“been locked up going on 14 months next month”

Hey,

My name is _______, DOB ________ and I’m still housed at Durham County Jail but the reason for this letter so you can get to know me better and see what I’m going thru.  I’m mental health and on medication for it and been locked up going on 14 months next month.  They haven’t drop my bond knowing what’s going on with my mental health and know I need outside attention.  I’m not doing good in here my A/C don’t work in my cell, the food make me sick I wrote medical and told them that put me on a special diet because of the season in the food and know I have stomach problems.  My bond is way too high for what I’m in here for $_____ it not like I kill nobody or hurt nobody period.  And plus I’m mental health I can’t help what I do when I’m not on my medication and when I wake up I can’t remember anything.  And plus when I was out I didn’t have no where to sleep at night.  If you can please help me on how they treating me and try to get me pre-trial release until they do something with these charges.  And plus I have a real sick mom out there right now.

 

Sincerely,

_______

Thoughts from a rebel: Crime and its effects

Friday, July 1, 2016 2:35 a.m.

Take a look through a different point of view, with a glimpse into the frame of mind, and maybe the masses will have a better understanding on how, why, who and where crime is committed and thus individuals are incarcerated.

Being amongst those born under-privileged and currently incarcerated for allegedly committing a crime, I feel as if I can inform you on this subject best.

You see, for most individuals crime isn’t a mental issue, crime is more of an economic  issue (but as always, there are those rare cases where crime is a mental issue and the criminal was justly detained and treated.) You see, most of the people who commit crime are doing so because of their lack of funds to survive, or also they’re surviving on the basic tip, but they’re not on the social level. Continue reading

“the jail system is mis-run and mis-managed”

Dear Mr. W_______,

Thanks for the letter and n4.  It came at a much needed time.  I’m glad to hear there are concerned citizens who care about how the jail system is mis-run and mis-managed!  It more often than not sends people worse off back into neighborhoods angry, hurt, and totally demoralized and at times animalistic!  Its truly a system designed to oppress and exploit the lesser, poorer persons in society, 1. high bonds, 2. wrong search and seizures at homes (my house was trashed and 1100 dollars stolen), 3. very poor sleeping quarters (my dogs have better), 4. slop for food, 5. the cells are freezing while we get little clothing and blankets 5. husbands/wives should at least be allowed to visit if incarcerated at the same time (I fit that category, the family is the fabric of society), 6. they arrested us quickly and put us in cages, yet the legal process once here is slow and tedious, even the process of bond reduction takes weeks all the while people lose good jobs and families are damaged sometimes beyond repair.  The jail system is a business of making money, not reform and helping most who may have made a bad choice or mistake become a better citizen, neighbor, co-worker, or friend (cuz that’s what 99% of us are!).  I’m very glad to hear that our neighbors are getting educated and involved, cuz believe it or not…this could happen to any of us!  And unless you have access to 10-50k your whole life could change forever and your family’s also.  The phone situation is laughable, the grievance officers are simply yes people, as I’ve made several complaints and requests with zero results or even responses back.  I thought in our legal system you’re innocent until proven guilty.  Well that doesn’t appear to be the cause here.  All and all its hard to believe this is happening in the United States of America.

 

Signed, E.Q.Y.

A New Beginning: URBAN PROGRESS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION

Motto: A True Believer Wants for His Brother What He Wants for Himself.

This is the beginning of a new organization. A new era in America. This new program will be truly for the people. Those forgotten in the long haul. We will make changes to bring down the un-human judicial system that targets the majority of these same individuals. This organization, this brotherhood will be known by the name Urban Progress Improvement Association. Continue reading

T or F: These dishes are not intended for human consumption.

EPSON MFP image

EPSON MFP image

“Aramark is here to stay”

After reading that topic, I hope the news gets better? And it could, if we work together. Just this morning, another inmate sounded off at me. He said, ‘You still writing that shit? You’re wasting these guys’ time. Why don’t you write about something important?’ I’m thinking, ‘This guy’s got 3,000+ dollars on his books. I have .02 cents on mine. I assume, to people here in jail with 3,000 in their account here, I reckon I am wasting my time. That’s really got me primed. Wonder in the mornings which leg he starts with to get dressed. Now back to Aramark, which is teaming up with these people who are currently in control of our lives, and those who are in our circle. There’s not much to life, being in here. Continue reading

‘They sell dreams, then provide a system that jails and enslaves’

the following is from a Durham man recently moved to state prison.

Hey –

What’s up brotha. I’m glad to hear you guys have been making some serious moves out there. I’m beyond proud, but there is still a lot of fighting to be done. I have some access to information here, but hopefully I can extend that a little. I was so sure that I was gonna stay at Central Prison but that didn’t quite turn out. Continue reading

‘Let’s pull this humongous tree by the root’

Hey brother,

I apologize about the other individuals that I promised to send toward you (with drawings), let’s say “I tried.” But to try is to fail, and with no super code that’s what I did. I am currently inside the hole for getting into a confrontation with someone twice, if not three, times my size. But that shows people I fight and stand for what I believe in.  Continue reading

‘As I was sitting on my bunk:’ a call to freedom fighters

Hey–,

Never mind nothing written on the back here, I didn’t have any more paper. Also, never mind that I didn’t reply to the letter you wrote back to me. This letter and poems you’re receiving is pre-written and my most talented work of art. We’ve been talking for a while about this new revolution that we’re in the process of producing. We’ve also chatted on the idea of a new social class (I like that idea the most). Continue reading

A conspiracy of the incarcerated

Michael Page (Chairman) states that if any of the claims about the actions and atmosphere of the Durham County Jail were substantiated—he would be totally surprised…

Let me get this straight—so it’s the members of the board of county commissioners’ belief that the numerous complaints coming from the inmates and families of inmates incarcerated in Durham County Jail are false? You mean to tell the public that different inmates of age, color, race and sex, housed in different blocks, on different floors have somehow come together in like mind and conspired to provide false claims against the jail and jailers, when these same inmates can’t even come together to agree on what TV channel to watch? Continue reading

‘The Government oversteps its bounds with anyone that isn’t rich or one of them’

—,

It’s been a while since I’ve written but I have charges in other counties and have been back and forth between them in the last month.

I did, however, get to see the “lay-down” demonstration in front of the jail. I must say that I am impressed. I really didn’t think that people would go to those extremes without negating their cause. Let me explain: Too many times people will have a demonstration against racism against Blacks only to end up damaging and looting black-owned businesses.  Continue reading