“We got to stand up for our rights”

10-9-17

Dear C—–,

Hey how you doing? First off I am thinking how you got my name and what made you reach out to me. But I’m glad y’all did because I been thru a lot while I been in the county jail. I mean I’m holding up good because I’m strong and have faith. I would love for my voice to be heard because at 17 years old people need to understand not just from older people but young people too… I don’t want it to be private because this is something positive in my life I need and I’m always trying to help people in a place I’m in and give them hope and faith. Use my name, I want to help all I can, please keep in touch. We got to stand up for our rights and I be seeing y’all out my window on Friday. We gone fight till we can’t fight no more.

– Semaj B

“this for the Durham Association of Educators”

Dear g______ ________

I’m doing alright thanks for asking, yes we are doing a creative writing class where we get to express ourselves in different kinds of ways.  Rap, poem, drawings, speeches, & a lot more.  Curtis Barnette [another detainee] started the class & we sign up for it.  We start at 12 or when the multi-purpose room ain’t at use & any action book or drawing book is good & a dictionary, too.  I like making great drawings so I’m like more tattoo drawings.

this for the Durham Association of Educators, & the union of public school teacher: thank you for focusing on our Education.  I’m still enrolled in my base school.  I was 17 when I got here, now I’m 18.  I’m up in here for a couple a months now.  The government should focus on building schools & jobs instead of making money for the jail, b/c this jail system is so crooked.  I’m here with no proof of me committing any crime of what they blaming me for – no weapon found, no evidence of any stolen goods, no witnesses.  I’ve been just waiting for my court dates & they cancel my court date every time its been scheduled.  My lawyer just once he came and see be.  I haven’t been to court at all.  The DAs lying on everything, the court appointed lawyers ain’t helping, to be honest.  Fuck Durham County Jail, they want me to feel down & plead guilty so they can make money off me.  You know what they chose the wrong person, b/c I’m staying strong.  I got into the word of God & he helps me to stay strong & for my family & loved ones who support me they can’t even come to visit me.  I only saw my mom 3 times & now they ain’t allowing her to come.  I’m against the video visitation.  So many young teens like my age die in this cells & they just say they committed suicide or natural cause.  It ain’t true.  The COs allow it to happen & if they ain’t do nothing about it that’s how they move up to new positions.  The canteen be ripping us off of our money, they don’t return our money when we order canteen & they don’t bring our canteen, & they act like they don’t know nothing.  Man shyt crazy.  I can’t even trust the law & I never did & never will.  I speak for all my latinos up in here.  I got a friend here & they don’t let him have any visit.  His family want to see him but they don’t allow him to have any visit, & when they feel they loosing our case they put a deportation order on my people with out having proof of anything.  We get crazy rash on our body b/c of the sope & our clothes are being washed with only water & we get rash from it & we get back pain from the bed they give us.  They treat us like a bunch of animals.  They hold us over years & trying to make us commit suicide & if you don’t have money you can’t get no medical attention or get the medication you need to live.  Shyt crazy man.  They block the phone sometimes so we can’t call anyone.  People are still here fighting o live & some lost their life fighting the system.  Thank you IOA for working on protest to help us students & anyone up in jail.  Thank you and god bless y’all.

 

Sincerely,

ghost z:.

This too shall pass

04/03/2017

Included with this beautiful drawing:

Please,

Ebony Fields was in the STARR program in Durham. She was transferred to Wake County for about 50 days. She knew Uneice “Neicey” fennell who died here in Durham at the jail on Marc 23rd. Ebony drew this in her memory and asked me to forward it o you for possible publication in the IOA.

Thanks so much

Epson_04162017_115252

 

INHUMANE

this letter was sent in October.

Hey —

Hope you’re doing well. Well I just wanted to write back to let ya know how things are going around here…I asked for toilet paper one day and the c.o. told me NO because she didn’t like me and because I was too white! Really. I put a grievance in on her and nothing was ever done. I still have an open grievance from May about an officer that told me to piss in the shower because she wouldn’t pop my door unless I was gonna stay behind that door. Sick, right? And the other day I saw an officer and a young girl, a minor, age 16, get into it. Continue reading

Surveys: ‘Jail is a place I don’t like so I have no good experiences’

E.Y.:

How long have you been inside? Since July

How many court appearances have you had? Just first appearance

How many times have you talked to your lawyer? Once

What is the situation regarding your charge? (Awaiting sentencing, awaiting trial, awaiting appearance, etc.?) Awaiting appearance Continue reading

In the land of the free

10-9-13

What’s good with you? Yeah I’m sorry about the last letter, I just want and need these young guys to get it and want them to get it so bad without going through the things that these rich people that own prisons and jails have in store for them. It’s amazing that we are the only country in the world that has more people locked up than anywhere else, but this is the land of the free. Continue reading

If I had a place to stay I wouldn’t get in half as much trouble

What’s up?

I’m doing pretty good. Yesterday my (visitor) came all the way from Virginia to come see me and put money on my account. So this is kind crazy because this is my second visit in two and a half months. In a way I feel like my (relative) don’t care about me because she came to see me the first week I got here. She said she would come see me more often and hasn’t. Continue reading

Truly, it’s the land of the haves and the have nots

In an extended interview / questionnaire, E.Y. weighs in on the difference between a c.o. and a prisoner, the realities of life inside, food and drink, and the threat of extending any say about conditions to the prisoners themselves.

skull+and+crossbones

It’s good to hear from you and the family at I.O.A. Sorry for not getting back (sooner), but here you go.

1.       How long have you been inside? I’ve been in jail since June.

2.       How many court appearances have you had? I’ve only had one or maybe two court appearance.

3.       How many times have you talked to your lawyer? My lawyer has been coming to see me. She is consistent in letting me know what’s going on with my case. Continue reading

Sergeant: ‘Sometimes you got to keep these young cats in order’

The following letter comes from a juvenile prisoner. To say the least, it reflects a culture of violence and an air of invincibility on the part of jail staff.

Hey,

This is E.D. If I’m not mistaken you (all) protest in front of D.C.J. sometimes. I understand jail is a place where no one likes. Continue reading