SOLITARY CONFINEMENT

I come to you
 Broken, unspoken, just a token
 Will you make me whole again?
 
I come to you
 From a wasteland, with empty hands
 Will you put your hands in mine and fill them up again?
 
I come to you
 Battle-scarred, battle-charred
 Will you assuage these wounds with your loving touch?
 
I come to you
 Torn and ripped, a good deal chipped
 Will you repair the damage done?
 
I come to you
 With untold fear,
 Will you help me build my trust again?
 
I come to you
 Without a name, not the same
 Will you help me be myself again?
 
I come to you
 Used, misused, and abused
  Will you let me live again?
 
 
November 16, 2000
 Miss X

Shared by Joyce josalma@tds.net

HEARING ON SOLITARY CONFINEMENT

The Public Hearing Committee that I attended and spoke at in Boston at the State House on the 15th went well.  I was emotionally drained for some time afterwards.  Seeing the Commissioner of Corrections and hearing him testify and lie took a lot of energy out of me.

It made my testimony stronger though, as I informed the Committee that the Public Safety is a concern of mine as I am part of the Public and after leaving an abnormal environment (Solitary Confinement) and returning to a normal environment; I am not.

I can not pretend that all is normal with my tax dollars and the prisons that it contributes to building.  I have become dysfunctional in a normal environment that allows our tax dollars to create dysfunctional men and women due to the affects of Solitary Confinement, that will some day once again be part of the society that we consider normal and safe.

I stressed to them that we the people, tax payers and voters should not have to endure the affects of Solitary Confinement and not only what it does to our loved ones but also what it does to us in the free world.  For we can not walk away from that place and pretend that we are not affected.  It carries over into our personal and professional lives.

So the safety of the public is our loved ones, therefore us.

When I completed my testimony the people applauded and the Commissioner and guards remained silent. 

I went to see my son (Solitary Confinement) two days later and he is doing well, but I left that unit more determined to fight the system and when I think of my beautiful son and the strength he has to endure such hell, I am strong, I am powerful and he and those that endure this hell are my light.

We need all states to see and realize that Solitary Confinement is extending beyond the wall onto the public.

By the way, the poem "I come to you" was attached to my written
testimony that I presented to the members of the committee.
Barbara

Subject: Prison life.2004
Saturday, August 28, 2004

My name is Stefani and I'm from NJ. My son was sentenced to 14mos.approx. and was sent to Hamilton Correctional. While there we complained for him to the warden and Tallahassee that his life was being threatened by a predator. The warden put him in what we thought was protective custody but everything seemed to backfire as the officers were abusive and he was mistreated. The warden told him not to complain anymore. Some of his time was taken away and this is what we want back. He was finally moved to Putnam Corr. which he finds to be more agreeable and have better conditions. He has found that there are many others who have had and have similar complaints. There have even been deaths due to some inconsistencies and cruelties. But we are hesitant to complain until he is out and free! Do you have any suggestions? and is there an ongoing investigation?