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FAMILIES and FRIENDS
MAKING THE WALLS TRANSPARENT


JOIN US IN DC FOR THE
MARCH FOR PRISON REFORM


Unacknowledged Victims of the DoC

The family and friends section of Making the Walls Transparent
is devoted to all non-prisoner victims of the DOC
*.

*Families and friends with loved ones inside are victimized just as if they had committed a crime: The stress and worry, high phone rates, long distances to travel for visits, banking fees, medical fees, and in some cases, room and board - all are costs that belong to the society that make the choices of what should be criminal and how to deal with it, yet a society that refuses to pay their own way is beginning to force their spending habits upon the families who have done nothing but what God asked - to love those condemned by the world.

The unacknowledged victims of the Department of "Corrections" are everyone on the outside who has to pray while looking for answers to find one helpful human being in the DOC, one employee, one legislator, one member of society who cares.

Anyone who cares about someone inside will eventually have to deal with the DOC.  We have found DOC employees to generally either pass the buck, deny everything, give bad information, or be just plain rude.  We've found most of them to be unhelpful, dishonest, stubborn, secretive, etc etc.  Some are friendly while not giving any answers, and some are not.  But the majority of them tend to abuse their authority, and every abuser has a victim...

For those few DOC employees who remember they are dealing with human beings, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

MTWT gives Gold Stars to professionals like this, so please send your nominations for deserving employees. Include name, facility, and a couple of sentences on why you want to thank them.

NEW LIST: FLORIDA DOC WARDENS & PRISON ADDRESSES

THE DEATH OF FRANK VALDES by Carol Strick
Printable Version
FAMILY INDEX

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IS THERE ANY HOPE?

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QUIT BEING A MOM?

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COOKIES FOR GUARDS

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BIG CRIME
LOVING MY SON

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UNACKNOWLEDGED
CHILDREN

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TO ALL THE WIVES OF PRISONERS

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SOLITARY CONFINEMENT

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DANNY, MY BROTHER

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BEHIND BARS AND FORGOTTEN

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PREJUDICE AND PASSION

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GIVE ME A BREAK

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LONG AWAITED VISIT

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A CRY FOR HELP

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COURAGE IN 
THE FACE of FEAR

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A GUARD'S VALIDATION

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STANDING WATCH

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WE'RE NOT DONE YET!

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TELEPHONE CALLS

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RESOURCES

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SUPPORT NETWORK

MORE SUPPORT

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THE PRISON CHAPLAIN

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SPECIAL PROJECTS

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DOC FACTS

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BOGUS DRs
How to Reverse Them

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HEARTBREAK OF THE FAMILY

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DOC, FAMILIES, AND INTENSIVE CARE

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WHY THE FAMILIES?

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PRISON INDEX

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PRISON WORKERS

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FBI CITIZEN COMPLAINT

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CHALLENGES

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SMUGGLER'S TALES

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"There is a silent strength within each soul, and that strength is multiplied for those who remember that they do not walk their path alone."

"Thomas J. Edwards

From:  Rugged_Faith@webtv.net
Sent: Friday, March 15, 2002 7:33 PM
Subject: We do help each other :)

Tonight a mother called me...she took the time to find my son and write him for my number etc. Our sons used to be in the same place and mine used to help her son when he first arrived.

Mine told me once that more than likely he had saved this boys life one night.   We never went into detail completely nor did I know that he meant it literally. Perhaps I did and didn't want to think about it, sometimes much like my son, I feel I know to much and have seen things one shouldn't see.

At any rate...I do remember her, the face....her first visit the lost rabbit look, like running from a rifle. I recognized the shoulders that bend as tho the world grew to heavy....the uncontrollable shaking that takes many months to go away and yet, at times still will hit. I saw she was frightened and wondering, 'how did I get here, Lord'?  And I KNEW, I knew she needed the touch that a person is lacking there.

I knew she was lost as she waited and I knew she was thinking, 'what am I to do, stand, sit, twirl...cry?!?!?' Her insides screaming all the while, LET me out of here

There I was and not proud to say, I'm a veteran of visiting, after a couple years that is the way you feel and you know without moving your head or staring a 'newbie' has entered the room. They give off a scent of fear an aura...actually, the truth to be spoken the fear is there forever, just many different stages we go through. We climb so many levels as prisoners on the outside too.

You can tell so much about a person from the eyes, the gait when they walk... I knew she was kind and I knew she was good. I turned my head as she felt so uncomfortable and I did the only thing I could to make her feel better and at ease.

Fighting back the tears of feeling her pain, knowing she was to see her son for the first time, I smiled then I proceeded in my heart to pray, Lord give her the strength to get through this day.

I did my best or like to think I did, considering we are told not to visit much. Being the kind of person I am and not caring who knows it.. each time I was given the opportunity to physically touch a shoulder, I went for that too. And softly asked or said, I shall hold you in my prayers. The power I found in those words are overwhelming at times and can make a grown man cry. But, why wouldn't it? These people are already... shattered souls, looking for a miracle to be whole again.

Myself included...

Feeling sometimes in my moments of tiredness, self pity or wanting to give up, I find a Blessing again from above. A much needed one as we all grow weary at times. Tonight things came full circle when this mother called to say...

'I called to say, thank you. Thank You, for smiling at me and thank you for your son. You know he saved my son one night and we won't forget that. And you took the time to let me know...I'm not alone, we all hurt and I knew you cared. I will never forget you smiled at me. I knew you understood what all my friends and some family members could not.'

This might not mean so much to some...goodness, God knows...it does my heart and soul a miracle. It is nice to know that in some ways; I may have failed in the world, in other ways, I did a good thing, I made a difference and lived long enough to know it.

She made my day and to think, all it took was a smile that came back to me.... I'm overwhelmed with joy!

May all remember to reach out when visiting, May You be Blessed for caring in this world, that sometimes is just, so cruel.

Pattricia Pummill
Proud to say, I stand among friends:
PRUP
Florida Bars
Been Shattered
Making the Walls Transparent
International Prison Ministries


In this nightmare of life and sad circumstances I face, like so many others...I feel good to know I have been placed on your website. It is a good thing!

Thank You, for all you do. ~Patty


WE ARE EVERYWHERE
Author Unknown

For those who forget that the incarcerated humans in this country are indeed just that - HUMAN - I would like you to think on this the next time you talk about "inmates, criminals, convicts, etc...". These humans have families and those who love them despite whatever they did. Look around you and wonder, because this is who we are....

We take care of your children and grandchildren in nursery schools, we give them shots in the doctor's office, we are dental assistants, we are school teachers and Sunday school teachers, we stand behind you in the grocery store, we prepare your medicine in the drug store, we work in banks, we approve your loans, we service your insurance claims, we work for newspapers, TV stations and radio stations, we read your electric meters and water meters, we are your landlords, your neighbors, we take care of your elderly parents in nursing homes, we are nurses, lab technicians, X-ray technicians, we own beauty shops, flower shops, printing shops, we are welders, plumbers, tree trimmers, we work for the IRS, the State Dept., in the courthouse, schools, churches, drug stores and toy stores, we are legal secretaries, lawyers, school board members, we are bus drivers, we prepare meals for your kids in school, we are city council members, bank tellers, we process your checking account, your saving account, we work at your Social Security office, your insurance company, we take care of your IRA, stocks, bonds, we sell your kids bikes, school supplies, clothes, shoes, eyeglasses, we repair your cars, we are real estate agents, car dealers, college professors, psychologists, administrative assistants, safety engineers and ranchers. We work at Ralphs, Albertsons, Trader Joe's, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Target, Macy's, Nordstrom and Saks 5th Avenue. We sell Avon and Tupperware. We are not all "on welfare", no matter what the government would like you to think.

There are two million people in prison in America and twice that many on parole and probation. Add in mothers, fathers, children, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, grandparents and friends and about sixteen million people are personally affected by the prison system in the United States.

We are tired of letting ourselves feel humiliated or embarrassed because our loved one is in prison. We did nothing wrong, and they are paying for their crime!

We are tired of fearing the loss of our jobs or evictions from our housing should anyone find out we have a loved one in prison.

We are tired of being made to feel inferior or unwelcome in churches, clubs, organizations or society in general simply because we refuse to abandon our loved ones.

We are ready to unite, to come out of hiding and openly support each other and our loved ones. It's a new day, America and we're here to prove it!

We are ready to speak out against the "they deserve what they get" attitude we hear you talk about in stores, theaters and restaurants.

We number in the millions, we are everywhere, every state, county, city and town. We may even live next door to you.

Sixteen million & counting.
We are everywhere.
Think about it.

THINK A MINUTE!

The more arrests The more convictions
The more convictions, the more sentenced go to prison
The more inmates
The more need for more prison construction
The more cells the more guards
The more guards
The more need to fill up the prisons to pay the guards
The more need to fill up the prisons, the more restrictive laws
The more restrictive laws, the more arrests
And the feedback propagates another turn of the cycle.

Brenda Pitts Bennett
Texas Advocates
701 Meadowdale
Royse City, Texas 75189

WORDS OF ADVICE

Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2001 10:39:03 -0800
Subject: Got the Release Date

I got another letter from my husband and his earliest release date is 8/20/02 and the latest is 11/28/02, so we are almost 1/4 of the way there...

On a side note, Bob really pushed me to keep up my hobby of dog showing. He wants to make sure I don't just stay at home and get depressed. I went to some shows this weekend and my Dobe won on Saturday.  It felt nice to smile again and laugh. I forgot how good it feels!!  So make the extra effort to get out and do things, it really does help even if for just a little while.


If you have experienced mental anguish or health problems directly related to DOC activities, or if you can enlighten the general public and loved ones about the reality of dealing with the state system,
Contact me,
Kay Lee, MTWT ,
Pacific Institute of Criminal Justice
2683 Rockcliff Road S.E.
Atlanta, GA 30316-4013
404-212-0690


WEBSITE: http://www.istillcare.com/

 

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MTWT is divided into 12 Self-Explanatory Major Indexes:

MAIN INDEX
Home Page

TOOLS OF "CORRECTIONS"
Punishment Methods Other than Time

OPEN LETTERS
Mass Mailings to Prisoners

GUARD INDEX
Prison Workers
speak for themselves

OUT-OF-STATE PRISONERS
Every State but Florida

ISSUES & RESOURCES
Helpful information
and Contacts

PRISON INDEX
Prisoners speak
for themselves

SMUGGLER'S TALES FROM JAILS
Hard-hitting Stories
from Gary Brooks Waid

INSPECTOR'S INDEX
Investigating Investigations

FAMILY INDEX
Families speak
for themselves

FBI CITIZEN COMPLAINT
Sent to 26 US and Foreign Agencies

A BETTER WAY
Model Prison
Under Construction

 

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