Tag Archives: ‘guilty until innocent’

‘What a screwed-up system!’

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Thanks for your letter. I was surprised and glad to receive it. Please overlook my tardy reply…

I’ve heard some views about bail reform and I hope something positive comes about. These bonds are ridiculously high in Durham County. I just don’t get it. I was very happily surprised last month to hear I had a visitor (I don’t normally get them). I walked into the room and there was IOA member –. He asked me about the court date I had for the week of Feb. 6th, but I did not go. It turned out my lying lawyer again failed to file my motions to dismiss and to suppress in January as promised. Such motions are typically heard during the first full week of the month but must be filed during the previous month at least 5 working days in advance. Continue reading →

‘Sucked into the system because I fit a description’

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Hey–

My name is —, but everyone knows me as 700. This is my first time getting charged with anything in my life. I’ve been here 8 months and have only been to court once (after first appearance) to have my $650,000 bond reduced to $150,000, which is still too much even after I told the judge I was working at Kroger and attending — High and living on my own. I mean, I only just turned 18 while I’ve been in here. He still gave me an out the roof bond, it’s like one day I’m up, the next I get sucked into the system because I fit a description–”pssh” yeah mufucking right. And don’t get me started on this new video visitation shit. It don’t make sense why our peoples got to come down here just to “face time” their loved ones for 20 minutes. It’s already bad enough with the scarce amount of time we get, now I gotta talk to my people through a camera, ain’t that what cell phones are for? But this money hungry jail couldn’t care less what the kings and queens in this jail go through. It’s like the one thing you look forward to after being here so long is getting took away. And could someone tell me why co’s are wearing three layers, a uniform and a jacket and we in here freezing our asses off and get put on lockback for having too many jumpsuits? That shit’s crazy.

–700

‘It’s about to be rough all over’

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February 16, 2017

2:20 PM

Hello,

How are you doing? Well I would like to start off by saying that I am so sorry for taking so long to write you guys (IOA) back. This letter is well overdue, but I hope I’m not too late. I hope you all (IOA) are doing well and this letter gets to you quickly.

Well I have been doing ok, given the circumstances I’m in. I have been having a lot on my mind these past few months, but other than that and trying to stay out of trouble, I have been ok. What’s been going on with me? Well, not too long ago I had a talk with my lawyer and found out that after almost two years (22 months) the D.A. is just now getting the autopsy back. Which should have been back, but as you already know Durham County justice system is messed up and they will do anything as well as whatever they want to do to you. Continue reading →

‘Our day is coming sooner than later’

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What’s up world? I’m so tired of being in here. I’ve been here 20 months, my life is on hold. What happened to staying out until 11:00? My kids don’t even come in at 6:45! Also, what’s up with these “no court date shown?” I can’t get house arrest because I don’t live in Durham. The struggle is real. I haven’t been charged for medical since I have been here, now all of a sudden they want to take my money. Never again will I go unless I’m half-way dead. $20 for some shampoo, really? I like to say at the end of the day they get to go home and we stuck here. Some care and some don’t. Out of sight and out of mind. But our day is coming sooner than later. They can’t hold us forever. Keep y’all head above water. Stay prayed up. God does answer prayers. Be blessed. Shout out to the girls: Melanie B, Brittany L, Ebony F, Christie L.

‘They won’t let me out the hole’

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1-4-17

Hello,

I thank you for your letter and I appreciate your concern about us here. How have you been? Me I been doing good. I’m sorry for taking so long to write back, I just been gettin things together for trial in March. I want the Inside-Outside Alliance and the news people at my trial so everybody can see how court doing in Durham County. I been here going on 3 years. This jail is some bullshit and the court system, too. The D.A. trying to give me 26 to 34 years. That’s crazy. I haven’t even seen 20. I’m only 18, about to be 19…And the jail they got me in the hole for 50 days now, and they won’t let me out the hole. Thank you for the card. Hope to hear from you soon. Take care.  –S.B.

‘They should do away with these high-ass bonds…’

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Jan 4 2017

IOA

What’s up? Thanks for the holiday card. Your reader’s poll made me think a lil bit because doing away with bail could do some good, but at the same time hurt. It can help those who can’t afford to bail out of jail for whatever reason. You also got those people that has stupid crazy bonds set by the court that can’t be touched at all, so they’re put in a situation where they have to sit in jail against their will. But then you do have those complete assholes who would take something as good as that and throw it away, so I guess I would say getting rid of bail is crazy but strongly do think they should do away with these high-ass bonds, like the average motherfucka is living like Donald Trump….other than that, ain’t nothing changed in this shithole but the fact I’m currently trying to fight to get off 22 and a half hour lockback after a year plus and they’re pissing in the wind. It’s easy for them to blow it off because they get to go home at the end of the day. I’m left in a box all day for what??? Really don’t know how much more of this bullshit I can take.

-Ghost

‘It pose to be justice system not slavery system’

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Sep 18-16

I’m doing ight. I’m making it. The HRC form—I never got it!

I heard about the march and they locked down the whole jail because of it. This shit is crazy how this system work. But the thing is how the people let them do it. If we gon’ do something, let’s do it right. I heard that there pose to be a new company that’s doing food. When is that supposed to start? Continue reading →

The Human Dog Pound

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When I look out of my cell, I see other inmates standing in the door looking out their window. We look like animals in the pound waiting for someone to take us home. When we hear keys we stand at the door. “Come get me, come get me” is the way the faces look in the door. Continue reading →

‘Now I’m going through the same thing in Hillsborough’

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Hello, how are you? Not sure who I’m writing by name, but I’m familiar with your work and organization. Y’all used to send me newsletters and stuff during my 22 and a half month stay in Durham County Jail from May 2012 to March 2014. I sat in there through lockbacks and all for a charge that was dismissed that I did not have anything to do with which I believe the police knew from the start. Continue reading →

Thoughts from a rebel: Crime and its effects

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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 →