamed of myself.
ReplyDeleteWe represented a very talented artist who is on death row in California. We visited him in "D"Block at San Quentin Prison. I was surprised that it was not at all like in the movies, there was a family/group meeting room. (I suppose it was for those with good behavior records only). He did spend 23 hours a day in his cell alone. He was allowed one pen or one pencil at a time and produced works of detailed pointillism, in black and white, that took three hundred hours each to finish. His lawyer then would bring them to us. The money we paid him went to his wife and son (somehow conceived after he was locked up, but she's a social worker and I'm not sure I want the details). He told us that he hated to eat the food as those preparing it were known to "contaminate" deliberately as death row also houses many pedophiles and child murderers.
ReplyDeleteOne of the saddest things I've ever seen was the number of women waiting in line with small children to go and visit their fathers at Christmas time.
Also, long before 9/11 changed security at all our airports we were required to remove our shoes as part of the pre-inspection process.
Frances,
ReplyDeleteI would. Please email me.
English Rider, that's really interesting (and also pretty grim, but not, it seems as grim as Texas). My new correspondent is a poet - a good, if (undertandably) angry one. I hope to publish some of his work on this blog (it's already in the public domain, so no breach of confidentiality).
ReplyDeleteYvonne - I'm so pleased. I'm having major blogging problems at the moment (may even have to get A Man in to help!) so would you mind emailing me, please, and I'll reply as soon as I can. I'm not even sure whether or not this comment will be published...
My God, that's appalling. Talk about 'man's inhumanity to man'! Whatever he has done, he doesn't deserve that. I wonder they don't go insane.
ReplyDeleteThis does sound grim. I believe criminals should be punished, but can't see that keeping people for years in such conditions does anyone any good.
ReplyDeleteThat was an interesting post..to say the least. I was wondering Frances, has this link into the prison way of life inspired your writing in any way? A novel perhaps?
ReplyDeleteIt's too dreadful to comprehend. Surely people must go mad in such conditions. It takes a special kind of person to be able to write to someone in this situation - good for you, Frances.
ReplyDeleteLibrarian, we all need clothes!
ReplyDeleteGail, yes. I woudl imagine that mental problems must be rife (although they have to pay $100 dollars before they can have medical care, unless it's an emergency).
Patsy, thank heavens we don't treat people like that over here.
Diane, not so far. Although I novel about a correspondence like this - with two very different lives - has occurred to me!
Thanks, Rosemary. I'm not particularly special, but have always been vehemently against the death penalty, and this is at least a (very small) thing I can do.
Man's inhumanity to his fellow-men never fails to make me despair. How can anyone benefit from subjecting someone to an existence like this, whatever crime they have committed?
ReplyDeleteYour letters must give such a lift to a totally wretched day.
Thank you for posting the information about Lifelines, Frances. I think I'd like to join but am slightly wary of committing to something that might be difficult, in an emotional sense. Like everyone else here, I find the description of death-row living conditions horrible. In any case, I've written to them and will give it some serious thought.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment, Joanna.
ReplyDeleteDeborah, I'm so glad you're interested. It's probably not as emotionally draining as you fear. Most of the inmates have been in for years, and will be for many years to come, so the possibility of imminent execution is remote. Often, ours is the only contact inmates have with anyone. I chose Texas deliberately as I want to give talks for Lifelines, and wanted to know more about life in the worst prisons. Other prisons have much less stringent regimes. I have found Lifelines to be very supportive. They have counsellors ir you need to talk (I am one of them), and an internal email for confidential discussions, and conferences twice a year. it's worthwhile, and takes very little time. For anyone else who is interested, the membership secretary is Nichola Glasse, and her email is: nichola@glasse.org.uk
Do let me know how you get on.
Frances, I have a few questions that I'd like to put to you about Lifelines that are not answered in their FAQs. Is there any chance you could drop me a line at debsudul AT gmail.com?
ReplyDeleteDeborah - I've sent you an email. If anyone else is interested, my email is on this blog or via my website. There are 200 prisoners on the waiting list for pen friends, so do feel free to contact me or Lifelines if you want to know more.
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable. I am speechless.
ReplyDelete