Except that most descriptions of hell are of a much warmer place than the freezing Durham jail, the writer’s phrase otherwise fits. Sometimes inmates’ disposition might be slightly improved by having access to cleaning products, but in the dual effort of at once making prisoners invisible and infantile, there are few to be had. 

March 3, 2014

Dear Sirs,

I hope you and yours are in the best of health and that the alliance is getting stronger by the day. Your organization is a much needed cause for the community. This jail I am in is a total disgrace the way it is being run. There is no order except “out of order.” Each shift of the c.o.s run their shift with their “own rules,” rules, not as posted. Most are hateful bastards that treat us convicts and inmates as animals. Can’t even have a pen to write with, geez, what the hell. This place is an atrocity and an abomination. Filthy toilets (no brushes to clean with) and showers. Inmates here that definitely need to be in places for the mentally ill. What the hell has gone wrong with the system to allow the many posted and “un-posted” rules to be violated? This could be a fine jail if it had the proper leadership but apparently there is none, none whatsoever. The mattresses here for the biggest part are so used up and filthy they are more like a big dirty rage. “They,” and who the hell is “they” (?), keep it so cold in here that the COs wear heavy clothing and the indigent inmates can not obtain warm clothing that is sold by the “Aramark” canteen which has every item at above manufacturer-suggested retail–a real rip off. This place is Hell on Earth. It is now midnight and the present shift of COs are standing in the rec area talking, carrying on very loudly, an atrocity.

What if anything can be done to bring this place into proper order??

I want to know more about your alliance and would like to be put on your mailing list.

Connie B.

Don’t let the name throw you off, I am a “male caucasian” and a real rebel at heart. If I can be of any help while incarcerated I’ll gladly assist. Please send info.

Thanks a million,

You are a much-needed organization.

For complaints who do I write to??