We are visiting my son for the first time in approximately five years.  600 miles away and we are both disabled, but we will putter along.  My son, put in for interstate compact transfer.  but you know how that goes.  It's probably sitting on someone's desk, collecting dust.  He's been trying for several years for that, but never heard a word.  They do not want to loose the head count.   But looks like inmates would jump at the chance to exchange, and move to Fl.  I'm not sure how it works or even if it will.

I am back from visiting my son; it had been 5 years.  He barely weighs 130 lbs, less than me.  He has aged, looks older than mom at 64. He forever has looked young for his age. He's taking 7-8 medications, has lymph nodes now and new cancer spots to be taken off, finally got a no-shaving and hat pass that he thinks will be taken away in May.

The first day he was so pensive, trying to talk of all the things going bad in that place, he took issues all the way to Tallahassee, who did not listen. About how they carry all the food from the trucks to the security people who take it home, even strawberries at the fest that are donated, all that's left is a watery mix, they pore over stale cake. When they run out of servings, they are not allowed to shake the spoon when serving or they will loose their jobs.

100 get served one thing, they run out; 50 get a substitute then they run out of that; 25 get substituted substitute and that runs out before the line is completely served.  Ask Tallahassee just to come stand and survey the men:  Did you run out of food? Was it watered down?  Was it green and too frozen to eat?  It all gets thrown away and the institution sells it to the hog farmers for top dollar.

Just three little questions is all Tallahassee would have to ask the line of men, "but it was too much to ask,"  he said.  They never serve anything that is on the menu they falsely print. Fruit is green and/or frozen.

Employees have their own canteen. Prices are 1/2-1/3 less than the visitors pay.  The vending machines did not work, the employees ate in front of us.  We were hungry.  He had not had decent food for so long, we were waiting for the vendor, who did not come after the lightening knocked the power off. 

The following day the machines worked, my son ate like an animal.  "You should see the food we get inside for these prices," he said.  "The sandwiches are pitiful & small.  They took away our popping corn.  Now we get a handful in a bag, for the same price.  Everyone on this compound loves popcorn and would kill for a bag to pop like this," he said.  95 cents & I can buy them for about 5cents each in bulk, outside.

Count time lasts 1/2hour and they are counted every hour, so they loose 1/2 hour of every hour of time in lines to be counted the rest in line after line, everything is a line, they never have time to get everyone through lines before time is up.

My son was told he will have to shave, he was the wrong color to get away with having a beard.  Once when count was called he had to go to the bathroom.  His kidneys were messed up during an operation for stones, and he cannot control it.  He was told you have to wait until after count. No one tells me when to go to the bathroom or not, he went to the bathroom, in spite of the harassment. the TV. rules do not apply.  One person rules what they watch.  There is supposed to be a vote, with the guard's control, but the strongest meanest person controls it.

If you stay on the phone too long some one will knock you in the head with a rocksock.

All rules & reg's are topsy turvey: Spins your head to know which way they will change next.   Incident reports never leave the first person they are given, even though there is supposed to be chain of command. Bags for canteen cost 2 to 5cents, then they are contraband.  All condiments that come free with food like salt, pepper, mayo, Ketchup, spoons, etc are priced.  Things are opened and sold individually when not intended for sale one at a time.  Their meals are always cold and they add water to everything to make it go further..

PRIDE (Prison Rehab Industries Diversified Enterprise) has three factories there, and he wonders where all the stuff goes.  There are constant trucks out and in all day every day,  furniture, office modules, metal.  Prison workers work like dogs for 15cents an hour.  He is not allowed to work for $ (too much time). They are getting rich.

BUT I loved seeing him, and cried after I got out of sight of him.  My heart (more pieces broke) out, to leave him there again.  He was more worried about my health, than his own issues.

SOMEONE WITH CLOUT, SHOULD GO TALK TO HIM IN PERSON.

BETTERGIFTS95806@AOL.COM

In the Coalition for Prisoners' Rights Newsletter there is an article by the Hepatitis C Awareness Project. This applies to my son. How can I assure that he gets this project in his corner?

Coalition for Prisoner's Rights Newsletter. 
P.O.  Box 1911,
Santa Fe, NM. 87504-1911

The Hepatitis C Awareness Project,
P.O. box 41803,
Eugene OR 97404-0520

HEPATITIS C AWARENESS PROJECT   The project works to provide accurate information regarding hepatitis and HIV/HCV co-infection by distributing a newsletter and advocating for better and more humane treatment of incarcerated persons living with Hepatitis C.

I also get the Florida prison legal Perspectives.

FPLP
P.O. Box 41803,
Eucene, Or 97404-0520

Telephone calls are automatically cut off in 10 minutes and, at 6:30pm it cost $9.74. MCI thru bell at 8:26pm cost $9.89 for 10min