The Nation’s Correctional Staffing Crisis: The Toll on Incarcerated People

Recently, the editor of Brilliance Behind Bars was called before the U.S. Senate to give testimony on the understaffing crisis effecting prisons nationwide. She represented our interests with great compassion and much needed perspective. It is now our turn to support her efforts with our own experiences and insights. Let’s allow the public a real glimpse into our struggle as incarcerated people living in a prison understaffed…

For decades, prison has been held as an institution designed to mete out punishment to “evil-doers.” As time has progressed, so too did the caricature of the inhuman prisoner within the social conscience of the public. This depiction has led to a dangerous lack of concern for prisoner security, treatment, and adequate staffing to conduct daily, essential operations.

In the wake of the Coronavirus Pandemic, no areas of industry was left unscathed by understaffing issues. But there is a stark difference between the need for fast food service workers to tighten up lapses between combo meals served to various customers and the need for correctional staff to maintain the order and operation of a coercive institution and its hundreds of long-term residents.

Correctional facilities are more akin to state hospital and nursing homes fundamentally, being that its residents are forced to stay in such facilities. Residents of these type of facilities are solely dependent on the facility to provide critical medical care and treatment programs designed to aid in social and psychological health and development.

Given that prisons are institutions filled with residents living in close quarter communities, lack of proper staff often leaves responsibilities of security and treatment to fall to the hands of other prisoners. I, myself, have even had to serve as an interim first responder during medical emergencies involving other incarcerated. Ironically, the institution has enacted policies to deter the incarcerated from lending aid to others, but have yet to solve the very real crisis of understaffing in prisons in this state and nationwide. Also worthy of recognition is the incarcerated community’s drive to create treatment programs amongst themselves in spite of the lack thereof provided by the facility.

It is well documented that some private corporations have exploited the widely accepted practice of understaffing prisons in order to increase their profit margins. Although, we cannot exclude the fact that this was made possible by governments diverting interest in funding prisons as institutions of rehabilitation, and opting to view prisons as human warehouses for the disadvantaged. This is a framing that is more favorable to the rhetoric on the economic benefit than actual social benefit. Also, it’s no secret that working in a prison isn’t the most desirable work environment.

2020 did not cause prisons to be dangerously understaffed. 2020 only unveiled a deep-rooted practice that has been the void of compassion for human life for over 25 years in the making. The current state of prisons in America are echoes of the prison ‘reforms’ of ’95. Thirty years later, we clearly see the product of debased political agendas and public susceptibility to crime-based propaganda. That is, mass incarceration, a nationwide prison understaffing crisis, and instability socially and economically.

Note: I do not wish to end this writing without stating how very proud I am of each and every one of the incarcerated who have utilized their time and effort seeking not only the rehabilitation of themselves, but also that of their fellow incarcerated. Each member of the incarcerated population was forced into this situation and have so much stacked up against them, but these individuals have maintained the strength in spirit and the depth of human will that is undeniably world-changing. I pray that each one of you find your freedom physically one day, because you have already achieved a level of freedom mentally that few will ever experience.

Your spirit is tried and your spirit is, without a shadow of a doubt, TRUE. You are the torchbearers–your light leads the way through some of the thickest darkness known to the civilized world…

Love and Peace,
Q

Prompt: As mentioned above, we want to know about your experiences. Feel free to free-write, or to use the thought starter questions below:
1. How has short staffing affected your livelihood as an incarcerated individual?
2. What do you think is the cause of understaffing of prisons nationwide?
3. Are there any highlights of positivity that you have witnessed during your incarceration in regards to staffing?

10 TOES DOWN

by Lord Serious

During the pandemic I began noticing an increase in the number of inmates nodding out in the pod. I had seen this behavior before, and I was aware that it was one of the many side effects of abusing opioids. I even remember the first death I encountered due to an opioid overdose. It happened a few years before the pandemic while I was at Lawrenceville Correctional Center. The deceased was an older White inmate who lived in the cell next door to me, everyone called him Bullwinkle.

He didn’t fit the stereotypical image of an addict; what I mean is that there was nothing in Bullwinkle’s appearance or behavior that would confirm the biased mind’s expectations that this he was an abuser of narcotics. Perhaps this is why I was caught so off guard when things transpired the way they did. Bullwinkle appeared normal and upbeat most days. He showed no signs of being under the influence of any substances when I interacted with him. Though our exchanges were brief and usually involved a greeting and a few polite words as we passed each other entering and exiting our respective cells. Nevertheless, the memory of that night when he was found unresponsive in his cell remains fresh in my mind.

I remember his cellmate being frantic. He wanted my cellmate to help revive him with ice while he found somewhere to hide his knife. Unfortunately, Bullwinkle was in bad shape and his cellmate had no choice but to alert staff knowing full well he would be sent to solitary and placed under investigation for Bullwinkle’s death. I remember the correctional officers and nurses rushing in. The officer’s began locking the pod down while they escorted Bullwinkle’s cellmate away in handcuffs.

About 15 minutes later the paramedics had arrived with a gurney and a defibrillator. They tried to revive Bullwinkle for about 20 minutes before pronouncing him dead. His cell had now become his temporary tomb, Bullwinkle’s body would remain there for it’s interment until the medical examiner could arrive. A correctional officer was given the duty to guard the cell until the body was exhumed and evidence could be collected. I lay in my bunk that night being lulled to sleep by the officer’s radio chatter. I awoke the next morning to find both the guard and Bullwinkle’s body gone. They each had been replaced by the crime scene tape that made a giant “X” across the cell door.

Unfortunately, Bullwinkle would not be the last inmate to die from an overdose while in VDOC custody. There are many other inmates whom I knew personally who have also had the misfortune of turning their prison sentence into a death sentence, because they were not given access to the necessary treatment to heal their disease. Yes, addiction is a disease, and like any other mental health disease those who suffer from it should not be denied treatment. Neither is it appropriate to expect addicts to have enough willpower to stop using on their own. Empathy is a super power and one sign of higher intelligence for social creatures. Addicts are people who are suffering and they deserve help whether they are free or incarcerated.

Many men I knew and respected have become opioid addicts in prison. I have watched men with the brightest minds, and those with the strongest bodies lose their personal battle with addiction and die from an overdose. These men all had release dates. They all had families who looked forward to their return home some day. They were husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers.

Although they may not have all had the best relationships with their family, I’m certain they were all loved by someone. However, I don’t think all of them were transparent with their loved ones about their struggles with addiction. A lot of these men had no history of using opioids, they didn’t come to prison as opioid abusers. But there was something different about being incarcerated during the pandemic that made prison even more intolerable and unbearable.

All visitation was cancelled, but somehow more fentanyl kept coming into the prison everyday. Shortages of staff required institutional lockdowns which meant we could not use the phone to call home. When we did finally reestablish phone contact we were devastated to learn that a close friend or family member had contracted the virus, or worse, someone we knew had died.

We witnessed inmates show signs of being infected knowing full well that a staff member had to be responsible for introducing the pathogen into our closed environment. Each day our anxiety and depression had us on edge. The fear and uncertainty we experienced behind these concrete walls and razor wire fences had all it our fight or flight responses on full alert.

But there was no escape, and no relief in sight. Due to staff shortages the prisoners basically ran this institution. Prisoners conducted the feeding, prisoners distributed mail, and prisoners began oppressing other prisoners. During the pandemic gang melees and knife fights were happening daily and most went unreported and undocumented. We were all depressed, scared, and angry, but those who couldn’t withstand the psychological stress any longer sought refuge in drugs as a means to escape.

I was aware of the decline of our morale. Something had to be done, but I really didn’t know what I could do to change it. However, I began to notice a pattern in these addicts behavior. In the beginning of their drug abuse most of them tried to conceal it. They were conscious of who was around when they bought or used. They took great pains to prevent people from gossiping about them using narcotics. But when they began to publicly nod out in the pod it was, because their addiction had reached the point where they no longer were in control.

I approached my building’s Unit Manager T. Green about allowing me to teach a drug program. She responded, “Boughton they’ve cancelled all programs in the gym because they are using the gym to quarantine sick offenders.” “Green I don’t need to teach the program in the gym,” I countered, “I could teach the program in the pods.” Green replied, “But they don’t want offenders gathering in large groups due to social distancing.

When the new warden arrived I was told that within a staff meeting Tatum acknowledged that there was a drug epidemic occurring here at L.V.C.C, and he was open to any suggestions on how to solve this problem. Unit Manager Green thought of me and informed Warden Tatum that she had offender’s in her building who had offered to teach drug programs. Unit Manager Green asked me to submit a proposal. At the time though I didn’t actually have my own drug program. I was only seeking to be a co-facilitator of Twan-P’s, Coping Opioid Addiction Treatment (C.O.A.Ts) program. I submitted the proposal on behalf and the C.O.A.Ts program and Twan-P and I anxiously awaited the Wardens response.

It would be about another year before 81 pod would be converted into a peer led interactive community with a heavy focus on drug rehabilitation. It would be called “My Next Step” by this time Twan-P no longer wished to participate. Therefore, I decided to develop my own drug program to teach to the inmates who were housed in the “My Next Step” pod. I enlisted the help of my brother Poetic Life Allah (Jefferson Elie) and together we co-created the 10 TOES DOWN PROGRAM.

I will include a few reviews from some of the guys who participated in our program. I must note that many of the participants only reference me, because Unit Manager Green would only allow me to facilitate 10 TOES DOWN program. However, Poetic’s contribution though behind the scenes was essential to it’s success. And I have taken the liberty to edit the spelling and grammatical errors to make it easier for the reader to understand the message they each wished to convey:

**************************
Wayne Boyd #1139264
Pod 80-81 (103)
[Wayne committed suicide by hanging himself in the cell after leaving the “My Next Step” pod]

My name is Wayne Boyd when I first came to pod 81 I was very very, frustrated because I felt that I didn’t belong in this pod for what it was supposed to be; it’s purpose was for helping to get you right in other words. It wasn’t until one day I sat down in a group called (10 Toes Down), that’s when I became awaken to many issues I had hiding deep inside of my emotions which I was so not in tune with. Lord Serious with the awakening with his 10 Toes Down helped me to uncover some of my deep emotions, which needed to be addressed. He has helped me to heal some of the pain to be addressed of my deep situation of time and pain. We all need steps like this to help (us) all!! (10 Toes Down) yes its new that’s what makes it an awakening calling!! Just come and sit and listen to its calling. With that I leave you with we all need 10 Toes Down calling…
Truly yours!
W. Boyd

*************

The Ten Toes Down program has given me a lot of insight into myself & my addiction. It has changed me to deal with the Mental & Emotional issues that fuel my addiction. It taught me about Meta-Cognition & Cognitive dissonance. And how becoming consciously aware of these things is the beginning process in taking charge of my thought’s & my life. It then gave me techniques to Eliminate, Substitute, & Heal my addiction. At this point in the program I accepted the unpleasant consequences of my own actions & that my current reality is the by product of my choices and decisions. It was here that the seed of Recovery was planted. Yet I was unsure on how to tend to it, so it’d grow healthy? That’s when Lord Serious taught me how to cultivate that seed: #1) self-encouragement or from my support system, #2) think critically about the situation, #3) apply breathing techniques to control my emotions, #4) renew my commitment to my recovery, and #5) do something positive & productive to get my mind off my urge to use.

The Ten Toes Down program is founded upon sound principles that are meant to help the addict that still suffers. Its lessons are simple, yet when applied the results are profound. And I accredit my sobriety to Lord Serious & his Ten Toes Down program.

-SINCERELY ME-
DAWAIN HOPKINS (signature) #1060602 81-109

*********

The Ten Toes Down class has helped me in more ways than first thought it would. Even when I was in the hole I found myself thinking of the lessons I’ve learned along the way. It gave me a purpose even if for that moment. Before the Drug Program started back I still felt that Ten Toes Down lead me on the right track. It helped me sustain and gave me an outlet to something more. Thanks for the opportunity to even take Ten Toes Down. It shall continue.

Demons Tilantai Houchens
Cell-114 #1437799

************

213 R. Slayton
1176244
10 TOES DOWN

Mr. Boughton has been with us through all the ups and downs of the program. He showed up even after the program was cancelled.

He does his research on the subjects he presents and delivers them with a relevant twist. He has a loyal following because he brings positive messages to the group.

He is a good leader, not because we believe in him, but because he believes in us.

Sincerely,
(signature)
Robert Slayton

*****************************

8/30/23
I used to feel lost, disoriented, and off center for many years at L.V.C.C. I have been in every building up here at least once. In summary I reached rock bottom while serving time in prison. I volunteered to come to 81, while in 62 strung out and going home then in 5 months. I volunteered to come in a non-privilged pod. I met Lord Serious at 10 Toes Down p.m. Monday – Thursday class and instantly knew I was in the presence of an extremely gifted, intelligent, passionate, caring, empathetic teacher and guide. He donated his time, service and more to a group of willing participants with nothing to personally gain. His genuine concern mixed with knowledge and methodical breakdown of lessons inspired me to never miss a single class of his. I have learned about meta-cognition, cognitive behavior, behavioral science, and so much more. I honestly can say he rescued my mind from the chaos by organizing my thoughts with conscious tools and techniques. I now am proud of my current reality and my vision of my future is so bright that it blinds others when expressed. I prefer his methods of teaching, explaining and breakdown over any other. I owe him my future and will never be able to articulate my gratitude. Peace to the God !!
U
Jacob Harris
#1199267
#109

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THANK YOU – 10 TOES DOWN

Lord Serious, I thank you for bringing 10 Toes Down in my life. You came when you didn’t have to, every day you made your way into our lives. Life of mistakes, life of drug use, when you didn’t do drugs at all. You brought your heart and your love to let us know you cared about us doing these drugs that were killing us. How we can use these tools of 10 Toes Down to better our lives; and how we can reach out to people we hurt because of drugs, and let them know how we’re sorry, and how drugs messed our life up. But now we are going to use these tools – these tools of 10 Toes Down for life.

Cause my life matters. Q. Walton
And I love myself. #1077474

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10 Toes Down means a lot to me, because when I came into 81 pod Mr. J. R. Boughton reached out to me and showed me that I really had a drug problem that I thought couldn’t be cured. Boy was I in for a surprise when I really started to learn about the things I was really doing to myself. 10 Toes Down program really helped me when there wasn’t even a program in 81 pod anymore, because I had something to look forward to at the end of the day. 10 Toes Down program will always be a big part of my life and my recovery, because it taught me how to Think, Support, Renew, and guide the steps I take in life how to Tread. It was a FRESH START for me, because I had no one or any place else to go, and now that I’m actually finding out who I really am. I finished Book 2 and I hope and pray that there will be many more books to my life as well as to 10 Toes Down. Thank you for the opportunity to allow me to be apart of such a gracious program that I’ve learned about me and other people like me that have addictions like myself. Thank you Mr. James R. Boughton Jr (A.K.A Lord Serious) for just believing in me and allowing, and showing me, that others care about people like me. (-: ❤
“Always in my heart”
10 Toes Down !!!

Willie Wright
#1001446

THE MESSAGE IS ALWAYS CLEAR, A Poem

I, write this poem with an objective in mind,
If the message do not reach your senses that’ll be just fine,
When strangers meet, some depart as friends,
Totally oblivious to the elements within.
When the friendship delivers the road of truth,
We ask ourselves what sign’s did I Miss and who are you.
As we equivocate from the deep emotions inside,
We trick ourselves into sabotaging the precious prize.
The prize that we know should have been,
now float’s aimlessly in the breeze of sin.
As fragments of the precious prize return,
We deepens our conscience in an effort to learn.
For, consequences is a must in the face of the truth,
and excuses are not an option when you deny you.
So, let us be true to ourselves when the truth abounds,
That way the message is always clear and never move’s around.

Submitted by: Alexander Cameron #1172733
Beaumont Correctional Center
3500 Beaumont Road
Beaumont, Virginia 23014

Although Darkness Awaits

BY: D.V. JOHNSON, II

Our vices feed on our flesh,
Feeling so deeply immersed.
Drowning, FIGHTING for one breath,
Our Dreams & Passions we thirst…

All bottled-up suppressed pain,
Cathartic rhythms seep through.
Toxic expectations wane,
Birthing out of these drab blues.

Although darkness awaits us,
Wasted “TIME” will be refrained.
Turning pain, into PURPOSE!
POTENTIAL is now, UNCHAINED.

***DVJ’s Author Note: This piece, “ALTHOUGH DARKNESS AWAITS…..” was inspired by a writing assignment given in Virginia Tech Center for Humanities UNCHAINED Program held at River North Correctional Center. If you are have not read James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues,” you should. It provides our families/support systems a refined perspective into potential struggle we may face when re-entering society after being incarcerated.
Whether we battle/battled with substance abuse, alcoholism, mental illness and/or any other issues, that Darkness will still await us if/when we rejoin society.
I wrote “ALTHOUGH DARKNESS AWAITS…..” to let you know that you are not alone… To try to positively influence at least one person to Believe in their Potential to succeed in making the best possible use of their “TIME” they are serving.
Let’s ensure we prepare ourselves for whatever darkness may await…

Humbly,
D.V. JOHNSON, II (#1937011)

Education: A Key to a Prisoner’s Complete Freedom

Knowledge has long been revered by leaders throughout the ages as the path to freedom. Knowledge is the initiator of mankind’s inevitable enlightenment. But as it had been cultivated, trained, honed and thus educated it had rendered such sophistication as that found in our modern day society.

Since the longstanding practice of fire by light has sustained humankind and literally brought them out of the wilderness, education as a path to freedom stands true – in not only the actual sense, but also the proverbial and non-proverbial.

A miseducation can be rightfully referred to as an education not fixed upon freedom. The cause of a miseducation is predicated on the complete opposite – it is created to ensnare, to hold captive, to limit, and control. Granted the grace of reason, miseducation may falter and give over to greater. But to be ignorant – uneducated – that is the void of all hope and the absolute absence of power. None of us enter this world without paying our debt to ignorance – and since education is in itself a training, no one can hope to be born a master.

I, myself a mere human being on the verge of my 36th year of life am only starting to realize that education, in abundance, is crucial to achieving the most out of the human experience. Almost 20 years from being that stereotypical degenerate high school dropout, I pursued the same education I strived so diligently to avoid. Not only that, its at the sake of my own redemption. Incarcerated, I am able to work on a career in the legal profession. After experiencing the wrath of the American justice system firsthand, I hope to help restore communities by advocating for them in areas of law. The way I face my incarceration today, nearly at the end of a 20-year prison sentence, is with hope and aspiration. This is due to the last few years of me actively pursuing educational goals in a field that interests me.

The system is not oblivious to the value of education in the rehabilitative process. many states and federal correctional facilities offer GED and trade vocation courses, but educational opportunities in a wider field of industries and interests can be more than sustaining – they could be transformative. For too many incarcerated, those types of educational opportunities are almost impossible without help from sources outside of prison (family, loved ones, non-profits, etc.) I even enlisted the help of my now fiance’, where we managed to find an Sallie Mae educational loan with minimum payment of $50 a month. That was completely manageable with my institutional work check.

My rehabilitation reached its highest point once i could see my future through the lens of education and the freedom it had to offer. Higher education opportunities made widely available to the prison population has the potential to create the view of ‘corrections’ as an administration that enhances our communities, not destroy them. To have any hope of freeing the world, we must first focus on un-imprsioning our minds and free ourselves of the preconceived limitations falsely placed on the human spirit and its potential for redemption. If allowed, this prismatic form of thinking will continue to hold us back from the apex of social development and our advancement forward as a more unified force.

Love & Peace,
Q

How Can State Leaders Address Substance Abuse in Prison?

I’d like to reply to one of the questions you asked in the last prompt, which was: “What do you think the prime agents are that contribute to substance abuse in prison? And how can state leaders address this problem?”

Well, I think the prime agents that contribute to substance abuse in prison is the lack of prison officials and staff personnel in evaluating those individual inmates who have issues of substance abuse and/or have issues with abusing their current medications. They’re the individuals who need to attend substance abuse, not the inmates with no issues of substance abuse. Staff constantly force inmates into programs that they do not need. This is being done so they can receive federal funds for those type programs but everyone doesn’t need that particular type of program. Yet, staff personnel’s refuse to enroll those individual inmates— who actually need such programs and rehabilitation— should be held accountable for not doing their jobs in making sure that those individual inmates receive adequate treatment in appropriate programs while incarcerated.

Plus, staff claimed that inmates were bringing in the drugs through the visiting room…yet, when contact visitation was taken away the drugs were still coming in. Here recently, staff claims that the drugs are coming in through mail, magazines, and book orders…but, that has been proving to be a lie too. So, it can’t be the inmates that are bring in the drugs because all the ways they may have had in doing so has been stopped…yet, drugs are still coming in. So, how are they coming in? Its not hard to figure out! Everything that is sent in to inmates is thoroughly inspected, searched, scanned, and sniffed out by dogs, etc..

As to how state leaders can address this problem? Well, they can start by making it “Mandatory” for all individuals with issues of substance abuse and/or abuse of taking medication prior to incarceration, and during their term of incarceration. This would allow those individual inmates to get the adequate treatment they need before being released back into society…in doing so, they will have a better chance of getting out and staying out. As long as prison officials and staff personnel continues to allowing these type of inmates to keep on abusing their medications, and allowing them to continue to refuse such programs… then, this issue will continue to be a major issue in the future. State leaders need to address these issues immediately! For lives are being lost, and as of this day, nothing is being done to fix the broken system. Prisons are used to rehabilitate individuals through incarceration, not to punish them further by turning their backs on those individual inmates who needs help.

Thank you,

Curtis L. Floyd, #1036136
Red Onion State Prison
P.O. Box 1900
Pound, VA. 24279
Email: http://www.JPay.com

CHAINED

BY D.V. JOHNSON, II

***DVJ’s Author Note: This piece, “CHAINED” was inspired by my Demon, alcohol. Although I am over six years sober, it does not mean that the pit of my gut does not yearn to feel that burn. There is still a temptation to escape the mental anguish at times. It’s no secret that any demon on that side of the wall, is also within these walls. The difference is that “out there” we can distance ourselves from being so close to it. And, “out there” there are FAR MORE RESOURCES (counseling/therapy/treatment/programs/support) to help us improve ourselves. Writing allows me to turn my pain into Purpose. Mentoring also helps me maintain the Positive Momentum that I have gained over my “Time.” I also wrote “CHAINED” to let others know that the are not alone in their struggles.

Afflicted, tormented, conflicted, and Viiiiiiii-olently addicted… Sonorously sodden heavy chains draining the life out of me… Tried & fate-defied… Hooked&shook to the core feenin’ for more but terrified to further explore…

Cold night sweats got me grovelin’ & laid-da-Fuk out on this fawnky-ass floor… as my demons claw at the belly’s eternal depths… teetering at the crossroads of what lies in wait… It is crouched in the low-ready, poised to viciously pounce & gore….

12 Steps away from completely handing the reigns of these chains over to Him and walking along a renewed path, fully restored…

Humbly,
D.V. JOHNSON, II

DOUGLAS V. JOHNSON, II (#1937011)
River North Correctional Center
329 Dellbrook Lane
Independence, VA 24348

Facebook: DOUG V. JOHNSON
LinkedIn: DOUG V. JOHNSON
Write-A-Prisoner: DOUGLAS JOHNSON (#1937011)
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Non-Profit Org. IG: TASK FORCE CXJ 3

An Idea for MORE Earned Credits

For a decade, I have been incarcerated. During that time I have greatly sought to become a better person. I have led church services and ministered to other inmates. I have taken college classes through International Christian College and Seminary. I have worked the various jobs I have been given and maintained employment during this time. I have taken rehabilitation classes as they have been made available to me. In fact, I have even taken “Thinking For A Change” multiple times because I volunteered to retake the class so the class would have enough people in it. I have taken no drugs or drank any mash. I have received no institutional infractions and have sought to be polite to staff, officers, administrators, and other inmates. And I have written a book that is in the process of being published. I do not write all of this to toot my own horn. I write this as a matter of fact, to prove my point.

Despite my being an example of a model inmate, I am in no way rewarded by the Commonwealth of Virginia for my good behavior and rehabilitative endeavors. I, like every other inmate in Virginia convicted of what the Commonwealth calls a violent crime, must spend 85% of my sentence in prison. So the question that has to be asked is, why should any inmate in a Virginia prison try to do things to better themselves? I mean, what is the point of doing something that has no reward associated with it? Think of it this way. If your boss told you tomorrow that he wanted you to start staying after work for an hour each day for a year so you could take a class to be a better employee, would you do it? And what if your boss told you there is no extra pay for taking the class or guarantee of a promotion? In addition, how would you feel about the class if you found out that other employees who aren’t taking the class aren’t suffering any consequences for not taking the class? Would you take the class to become a better employee for your employer if there was no reward for doing so? I seriously doubt it.

Anyone who has ever raised a child or a pet knows that punishment for wrongdoing and rewards for doing right must be doled out in appropriate proportion to one another. Let’s say you have a young dog that you want to train to be a good dog. And let’s say you begin by shocking the dog every time the dog does something wrong. You may cause the dog to stop some bad behaviors, but you will struggle to get the dog to behave correctly if you don’t reward the dog. So what do you do? You reward the dog for doing right and shock the dog for doing wrong. By doing this you show the dog that there are good consequences for acting appropriately and bad consequences for acting inappropriately. This seems like common sense, right? Then why don’t our state officials get it? Despite all of the right things I have done, I have to spend the same amount of time in prison as most violent offenders. And no matter how many right things I do, this fact won’t change. It is this fact that accounts for a great deal of the violence, chaos, drug use, and wrongdoing that is so prevalent in Virginia jails and prisons today. Why should inmates even seek to act in appropriate ways when they receive the same treatment as those who act inappropriately? Now someone may counter that by saying that inmates who act inappropriately won’t be released after doing only 85% of their time. That may sound good, but I see firsthand that it isn’t true. Everyday inmates who act inappropriately are released after doing 85% of their sentence. The Commonwealth’s system is severely flawed and in desperate need of an overhaul. Men and women who are incarcerated desperately need to be rewarded and punished proportionately in accordance to their behavior.

I have a suggestion that I believe, if made legislation, could greatly benefit inmates, the Department of Corrections, the Commonwealth, and all of society. I have suggested this to a couple of our legislators, but apparently it fell on deaf ears. Anyway, my suggestion is simple and provides incentives for inmates in Virginia to better themselves during their incarceration. It also holds Virginia inmates accountable for their right or wrong behaviors. Following the current sentencing guidelines, my suggestion is as follows: Inmates who obtain a degree, diploma, or vocational certification during their incarceration receive a 10% enhanced good time credit for each degree, diploma, or vocational certification they obtain. Nonviolent inmates may receive these enhanced good time credits up to the point of receiving 50% enhanced earned sentencing credits. Violent inmates may receive these enhanced good time credits up to the point of receiving 70% enhanced earned sentencing credits. However, these enhanced earned good time credits will only be made available to those inmates who remain free of institutional infractions, pass random drug tests, maintain employment, complete all required rehabilitative programs, and conduct themselves as model inmates. In this way inmates will be rewarded for appropriate conduct and disciplined for inappropriate conduct. Also inmates who work exceptionally hard to better themselves will be rewarded significantly for their hard work. In addition, the Department of Corrections will have fewer problems and the Commonwealth and society will reap the benefits of having men and women who leave prison smarter and better. These men and women will be more employable, more ready to start their own businesses, better equipped to integrate back into society, better equipped to become good parents, and much better equipped to become productive members of society. Isn’t that what we all want? Shouldn’t that be the goal of our criminal justice system, from start to finish? And shouldn’t our laws regarding sentencing reflect that?

Travis Sorrells, #1095956
Haynesville Correctional Center

Another World

Breaking and Shaking in the grip’s of shattered screams,
like fish in water, I’m caught up in evils vicious beam,
Trying to shake this curse, I’m looking from terror to fright,
I mean from left to right, but there’s no peace in this black light.
“Well,” try turning around and watch things get worst,
Can you see the grotesque eyes’ of demons in that contorted Hurst ?
Is it real or is it evilcidal fantasies on ride?
My elevating pulse rate began to shutter, searching for depths to hide,
I’m in the fight or flight concept with fist trembling by my side,
Mounting perspiration begin’s to flow with drop’s of pride,
throwing down I refuse to be a victim to my soul’s homicide,
Keeping my mental focus, no one knows if this is my plight,
Dear sweet creator, if is please don’t let me die tonight!?

Submitted By: Alexander Cameron, # 1172733
Beaumont Correctional Center
3500 Beaumont Road
Beaumont, Virginia 23014

COMMANDS FOR MORALITY AND ETHICAL LIVING

My name is Travis Sorrells, #1095956. I am incarcerated at Haynesville Correctional Center. I would like to comment on mental health both in prison and in our world today. I see many problems with mental health here in prison, especially around the holidays. I believe a large amount of these mental health problems are exacerbated by the way our society has devalued human life. I also believe this devaluing of human life has led to a drastic decline in ethics and morality that can be seen throughout our world.

To attempt to curb this decline in ethics and morality, I have come up with a set of moral and ethical commands that I believe could be displayed in schools and other public places with little complaint. Below I will list the commands and then provide a defense for them. Please read through them, meditate on them, and share your thoughts on them. I believe they could help to stem the tide of the devaluing of human life and help alleviate some of the mental health problems we see in our world today.

COMMANDS FOR MORALITY AND ETHICAL LIVING

1) Love one another.

2) Do to others what you would want them to do to you.

3) Be kind to each other and forgive one another; do good works.

4) Constantly think about ways to move others to do good and love one another.

5) Honor and obey your parents and guardians.

6) Do not commit murder.

7) Do not engage in sex outside of the bonds of marriage.

8) Do not steal, cheat, or defraud another.

9) Do not lie or deceive others.

10) Do not strongly desire to have anything that belongs to another.

My defense of these commands:

First and foremost, let me stress, and make it abundantly clear, that I am not trying to replace the Ten Commandments. Nor am I trying to change or secularize the Ten Commandments. I have absolutely no authority, power, or desire to do that. I am merely trying to present to society a list of commands, that if obeyed, could lead to a life of good ethical and moral character and decency. Good ethics and morals, of course, being a necessity for any civilized society to thrive, prosper, and exist.

As a Christian, I wholeheartedly agree with promoting the Ten Commandments as found in God’s Holy Word. As an American, I fully support the Constitution of the United States of America. The right to freedom of religion is a staple in our great nation. It is also a staple of the Bible. God gives us a free will and choices. We can choose God or we can reject Him. We can believe God’s Word or we can doubt it. God doesn’t force us to do anything. Therefore, as believers and as a nation, we have no right to force our beliefs upon anyone.

The “Commands For Morality And Ethical Living” are a combination of biblical teachings and six of the Ten Commandments. They have been written in such a way as to be modernized, easily understood, and universally accepted. Christians, without doubt, will notice no mention of God is made. However, they will easily see God behind each command. Non-Christians will likely view the commands simply as a list of moral and ethical principles. Thus making them applicable to persons of all ethnicities, races, genders, and faiths.

Today our world stands at an ethical and moral crossroads. The direction we take largely depends upon our future generations. These generations need a moral compass, an ethical barometer by which they can gauge thoughts, words, and deeds. “Commands For Morality And Ethical Living” can be that gauge. It can be displayed, taught, and recited in any setting, public or private, without fear of easily offending others. Seated within all humans is a knowledge of what is right and wrong. This knowledge leads to our understanding of what is ethical and moral, and what is not. These commands, especially being applied at an early age, can reinforce one’s knowledge of right and wrong and help establish one’s parameters for living a moral, ethical, and decent life. Thus contributing to the drastic betterment of our society, our nation, and our world.

Thanks for reading my post. I hope you like it or at least found it thought provoking. As I said earlier, please take some time to meditate upon these things and share your thoughts on them.

Travis Sorreals