PRISONER EXPRESS

I'm a 45 year old prisoner, incarcerated in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Connally Unit, located in Kenedy, Texas. At this present time, I'm being held in Solitary Confinement. There's no electricity. Therefore, I can't use my typewriter to type this entry. I've been under this particular status over ten weeks. I'm unable to discuss the reasons for my present status, due to an on-going investigation, and pending "disciplinary actions." However, I will do so in my next entry. But for now, I'd like to speak to you about, Aging in Prison.

Last week an inmate committed suicide by overdosing on numerous kinds of pills. To my understanding, his very reason for suicide was: "there was no way he would suffer inside prison for 45 years??" (Before coming up for parole, only to be denied by set-off after set-off. Rather the man was correct in his guess to when he's get out of prison, or not. He gave me something to think about. Not that I'd ever do anything to hurt myself. But I am looking at my situation with a new perspective. It's obvious that, this place is full of old-men, and most have grown old right here with me. For instance: there's Mr. Moe, he's been incarcerated in the Texas Prison System for over 35 years. This particular inmate has been denied parole over 14 times. Then there's Mr. Ike. He's already 64 years old, in bad health, and needs a cane to get around. The list goes on, and on, and on. This makes one wonder. Why aren't these older men allowed to make parole. Just how much of a threat to society could these men really be? I realize every man here has a debt he must pay to society. But let's be serious here. Serving Time in America isn't about our debt to society. There's a great deal of money to be made off every individual incarcerated... Both men and women. I've been in prison here in the State of Texas for over 10 years and I'm still amazed with the number of prison's in operation here. It's well over a hundred. Are these prison's prisoners being rehabilitated/ or housed for profit?

In the cell next to me was a nineteen year old, with a "Capital Life Sentence". He must do a total of (at the least) 40 years before he's even considered for parole. He's been incarcerated for a little over a year. This young man will be 59 years old when he sees parole, for the very first time up. As things stand now he certainly won't make parole his first time up. He'll then see the parole board every three years. At 40 years in prison, you're considered over the hill, and just in the way in the eye's of the younger prisoners. At age sixty and up you're of no good use to anyone. They're waiting to hear news of your death. Rather its in your sleep by natural causes, or by the hand of another inmate or officer.

Growing old in prison is a terrible experience. I know... because I was only twenty years old when I stepped into my first prison. I've been here ever since, from over twenty five years ago. However, I've made the best of everyday. I've obtained numerous trades. But will any of these skills be of use to support me in society. Or, are they just for show - to satisfy the expectations of the Texas Parole Board?