January 2012 Graterfriends newsletter

Graterfriends ― A Publication of The Pennsylvania Prison Society ― January 2012

A Publication of The Pennsylvania Prison Society
Promoting a humane, just and constructive correctional system and a rational approach to criminal justice since 1787

Volume 43 Issue 1 January 2012

www.prisonsociety.org www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaPrisonSociety

How Serious are You about Freedom?
by LaFaye Gaskins, BF-8329, SCI Mahanoy

I have been in prison over twenty years, and it has After our return, it’s like we don’t care about the family
been the worst experience of my life. It has also been and true friends we left behind. The best years of our lives
harrowing for my beloved family. They support me, but are evaporating in these steel and concrete prisons and all
my incarceration has caused them severe pain. As a fam- we care about is playing games and eating chi-chis. So, I
ily, we have not achieved what we could have had I not ask again, “How serious are we really about freedom?”
been imprisoned. So, I am truly dumbfounded by how Eventually, the cell door closes shut and reality sets in
many parolees return to prison. It’s as if they think that and regret pricks our thoughts. We blame everyone but
prison is the place to be. It’s not. ourselves — the parole man, the cops, the guy in the car
I have to ask, “How serious are you really about free- — but deep down we know it was out fault, our bad deci-
dom?” As fast as a person is paroled, he or she is back — sion. We get back into our old routine as if we never were
the same prison, the same block, and sometimes the paroled; back on the phone calling our mothers, aunts,
same cell. I see them coming in every day and wonder if wives, and friends to hassle them for what we need. We
they realize that they are a drag on their families’ ability demand money, visits, and other support. As always, our
to be a productive unit. Are they content to waste the family members give in. Our families are back in prison
best years of their lives languishing in a prison cell? with us again, doing time.
When people are imprisoned, they lose control over Until that day when they get fed up — no more visits,
their lives. They have to rely on others — family, friends, money, or phone calls. We take and take without giving
organizations — to take care of almost all of their needs. anything back. Like mice running on a wheel going
Families and friends spend hard-earned money on com- around and around but going nowhere, we give up our
missary items for them. They accept their collect calls freedom to live the life of a dependent: told when to sleep
and visit them. and when to wake, when to eat and what to eat, what to
We try our best to convince them that we have changed, wear and how to wear it, and when to use the bathroom
that we will never return to prison once released. They or take a shower, but never allowed to truly be a man or
take us at our word because they want to believe in us, woman. Is this what we want? The only difference be-
but most of the time our words are more chaff than tween us and the mice is that if the mice are ever re-
wheat, more ruse than sincerity. I include myself in this leased they will run away and never come back.
because I am a prisoner and am no different. So, for those of us who will be released I ask again,
But as soon as we reach the halfway house, all good “How serious are you about freedom?” If you are serious,
sense goes out the window. Our “I’ll do good” promissory make the choice to never come back to prison; make the
notes go straight into default. Pledges of responsibility choice to have a life. Choose freedom over incarceration.
and accountability are forgotten. It’s back to hanging out
with old “friends,” standing on the same corners, party-
ing, until it is as if we never went to prison. Families are
In this Issue
left disappointed, and organizations that supported us From the Editors, Mrs. GE-6309 Time .........................2
are left looking foolish. Our Voices, Pass the Word ............................................3
While we are running the streets, thoughts of what we From the “Doc”, Birthdays, Crossword Solutions.........4
owe our families and society never cross our minds, and Legislative Highlights....................................................5
it is inevitable that we get arrested and violate parole. Legal Chat, Through a Far Eastern Window ............6-7
Back in prison, all our so-called homies and old heads are Mailroom, Medical Alert .............................................8-9
happy to see us. Are you serious? Why should anyone be Literary Corner, Graterfriends Order Form ...............10
happy that we are back in prison? All they want to talk
Crossword.....................................................................11
about is: Who got money? Who got shot? and other trivi-
“The Last Word” by William DiMascio .......................12
alities. Are they really friends?

1

The opinions expressed are of the authors and not necessarily those of Graterfriends or The Pennsylvania Prison Society.


From Mrs. GE-6309
the Editors Time

Good news! As of February 2012, Graterfriends will go SOCIETY’S MIRROR: DEALING WITH SHAME
back to the 16-page format. Now that we’ve shrunk a few
things down in order to fit as much as possible in the By Reesy Floyd-Thompson, Mrs. GE-6309
current 12 pages, we’ll be able to share even more infor-
mation than before. Have you ever been to the carnival and stood in front of
a fun house mirror? Your true likeness reflects back to
You may notice that we have a new column: “Mrs. GE- you as something to make fun of — a distortion. When a
6309 Time” by Reesy Floyd-Thompson. Ms. Floyd- partner goes to prison, prisoner’s wives (or partners) are
Thompson has been submitting columns to us pretty distorted into a twisted, mangled mess. This big house
regularly over the last few months, so we thought it was alteration is not so fun.
time we gave her column a name of its own. She writes
about what it’s like to have a husband in prison, and I spent the better part of two years feeling ashamed of
gives wonderful advice about how to deal with the differ- my husband’s incarceration. I didn’t talk about it; I
ent emotions prison spouses (and partners) go through. couldn’t. I felt as if no one understood my decision to
Ms. Floyd-Thompson is the founder of Prisoners’ Wives, stand by him. I lied to many people about his where-
Girlfriends and Partners (PWGP) and her website is abouts. When I did tell a few people, I felt the need to
www.pwgp.org. explain my choices. Back then, lying was much easier
than telling the truth, or so I thought.
Also in this issue, you will notice that we address both It wasn’t easier for me to lie about my husband’s
breast cancer (see “From the ‘Doc’,” page 4) and prostate whereabouts; it was easier for others. Shame lives in
cancer (see “Medical Alert page 9). We know that medical secrets. With every untrue word, I twisted my reality.
care for prisoners can sometimes be an uphill battle, and we Each lie served to validate the idea something was wrong
hope the information in these two columns is helpful to you. with my life and relationship. I allowed society’s percep-
tion of me to become more important than my own truth.
Finally, don’t miss Executive Director William DiMas-
I was mangled in the distortion of acceptance.
cio’s article (“The Last Word, page 12) about lifers who find
a way to make their lives meaningful. We’d like to hear People’s opinions of us are rarely true. If we use soci-
from other lifers, or those who have long sentences, regard- ety’s mirror as the barometer by which we measure our
ing how you try to be a positive force in the life of others.
(See Society’s Mirror, continued on page 5)

Letters more than a page in length (200 words) will not be
published in their entirety in Mailroom or Legal Chat Room,
and may be considered for another column. All columns should
be no more than 500 words, or two double-spaced pages.
To protect Graterfriends from copyright infringement, please
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: William M. DiMascio attach a letter stating, or note on your submission, that you are
MANAGING EDITOR: Mindy Bogue the original author of the work submitted for publication; date
and sign the declaration.
FOUNDER: Joan Gauker
If you have a question about Graterfriends, please contact
Mindy Bogue, Communications Manager, at 215-564-6005, ext.
112 or mbogue@prisonsociety.org.
Graterfriends is a monthly publication from the Pennsylvania
Prison Society. The organization was founded in 1787 and
works toward enhancing public safety by providing initiatives
that promote a just and humane criminal justice system.
This issue is made possible through contributions from our
readers and funding from Phoebus Criminal Justice Initiative
through the Bread & Roses Community Fund. 245 North Broad Street · Suite 300
We reserve the right to edit submissions. Original submissions Philadelphia, PA 19107
will not be returned. We will not print anonymous letters. Telephone: 215.564.6005 · Fax: 215.564.7926
Allegations of misconduct must be documented and statistics www.prisonsociety.org
should be supported by sources. www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaPrisonSociety

2



Our Voices Pssst…
Pass the Word

MEETING THE AUTHOR OF DON’T TRY TO PLAY THE SYSTEM
THE NEW JIM CROW
by Kenny B. Davenport, AF-7921, SCI Dallas
by John Freddie Nole, AF-0346, SCI Graterford
In an opinion filed on June 20, 1011, a U.S. District
I’m sure that there are people better suited than me to Court in New Jersey held that to be timely, a complaint
write about meeting Michelle Alexander. But for lack of under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) must be filed
the knowledge that that’s absolutely true, I share my both within two years of when the claimed accrued and
experience and hope it will make for good reading. within six months of the federal agency’s denial of the
Attractive, passionate, and very empathetic: expres- claim. See Seiss v. United States, Civil No. 11-763. The
sions and comments shared by so many about her, and I opinion deals with how to interpret the limitations period
agree. She’s also engaging, to say the least. Her pose under §2401(b) of the FTCA.
stops you in your tracks, allowing you, if only for a brief With respect to claims under the Prison Litigation Re-
second, to know the potential for greatness is still alive form Act (PLRA), a judge of the Middle District Court in
within you. Pennsylvania (i.e. Rambo) ruled that Pennsylvania’s two-
Ms. Alexander is humble as she begins to tell us about year statute of limitations for bringing a personal injury
writing The New Jim Crow. She jolts her readers to ex- claim is tolled during the time a prisoner is exhausting
press excitement: “I have been saying that for years,” his administrative remedies. See Soto v. Leskowsky et al.,
they tell her. She conveys her experiences of being USDC-MD Pa. Civil No. 1: CV-10-2366 (Memorandum
caught in the syndrome of typecasting, and cuts to the filed 9/27/11).
underbelly of this disease of mass incarceration that The judge, in denying the defendants’ motion to dis-
plagues minority communities. miss, stated in pertinent part:
The “new Jim Crow” no longer displays the “Whites
Only” signs and the Confederate flags that were the old “At first glance, it would appear that [Plaintiff’s] claims
symbols, announcing the prejudices and racism of white against [Defendants] are time barred. However, various
America. Today, a new spider web has been woven: the courts of appeals, as well as district courts in the Third
myth that black America has created its own upheaval. Circuit have concluded that the statute of limitations is
The sensationalizing of the war on drugs depicts users as tolled for the time period during which a prisoner ex-
sale-kingpins. Drugs remove fathers from households hausts his administrative remedies pursuant to the Prison
while family values decay, allowing pride, dignity, and Litigation Reform Act (PLRA).” (Memorandum at *13)
integrity to become meaningless to a generation where The court cited Brown v. Valoff, 422 F.3d 926, 942-43
instant gratification pollutes the honest work ethic and (9th Cir. 2005); Johnson v. Rivera, 272 F.3d 519, 522 (7th
harms our drive toward social equality. Cir. 2001); and Brown v. Morgan, 209 F.3d 595, 596 (6th
As I hear and listen to her words, I’m reminded of a Cir. 2000).
juvenile at the beginning of the pipeline through the jus- However, the time period prior to actually filing a
tice system. I am that eight-year-old being carted off to a prison grievance does not toll the time. See e.g. Gonzalez
reformatory, with only tears conveying my message of v. Hasty, et al., No. 07-1787 (2nd Cir. 2011) *12, n.2
hurt. There were no words yet in my vocabulary…only (observing, in part, that “courts that toll PLRA claims
heart-wrenching pain; there’s something tragically apply the toll only to the time period in which the inmate
wrong with this picture. Today, Ms. Alexander illumi- is actively exhausting his administrative remedies, and
nates by relating battles; I reflect on learning at an early not the anterior time period in between the accrual of the
age how to befriend failure. At such an early age it was claim and when the prisoner initiated the administrative
easy to make my negative lifestyle look positive. The act remedy process”).
of paying back the system through more and more self-
destruction has stumped my life potential. I would urge all concerned to pay careful attention to
accrual dates and time periods for both the administra-
She signs my copy of The New Jim Crow, “To Freddie,
tive appeals process and also the statute of limitations.
with hope for justice.”
Don’t kid yourself by thinking you can game the system.
We end the official session with a question put to all The courts will carefully check and review accrual dates.
present… “What gives us hope?” I say in turn, “That as It doesn’t matter when the defendants happen to raise
we educate ourselves, we eliminate our differences, and the limitations period as a defense.
our differences becomes our sameness.”

3



From DEATH ROW
the “Doc”
by Samuel L. Krakow
January Birthdays

BREAST CANCER 101 Ralph Birdsong Michelle Sue Tharp
AF-9092, GRA OF-6593, MUN
I recently received two reminders not to ignore the Dustin Ford Briggs Christopher Williams
women of the DOC. One was from my editor, Ms.Bogue, GN-8696, GRN BT-3553, GRA
who called to my attention that incarcerated women often
Daniel Gwynn
feel unheard. The second came from a letter authored by
CW-5713, GRN
Ms. Mira Rainey (OH-6793), a victim of breast cancer
during her incarceration. Her ordeal, a rather painful and Sheldon Hannibal GRA = SCI Graterford
disfiguring one, prompted me to write about this topic. CG-5771, GRN PO Box 244
Graterford, PA
Breast cancer is the most common gender-related can- James Lambert 19426-0244
AK-7472, GRN
cer of women. (Of note, lung cancer is the most common
cancer overall.) In 2004, there were 216,000 cases of inva- GRN = SCI Greene
Jerome Marshall
175 Progress Drive
sive breast cancer and approximately 40,000 deaths. No AY-5932, GRN
Waynesburg, PA
wonder this illness receives so much attention! The good Thomas James Meadows 15370-8090
news is that rates relating to mortality are decreasing as BL-5087, GRA
a result of improved screening methods and treatment. MUN = SCI Muncy
David Allen Sattazahn Post Office Box 180
What is breast cancer? Harrison’s Principles of Internal BT-7445, GRN Muncy, PA 17756-0180
Medicine says it best: “Breast cancer is a hormone-
dependent disease.” The next line is more telling: “Women If you do not want your name published, send a letter to
without functioning ovaries who never receive estrogen Graterfriends each year you do not want it to be included.
replacement therapy do not develop breast cancer.” Be sure to note your date of birth.
In short, anything that decreases a woman’s exposure
to estrogen decreases her risk of getting breast cancer. CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS
For example, early initiation of menarche (your period)
coupled with the late onset of menopause increases risk. Below are the solutions to crossword puzzles printed in this
Furthermore, never having gone through pregnancy (a issue and the previous issue of Graterfriends.
full term one) has the same effect. (Curiously, a protec-
tive effect occurs only if the pregnancy takes place after December 2011 January 2012
the age of 18.) Your risk of getting breast cancer also
increases with age.
It’s important to note that not all breast abnormalities
are related to breast cancer, especially in younger
women. A “mass” could be a cyst, fatty changes within
the tissue of the breast, an anomaly related to the hor-
mone changes that occur during the cycling of menstrua-
tion, or any number of benign conditions. The important
take-home message is to learn the unique architecture of
your own breasts and bring any changes to the attention
of a physician immediately. Coupled with regularly-
performed mammograms starting at the age of 40, self-
exams help to reduce the rate of breast cancer.
What will happen if a mass is detected? It depends. apy, radiation, and specialized drugs that act as “anti-
However, the most important consideration is establish- hormones.” These treatment recommendations are al-
ing a diagnosis and finding out how far the cancer has ways changing, so it’s difficult to summarize them all.
spread. (For example, has it moved beyond the breast to
the lymph nodes or beyond?) Another consideration is Of special note, to all those who have a diagnosis of
determining if the cancer is “hormone responsive.” In breast cancer while in the DOC’s custody: I send you my
other words, does the cancer have receptors that bind concern and prayers. It’s scary to undergo the complica-
estrogen? All these situations have implications regard- tions of this illness while away from family and friends. I
ing treatment, from local surgery that conserves the want you to know that you are not alone, that the women
breast to radical mastectomy coupled with chemother- haven’t been forgotten.

4



Legislative Highlights
Ann Schwartzman
Policy Director, The Pennsylvania Prison Society

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate are in session for several voting days during the holidays.
Below are several bills that are currently under consideration and moving. Please note that SB1153 is still in the
Senate Judiciary Committee.

BILL NO. DESCRIPTION CHIEF SPONSOR PPS POSITION
PRINTER NO.
HB 1958 Revises registration for sexual offenders in relation to Rep. R. Marsico Oppose
PN 2702 SORNA and federal stipulations. Certain juveniles who R-Dauphin
are transient or homeless must register as sex offend-
ers. (see SB 1183) (Amended in House Judiciary
Committee 12/5/11; now on House Floor)
HB 1963 Calls for sentencing enhancement by the court for cer- Rep. W. Keller Oppose
PN 2710 tain firearms offenses by those on probation or parole. D-Philadelphia
Will be a consecutive sentence if found guilty. (In
House Judiciary 11/3/11)

SB 100 Provides for prison reform measures such as risk as- Sen. S. Greenleaf Support
PN 1668 sessment, alternative sentencing, pre-release, and R-Montgomery and
more. (Passed Senate 10/18/11; referred to House Bucks
Judiciary 10/19/11)
SB 397 Prohibits the death sentence for cases of mental retar- Sen. M. J. White Support
PN 380 dation post-trial. (Passed Senate 10/18/11; R-Butler, Clarion,
referred to House Judiciary 10/19/11) Erie, Forest,
Venango, Warren

SB 775 Further provides for mandatory DNA testing; includes Sen. D. Pileggi Oppose
PN 1826 arrestees and those charged with crimes; mandatory R-Chester, Delaware
DNA sampling and record purging; impact and costs for
Pa. State Police. (Passed Senate Judiciary and
Appropriations 12/6/11; sent to Senate floor 12/7/11)
SB 1183 Extensively revises provisions relating to registration of Sen. J.C. Orie Oppose
PN 1821 sexual offenders, pursuant to federal mandate; makes R-Allegheny, Butler
editorial changes. (see HB 1958) (Passed Senate
11/15/11; Amended in House Judiciary 12/5/11)

SB 1220 Requires expungement of criminal history records for Sen. T. Solobay Support
PN 1496 certain misdemeanors committed when under the age D-Allegheny, Beaver,
of 25. (Passed Senate Judiciary 9/27/11; now in Green, Washington,
Senate Appropriations 10/25/11) Westmoreland

Society’s Mirror, continued from page 2 shame, we need to stop peering into society’s mirror,
expecting strangers to legitimatize us. People who do
worth as a person, or the value of our relationship, then not know or care about us cannot be our vessel for vali-
we are sure to receive carnival-like reactions. Fun begins dation. When we examine ourselves in our own looking
when we recognize we do not have to prove anything to glass and recognize our true being, not the twisted,
anyone outside ourselves. mangled, distortion of having a partner in prison,
shame dissipates.
Being ashamed about our partners’ incarceration
means believing the distortions, “We are not worthy.” Reesy Floyd-Thompson is the founder of Prisoners’
“No one understands.” “We don’t matter.” “We are crazy.” Wives, Girlfriends, & Partners (PWGP). Contact her at
This is absolutely 100 percent not true. To eradicate pwgp.org

5



simply because of the following:

Legal Chat
• Phone calls from here to Philly are $13.50; to New
York, $20. Local calls are $5.50-$7.50.
• Commissary items are much more expensive, and
the maximum spending limit is $60.
• Visits are 30 to 45 minutes and are non-contact.
The only exception is the Charlie Unit, which re-
ARE YOUR MEDICAL NEEDS NEGLECTED? ceives two-hour non-contact visits.
There indeed are a number of other issues that I have
Many Pennsylvania state inmates do not know that not touched on. But if you are in the process of an appeal,
physicians and physician assistants are required to be you are in trouble because the law library is not adequate.
licensed, and failure to properly care for patients can be
investigated and disciplinary action taken by the state. In the event your number is called and you’re told
They are licensed through the Department of State. If “pack up, ID Room,” get all your affairs in order.
you believe you are not being properly treated for your Jamal McNeil
medical condition, file a complaint against them, as well DE-8533, Lackawanna County Prison
as Prison Health Services (105 Westpark Drive, Brent-
wood, TN 37027). Include Prison Health Services in your
complaint. Write to the address below and ask for a
“Statement of Complaint” form to file against a medical BEWARE OF BIAS
professional or physician:
Anyone pursuing relief for “convicted criminals” before
Department of State the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court should consider
Professional Compliance Office submitting a related motion for recusal of Anne Covey,
2601 N. 3rd St. that court’s newest member.
PO Box 2649
Harrisburg, PA 17105 During the 2011 election campaign for a vacant seat on
the Commonwealth Court, Ms. Covey’s campaign televised
The more of you who speak out about the lack of proper daily political ads that derided her opponent for having
medical care, the sooner you can make changes in how your sought, “to spend your tax dollars to register convicted
medical needs are handled. Changes come from everyone criminals to vote.” She added: “That’s just nonsense!” Any-
speaking, and filing complaints can make a difference. one who so blatantly heralds such bias against convicted
Ted Savage, criminals cannot be trusted to suppress such prejudice
CB-2674, SCI Cresson during the court’s disposition of civil cases involving any
aspect of relief sought by a “convicted criminal.”
Prior to 2001, convicted felons were denied the right to
register to vote for five years following release from
IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE prison. The Commonwealth Court annulled that five-
year restriction, which was the foundation for Ms.
Recently I was ambushed and told to pack for transfer. Covey’s anti-convict-registration campaign ads.
It was a Wednesday, so of course I already knew where I
Imagine what that court’s decision may have been had
was going — Lackawanna County Prison (LCP). After
Ms. Covey then been a court member espousing her bias
spending 15.5 years in a state prison, out of the blue I
against convicted criminals registering to vote.
was told to pack for a move I never requested. Appar-
ently, I fit the requirements, which include: Jon E. Yount
AC-8297, SCI Greene
• Misconduct-free for at least 6 months
• Good block and work reports
• Not serving a life sentence
When submitting a letter or column
I was also informed that the legislature is the one who
authorized the Department of Corrections to move state to Graterfriends for publication,
inmates to county facilities. I don’t know if that is true. I please remember to attach a letter
was told that I must stay at least 9-18 months before I
can return to SCI Dallas, and that there are specific re- (or note on your submission) that it
quirements for my return. Regardless of my transfer
status, I’m not to be housed at LCP for more than two
is for publication and that you are
years, and I must use a request slip to get a transfer the original author; date and sign
back to Dallas.
the declaration. Thank you.
This is a financial burden upon me and my loved ones,

6



Through a Join the Pennsylvania Prison Society’s

Far Eastern Poster Competition
Window
by Michael H. Fox to celebrate
our 225th anniversary!
"RIKAI," NOT REVENGE

Sitting in an interior lobby at SCI Greene en route to
visiting my friends on death row, I struck up a conversation Posters due by the
with the corrections officer (CO) overseeing the drug detec-
tion machine. Whenever I am back in the United States, I end of this month!
make it a point to chat with COs. Like a trip to Walmart, it
is a clear glimpse into the raw heart of America.
This competition is open
“I don't see why we don’t execute,” he remarked. “It to all prisoners in Pennsylvania.
really is unjustifiable.” “No, actually there are many rea-
sons,” I responded: “the possibility of executing the inno- Requirements
cent; the chance of a botched procedure (like Romell
Broom in Ohio — still alive); and the lack of closure for • Posters must be received by January 31, 2012 at
the family of victims.” our office (see address on page 2).

Not wanting to lecture, I stopped short. But I did skip • Posters must be either 11x17 inches or 18x24
one significant reason: the importance of comprehending inches.
the motivation behind the action. Why crimes occur, and • Artwork requires an accompanying paragraph or
who commit them, is a critical concern of modern sociology. two about the artist.

Interestingly enough, this very topic is in the forefront The posters will be judged by a three judge panel, exhibited
of news here in Japan. Several days ago, the last defen- at Eastern State Penitentiary in April 2012, and the follow-
dant in the crimes committed by a religious cult in the ing month at our annual meeting. They will also be dis-
1990s was sentenced to death. Overall, dozens received played on the Prison Society’s website.
criminal convictions, and 13 were sentenced to death.
The 12 winning posters will be made into a calendar for the
The most heinous crime was the release of sarin gas on Prison Society and the winners will each receive a small gift
Tokyo subways in March 1995. Twelve died, and hun- certificate from Jerry’s Artarama. Once submitted, owner-
dreds were sickened. And in 1989, well before the gas- ship of the artwork and reproduction rights become those of
the Prison Society.
sings, a lawyer investigating the cult, his wife and young
baby, were murdered.

The disaster brought a rage of hate against the cult.
But as the public knows, the cult does not carry sole re- Regarding Ms. Eakle’s
sponsibility for the tragedy. The attorney mentioned
above was interviewed for a documentary. He and his
Sex Offender Reentry
family disappeared after the interview’s contents were Program
leaked to the cult. The TV station should have informed
the authorities, but chose to hush up the incident.
Many of you have been inquiring
Likewise, after the murder, a high-ranking member of
the group went to the police and requested mercy in ex- about Ms. Eakle’s Sex Offender
change for information. His ministrations were ignored. Reentry Program, which was in
Had the media informed the police of the interview, and
had the police listened to the whistleblower, many more the July issue of Graterfriends.
people today would be alive.

Support for the death penalty runs high in Japan. Un-
Unfortunately, we have since
der the Confucian mentality, one is supposed to exercise found out that this program does
self-control and sacrifice egoistic intentions for commu-
nal advancement. Those who infringe these strictures not exist. We regret the frustration
and confusion this has caused.
(See Rikai, continued on page 11)

7



were fired and arrested for abusing prisoners and allow-
ing them to be assaulted sexually and otherwise. While

Mailroom these examples stand out and are in the public eye (and
will be excused by some as isolated incidents), in reality
these situations occur frequently — perhaps to a lesser
degree almost every day — but they are not exposed.
Those in authority should stop fronting and start doing
RE: SCARED the right thing by us because they won’t always be in a
position that allows them to abuse their power. When
Ms. Hartsfield-Stokes states that the system has failed
they fall, they will be on the same level as us. They
us because people are getting killed for being good citi-
might wind up being our cellies. How much power and
zens and testifying in court. If I understood the letter
authority will they have then?
correctly, people should be encouraged to cooperate with
the system to help incarcerate more people, but on the Michael Twiggs
other hand the system is corrupt and unjust. AF-6967, SCI Greene
I understand that something has to be done to stop
violence in society, but prisons are full and crime has YOU MAY HAVE UNCLAIMED MONEY
only gotten worse. Speaking from my experience with the
system for over a decade, many people that do testify I am a prisoner, have been for some time now. The first
have ulterior motives. Some are involved in the case and part of my sentence was at SCI Albion. I’m now at SCI
sell their co-defendants out to receive a lesser sentence. Dallas, closer to my home for my family. Now 52 years
Many lie. Some honestly report a crime they witness. So, old, I try not to let this place harden me. I’m a lifer, and I
they take one person off the streets, then what? Are the believe to help myself is to help others. There are a lot of
streets now safe with him in prison for life, or sitting on us who were never able to return to our homes, apart-
death row? I’ve been in prison for almost 14 years. Is my ments, or other places where we paid bills, down pay-
neighborhood safer because I am in here? Not at all — it ments, security deposits, or income tax refunds that we
is worse. A new generation has taken my place. Many of never received.
them are more of a danger to society then I was then, or
The state may be holding this money for people, and to
am now. find out costs nothing. I did not think I had anything
I don’t understand how anyone can be about justice but coming, but I did, and so did two of my friends here in
promote the idea of imprisoning more people to rot in prison. If you want to see if the state is holding money
these prisons. Many prisoners are children that are only owed to you, just follow the instructions below. You can
a product of their environment. even claim money that was owed to a deceased family
How many prisons have to be built, how many children member who never claimed it.
have to rot their lives away in these so-called “correct- Write a letter requesting a record search for possible
ional” institutions before society sees that this is not the money owed to you, and that you are asking them to
answer to the problems in our communities? If society send you the necessary forms to fill out to claim that
does not understand that we must use alternatives to money. Be sure to include your full name and sign the
incarceration, it will only get worse. letter. Ask them to send any correspondence to your cur-
Shariff Ingram rent address.
DV-6749, SCI Greene
Send the letter to:
Pennsylvania Treasury Dept.
A CULTURE OF ABUSE OF POWER Bureau of Unclaimed Property
IN PENNSYLVANIA PO Box 1837
Harrisburg, PA 17105-1837
By the time this is printed, the eyes of the nation may Timothy Mark Dodge
no longer be focused on Pennsylvania. However, at the EP-6184, SCI Dallas
time I’m writing this, the nation is transfixed on the she-
nanigans of individuals entrusted with authority over
others — children, in this case. The Penn State debacle MY HAT IS OFF TO THE OCCUPY MOVEMENT
highlights a culture of abuse of power and authority of-
ten practiced by individuals who are responsible for pro- My hat is off to the Occupy Wall Street and related
tecting the rights of others. “Occupy” protestors throughout the country.
We recently discovered that Pennsylvania leads the Public recognition of the immense economic inequal-
nation and the world in jailing its juveniles for life with- ity that our nation not only harbors but nourishes is
out the possibility of parole. Pennsylvania judges have long overdue.
been convicted of sending juveniles to jails and other For too long, the wealthiest one percent of our popula-
facilities for cash profit. Pennsylvania legislators have tion has manipulated and used the rest of us in an ongo-
been charged and convicted for corruption and abuse of ing effort to provide themselves with a seemingly endless
power. Several correctional officers at SCI Pittsburgh supply of luxuries. It is time to break this cycle.

8



Hopefully, any success achieved by the Occupy move-
ment will include easing the oppression of those at the
very bottom of the socio-economic exploited heap —
namely, prison inmates. Medical
Alert
Corrections employees have always depended on a
steady influx of prisoners for their livelihood. However, in
the last couple of decades, large and wealthy corpora-
tions, such as Corrections Corporation of America, Keefe
Commissary Network, and Aramark Correctional Ser-
vices, have been increasingly influential in absorbing UNDERSTANDING PROSTATE CANCER
huge profits from the misery of prisoners. These corpora-
tions vehemently oppose plans to reduce prison popula- Mr. Antonio Thomas (GG-1872, SCI Graterford) has
tions through parole, good time, or clemency by procuring sent us more information regarding prostate cancer that
lobbyists to be “tough on crime.” Meanwhile, prisoners he wants all readers to see. Thank you, Mr. Thomas, for
are left captive consumers with no option but to use these helping others who are dealing with this disease while
services. This, too, is a cycle that needs to be broken. incarcerated. The following information is from Us TOO
International Prostate Cancer Education and Support
I wish the Occupy protestors well, and appreciate the Network (www.ustoo.org).
struggle and sacrifices they are making.
Jeffrey Watson Stage I (T1) and stage II (T2) cancers are found only in
AY-7494, SCI Dallas the prostate. T1 cancers are small enough that your doc-
tor is unable to feel it during your DRE (Digital Rectal
Examination). T2 cancers are larger and can be felt as
firmness or a lump on a DRE. Stage III (T3) and Stage
SOUND ADVICE TO TAKE INTO THE NEW IV (T4) cancers are no longer confined to the prostate
YEAR AND BEYOND gland. T3 cancers have spread to nearby tissues but still
remain inside the pelvic area. T4 tumors deeply invade
Plan your work and work your plan. Learn to love in- surrounding tissues and may have metastasized to
stead of hate. Spend less time talking and more time lymph nodes or bone.
listening. Stop spending your money in places you are Prostate cancer appears to transition from latent to
not respected and appreciated. Only cowards remain aggressive disease sooner, and to grow more rapidly, in
silent when they know something is wrong and that it African-American (AA) men than in men of European-
needs to be corrected. Always examine both sides of the American ancestry. Dr. Isaac J. Powell of Wayne State
story. If you do not know the history of your ancestors University School of Medicine in Detroit has found that
and their struggles, you are doomed to make the same although the average age at diagnosis does not differ
mistakes. It is wise to share when you have more than between the two races, specimens from black men had
others. Take responsibility for what is yours. Say no to great cancer volume at a higher stage. Prostate cancer is
anything that does not validate or support who you are. four times as likely to be advanced or metastasized in
One must give respect to get respect. Teach your children black as in white men.
the truth. Take time to laugh. Set an example. Think
and examine before doing. Forgive, but don’t forget. Have Lifestyle factors that may contribute to prostate cancer
faith. Strive for excellence. Don’t stress about things or include obesity and diets high in fat.
situations over which you have no power. Know that you
Dr. Stephen Freedland of Duke University Medical
deserve better; dream it, see it, taste it, touch it, live it.
Center writes, “Although our contention that prostate
Be your own best friend. Understand the power of words;
cancer grows more rapidly and transforms earlier from
they can cut, crush, soothe, heal, and create. Keep your
latent to aggressive disease in AA men requires valida-
word. Choose your battles wisely, and know that a sol-
tion, it is undisputed that AA men bear a greater pros-
dier never knows his/her strengths until he/she meets a
tate cancer burden…Continued efforts to vigorously
foe. Learn to rise when you fall, and when you rise, stand
screen for prostate cancer and understand underlying
tall. Know that no one can ride your back unless it is
reasons for more aggressive disease in AA men are des-
bent. Success only comes to those who have the courage
to pursue their dreams. It is often necessary to fight a
battle more than once before you win. The pessimist sees We have an incredible opportunity to reshape
difficulty in every opportunity, while the optimist sees
opportunity in every difficulty. When successful people the way in which our nation fights poverty,
make mistakes they don’t quit, they keep trying; that’s and one of the most critical elements is to
how they became successful in the first place. When you significantly and substantively reform our
get closer to that mysterious Reality out of which all
things emerge, and into which all things return, you will prison system to break the cycle of recidivism.
become closer to God.
—Sam Brownback (R)
George Rahsaan Brooks-Bey Governor of Kansas
AP-4884, SCI Frackville

9



treacherous downhill grade – a dead end line with fatal
consequences. Your journey has evolved into a life or
Literary death struggle. The hurtling juggernaut tosses you
about, as you attempt to make sense of your predica-

Corner
ment.
You manage to work your way forward, only to discover
that the engineer and the crew are asleep, and refuse to
wake up. As it turns out, you are the only passenger. You
see – the engineer is actually a judge and the crew de-
DEATH ROW RAILROAD fense attorneys. The police and prosecutor have diverted
by Kevin Brian Dowling, DY-6243, SCI Greene your train in an act of sabotage.
The smooth rails of truth and righteousness have been
A shrill whistle blows and pierces the stillness of the replaced with the warped iron of lies and deceit.
dawn, as the train approaches at a rhythmic gait, until it
stops to pick up its precious cargo. The journey begins Emblazoned on the screaming engine is the name
like any other, yet unlike any other. “Freedom.” Your destination was the town called
“Justice,” but that is not where you are headed. Your
You are unsure of your destination, only that you were ticket says, “One Way Only,” and was compliments of the
told to climb aboard. You assume the tracks are solid and house.
the course is certain, trusting the crew to guide you
safely to your station. There is only one stop on the Death Row Railroad.

Without warning, the tracks divert the locomotive onto a Prepare to disembark.

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10



Lifers, continued from page 12

were attending a World Congress at the University of
Pennsylvania. The Graterford meeting was titled
“Ending the Culture of Street Crime.” The inmates pre-
sented their paper and sought feedback from the distin-
guished visitors. It was a truly remarkable undertaking
and it continues today.

In similar fashion, lifers at SCI Dallas developed a re-
storative justice program called a “Day of Responsibil-
ity.” The men spend an entire day in sessions with crime
victims, community leaders and others and they discuss
in raw and vivid detail how crimes such as the ones they
committed have hurt their victims, their families and
their communities. In the end they ask participants to
pledge to themselves to live a better life.

The Day of Responsibility is now held at Retreat, Hun-
tingdon and other prisons using a guidebook available at
the Prison Society.

None of this should suggest that life in prison is any-
Across Down
thing pleasant or that inmates don’t get depressed. But
in the gloom and misery of life behind bars, it is possible
1. Coin opening 1. Tater
to construct something of a positive life experience.
5. Mas’ mates 2. Ear part
8. Certain evergreen tree 3. Aces, sometimes
That’s a New Year’s resolution worth making.
12. Small horse 4. What the Michelin man
13. Illuminated sells in England
14. Length times width 5. High tableland
15. Above, in Berlin 6. Be under the weather
16. Beer 7. Knight'’s mount
17. Send 8. Did a decorating job
18. Dry place 9. __ horse (locomotive)
20. Happenings 10. Egg holder Rikai, continued from page 7
22. Fast driver 11. Diner sign
24. Exposed part of an iceberg 19. Certain weapon, abbrev.
27. Tank filler 21. Dog doctor deserve severe reprimand. The death penalty reinforces
28. Camper’s shelters 23. School assignment this mindset.
32. Brainwave 24. Food container
For these reasons, those of us in the abolitionist camp
34. Employ 25. Bachelor’s last words
were rather shocked when the victims support group
36. Bug spray ingredient 26. The ‘p’ in m.p.g.
publicly announced opposition to placing 12 of the 13 cult
37. Civil War side 29. Colo. neighbor
defendants (minus the leader) on death row.
39. Will Smith title role 30. Mad Hatter's drink
41. San Francisco or Chesa- 31. Pig’s enclosure These defendants are not a ragtag bunch of social mis-
peake, for example 33. Map books fits. Most of the twelve have advanced degrees (medicine,
42. Courtroom VIPs 35. Put in office immunology) from flagship universities. The abandon-
45. Make waves 38. Controls ment of occupation and family by social elites for a new
48. Crowds in on 40. Like some verbs, abbrev. religion with a blind, apocalyptic guru is a perplexing
52. Bakery offerings 43. Humpback, e.g. phenomenon. It demands study.
53. Inclined 44. Smooths
Instead of execution, the survivors group has called
55. “Me neither” 45. Unwanted e-mail
for “rikai” — a term that embraces enquiry, compre-
56. Basilica area 46. Organ part hension, and sympathy. Such progressive thinking
57. Fib 47. Not as much deserves commendation. Rikai, rather than revenge,
58. Haul 49. “Encore!” comforts the deceased, brings closure to victims, and
59. Clutter 50. Kind of fall advances humanity.
60. Call off 51. Email enders, abbrev.
61. Adjusts, as a clock 54. ATM need
Michael H. Fox is director of the Japan Innocence and
Easy Crossword #11 by Dave Fisher (puzzles.about.com) For solution, see page 4. Death Penalty Research Center (www.jiadep.org).

11


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THE LAST WORD

Lifers Find Ways to Give Their Lives Meaning, Even Behind Bars
by William M. DiMascio
Executive Director, The Pennsylvania Prison Society

With such a huge number of men and women serving sen- at SCI Graterford, re-focused itself several years ago.
tences of life without possibility of parole, the question often The organization used to meet periodically with the sole
comes up about how one manages to live without hope. intention of finding ways to advocate for parole release.
But as commutations slowed to a trickle and the political
I have yet to meet a prisoner who does not want to be environment turned increasingly sour, members began
free. There are some, of course, who are probably better thinking about more positive pursuits.
off in prison than they would be on the street. Still, the
desire for freedom is a powerful draw and for lifers it can They began strategizing about what they might do to
be the cause of deep depression. change the culture of street crime. They acknowledged
the damage they had done to their communities and
Somehow, however, these lifers get by – not especially their families and wondered what they might do from
pleased or happy with their circumstance – but trudging prison to improve the situations their families were con-
along one day at a time. For most of them, the dream of tinuing to experience.
freedom dies slowly; eventually, though, reality pro-
claims itself. For some, at least, this is a turning point The result was the Public Safety Initiative – an effort
because as the dream fades so too does their depression. by men convicted of murder or being accomplices to mur-
der to convince others who were eligible for parole to
One seasoned prison visitor who also happens to be a become kind of urban missionaries when they were re-
noted psychiatrist recounts this experience from a meet- leased. They wanted the men getting out to not return to
ing with a group of lifers: prison as so many do but also to talk truth to younger
men who appeared to be headed for incarceration.
“I once asked them how they can be so cheerful and
joke with one another and seem not to have any depres- The organizers were convinced that they alone, by vir-
sion. They were quiet for a few minutes and finally came tue of their own experience in the life, could persuade
up with one answer with which everyone agreed. They others to chart a different course.
say, ‘We have each other.’ They are able to make a fam-
ily out of fellow prisoners to whom they attach.” Methodically, these men met and deliberated on how
best to achieve their goals. They wrote a white paper
Hope is a yearning for something which leads to de- explaining their theory and had it published in the
spair if it is unrealized. But hope of a sort may be re- Prison Journal.
channeled to focus not on what is out of reach but on
what can be accomplished. Then, in 2005, they hosted a conference at Graterford
for scores of criminologists from around the world who
Lifers, Inc., the organization of life sentenced prisoners
(see Lifers, continued on page 11)

12


January 2012 Graterfriends newsletter

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