My English Friend: Louise (Loo)

September 20, 2008

Over the years I've spent behind bars, I've had many pen pal friendships. Most last only a short time. Some last a year or so.

One particular friendship has continued for more than nine years. Sure, letters came sporadically at times, but we always stayed in touch.

Louise, my long time English sweetie, has graduated university, been married, divorced, tattooed, screwed over by boyfriends, traveled, had multiple jobs, and cars, went through numerous hair colors, chased cheese down a hill, and even saw a chapel made of human bones and yet still managed to keep track of where I'm at and to write me. She even found me after my release. From England! LOL.

All these years later, she's still there. Sure, her blondish/brown hair is now dreadlocks and her attire has dramatically changed. (She's extremely creatively fashionable). But she's the same Loo I've always known and cared about. (She's like a tiny Suicide Girl).

However, after all these years, she still won't admit that it's her that has the accent. Not me. LOL. I LOVE English accents.

This is the kind of friendship I am looking for. Long-lasting and sincere. We've always been able to tell each other anything, in confidence. Giving and receiving honest, straight-forward and blunt opinions and advice. If only she lived 6,700 miles closer we'd probably visit, too.

I'd love to make a couple more great friends like Louise to exchange letters with, connect with, and just become close friends with. If you're a local Arizonian we could visit as well.

If you are interested, snail-mail me or e-mail me with your snail-mail address.

Correctional Practical Nurse Care

September 19, 2008

Today I saw a new low in medical care, human compassion and bedside manner by an ADOC nurse.

The orangeman that lives in the cubical next to Tony and I has been sick for a couple of weeks. Just how sick I don't know, but he looks ill and has a bad cough.

He has been scheduled to be seen by a nurse, but the appointment had been canceled. Again today the rescheduled appointment was canceled. A very common problem in ADOC.

After trying to get the CO to have a nurse see him today, to no avail, he simply crawled back in bed to try to sleep until Sgt. Bonorand's shift was over and the next shift arrived. Yeah, Sgt. Bonorand is still a supervisor here.

As soon as the next shift arrived, he asked the guard to call medical and explained his symptoms. The guard, a fair woman with a good rapport with orangemen and enough compassion and intellect to be concerned about his health and her own. (Some bugs are contagious as many guards/inmates discovered the last time the entire unit was quarantined.)

ADOC nurse, Rebecca Kenyon, refused to see him and told the guard to have him submit a Health Needs Request. In exhausted frustration, he yelled, "I already have! They keep canceling the appointment!" when the guard told him.

About twenty minutes later, Tony found him on the floor next to his bed and helped him back into bed. Mr, Tony and numerous other orangemen contacted the guard again, who called another guard for his assistance.

Again, Kenyon was called, and again...nothing was done. Nurse Kenyon has a reputation with orangemen as being completely without compassion and a negligent nurse.

Minutes later, after he complained of difficult breathing, the guard finally had enough. She initiated a medical emergency call-out. This forces Kenyon to respond and check on the orangeman, as well as for her to have to write an incident report.

Within minutes nurse Kenyon arrived escorted by a couple guards and a Sargent. Immediately I noticed her flush face, red with anger that she had to come to the dorm for him.

"Sit up so I can talk to you," I heard her tell him, her words dripping with animosity. "Get up and go to medical so I can bill you," she continued. "Can I help him?" Tony asked Kenyon. "No. I have guards to help, " she snapped.

Eventually, he made it to the medical building. Kenyon charged him the statutory $3.00, then, took his vital signs, temperature, etc., and sent him back to the dorm with nothing. He claims had a temperature of 102.3 and a pulse of 91.

Whether that is the case has yet to be seen, but this nurse's bedside manner, professionalism and compassion for another human being are severely lacking. The guards acted more like medical professionals than this CPN did.

This isn't the first time, nor is it exclusively a prisoner thing. A prisoner's elderly loved one collapsed in visitation one day and she refused to lift a finger for her. Luckily, another visitor nearby had medical training and the paramedics arrived quickly.

Do citizens in society get this sort of care? Or is this just a nurse who couldn't make it in the "real world" of health care?

Comment: Sensory Divestment

Editor's note: I wrote to Shane about a recent trip to the shore and got back a reply about never seeing the ocean. I thought about that and included this picture after reading the following blog.

A reader's comment to my August 16, 2008 entry, about guys inside not having smelled a grill in over 20 years, reminds me of the secondary punishment that incarceration leads to. Sensory divestment.

Auditory. The sounds of birds chirping, water moving over rocks in a stream, soft relaxed voices, conversations without expletives, the crackling of burning wood, and most of all...Silence. Even in the middle of the night you won't find silence. Guys snoring, guards keys jingling, doors clanking, walkie-talkies squawking, etc.

Olfactory. BBQ grills, food cooking, perfumes, clean hair and skin of the opposite sex, campfires, flowers, and so many other scents many in society take for granted. *A little known fact I've noticed: Most guys locked up will smell their mail from female loved ones. I have with many letters from Pixie and Katrina. Often it's just an unconscious thing. The indescribable smells inside prisons and jails aren't found anywhere else together like this. It is like nothing I've experienced elsewhere.

Visual. The sight of wilderness, wildlife, human beings in casual clothes, genuine smiles, little kids playing, pets, and even automobiles driving down a highway. Mainly, prisoners see brown (guards), orange (prisoners), white (kitchen/medical staff) and grey (maintenance workers). Walls, buildings, etc., are grey or off-white. In ADOC, prisoners rarely see trees, plants, etc., and when we do, it is sparse and short-lived.

Taste. The sweetness of a fresh strawberry, the sourness of a fresh lemon, the flavor of a steak, or even that subtle taste of a lover's skin. In prison, the food has 3 levels: palatable, bad, and inedible. Taste has been repetitively assaulted for so long that most of us refer to flavors as colors now. Red (Fruit Punch), Pink (Lemonade), Brown (Tea), Red Death (okay, I'm not sure what that is...LOL). We don't even get gum or breath mints. I'd kill for some cinnamon breath strips. LOL.

Touch. Not only of a sexual nature, but in addition to...the feel of softness, warmth, coolness of linen and blankets. A soft shirt. The feel of a soft hand in your own. A hug. A kiss. Something so simple as a hand on your arm. Physical contact. I truly believe that many guys locked up roughhouse, shake hands, pat backs, etc., in camaraderie, subconsciously do so more than normal for intimate contact with another human. It's a guy thing. One that I've never gotten used to or appreciated. I am not a touchy person with guys or many women. I have personal space issues, LOL.

Yes, sensory divestment is an unavoidable punishment that goes with incarceration. Unintended for the most part, but no less a punishment.

Death of an Inmate Today

September 4, 2008

Today we were all returned to our prison unit from the Pima Community College classes early. Apparently, according to the grapevine gossip, three white prisoners killed a mexican prisoner at the Cimarron Unit. Stabbed and throat cut ear to ear. A potentially system-wide disaster.

The local news claims ADOC acknowledged the death at the prison today, but would not comment further, but a photo and the victim's name was released.

This is a sad reality in most prisons. People die.

Tony's Food Visit

September 6, 2008

Curried lamb, roast beef, BBQ chicken, spicy sausages, sausage rolls, fresh strawberries, peaches, kiwis, oranges, bell peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers and onions, and a cherry cobbler, chased down with 2 chocolate milks from the vending machine. Tony's first "food visit" was a success.

Although a planning and management nightmare on unit level ADOC staff, it was nonetheless successful. Today was the first food visit that ALL eligible inmates could go to. Before, only minimum security inmates could. Overcrowding and long waits in long lines were the only problems.

With Director Schriro's new phase system/earned incentive program, food visits and available to most ADC inmates. Phase 2 (2 per year) and Phase 3 (4 per year) can get food visit as minimum, medium or maximum security inmates. To gain phases 1-3, inmates must get good marks in work and/or school, betterment programs (AA, NA, etc.), and remain disciplinary free.

Tony's best friend, Chris, drove down and waited about 40 minutes in a line with many other inmates' family/friends eager to visit and fee their loved ones. Tony's loving mum spent all day Friday preparing the feast that Christ brought.

It must have been quite a sight...dozens of orangemen, heads down, devouring copious amonts of delicious, healthy food, rarely looking up to take a breath and smile, while visitors look around at one another with smiles, warm hearts, astonishment and the satisfaction that their loved one has been fed. Good times.

I haven't had a food visit, but I'm remaining optimistic I will one day. Tony and I will be Phase 3 in November. Our visit days are the same. Hopefully next food visit we'll both get visits. It's great to see him so happy and full and to listen to his account of the visit.

Tony says: "Thanks Chris for sacrificing your day to drive down here to visit and feed me. It doesn't go unappreciated! I also need to thank your wife and kids for sacrificing their day and their patience while you visited and they hung out in Tucson. My mom, too, for all that great food and the love she put into making it. I have great parents and friends. Thanks everybody."

Heroism Rewarded?

August 27, 2008

The convictions crushed Sam and Greg. Guilty-Aggravated Assault, Armed Robbery and Kidnapping. Thirty-six year sentences shattered the young men and their families.

The crimes abruptly ended Sam's illustrious acting career at Old Tucson Studio where he was a cowboy gunslinger, and Greg's promising career in electronics, which he was nearing a degree in at a reputable school. Now, they were merely numbers in Arizona's rapidly propagating prison system. That was September, 1987.

Thirteen plus years later, Sam and Greg Were both working at Arizona Correctional Industries (ACI) silk screening in Tucson. Alongside thirty four other convicts earning pennies for their labor, they worked hard. Guarded by a Correctional Officer, the 36 inmates' work was supervised by 2 civilian officers.

October 26, 2000, Sam had worked at ACI for a day shy of a year, and was the Shop Coordinator. Greg, a veteran at ACI with 5 1/2 years, was a trusted clerk.

The day began as usual. However, Sam and Greg had no idea this day would change their lives forever.

Unbeknownst to Sam and Greg, three inmates had planned to escape that day and wreak terror on the community. Randy, Jack and Richard were all doing life and felt they had nothing to lose. Randy for murder, Jack attempted murder of a police officer, and Richard a slew of armed robberies.

The three men overpowered CO II Anita Baca, who is married to Deputy Warden Antonio Baca. Possessing her keys, radio and mace, she was handcuffed, duct taped and gagged.

Leaving Richard to guard the helpless Baca, Randy and Jack went after civilian worker Patricia Yanez. Incidently, Ms. Yanez was alone because her usual co-worker had a dental appointment that morning.

Being attacked by Jack and Randy, Ms. Yanez cried out for Greg's help. Hearing her desperate cry, Greg hurried into the office and stopped the attack. "Just wanted to tie her up and have some fun," Randy argued, brandishing a homemade knife he'd been using.

At this point, fearing that Ms. Yanez would be brutally raped and killed, Greg attacked the knife wielding Randy. Jack fled.

Hearing Randy and Jack's stated intentions and the commotion, Sam entered the office pulling Ms. Yanez out.

Disarmed by Greg, Randy fled the office, armed himself with a three inch metal pipe and went after Ms. Yanez again. Protecting Ms. Yanez, Sam stayed between Randy and the young woman. After being hit with the pipe, Same fought with Randy, disarmed and subdued him.

CO II Baca was freed and phoned for help. Help arrived in minutes, but it was all over thanks to Greg and Sam's heroics.

Without concern for their own safety and future repercussions, Greg and Sam refused to turn their backs while two women were potentially sexually assaulted and murdered. Prisoner politics be damned. NOBODY else chose to do the right thing.

Afterwards, maps of Tucson (escape routes) and Tucson banks (to rob), locations of cars (to steal), locations of pawn shops (to steal guns), obituary papers matching the three men's descriptions (for fake ID's) and other escape materials were found.

CO II Baca and Ms. Yanez received medals of valor and letters of commendation from ADOC. Greg and Sam received nothing from ADOC, but did get letters of thanks from Mr. & Mrs. Baca.

More than three years after the incident, still reaping ill consequences for their heroism that day, the Criminal Courts refused to change their sentences.

Greg appears before the Parole Board in August 2009. Sam isn't eligible for parole until 2011.

Sam is applying for a commutation of sentence asking to be paroled early with an ankle monitor.

Last year, Sam's 66-year-old father had a stroke and was diagnosed with Amyloidosis, a rare condition. His health is fading fast. Sam simply wants to be with his dad in his final days, and help his 67-year-old mother to care for him.

Sam and Greg have shown, by their selfless actions, that changes have occurred in them. Rehabilitation. In addition to their heroics in 2000, Sam and Greg have been model inmates for years. Sam has organized and facilitated pre-release groups and substance abuse groups and is currently a teacher's aide for a Pima Community College class for inmates.

Sam's family and friends support his commutation request. If you'd like to convey your support for Sam's request for communtation being granted and/or Greg's upcoming parole hearing send your letters of support for Sam Carroll ADC #64626 or Greg Johnson ADC #64655 via e-mail
to: AzSno@aol.com.

All letters will be presented, by family, to the boards for Sam and Greg.

Sources: Sam, Greg, Court records, ADC publications, correspondence.