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 They each had been replaced by the crime scene tape that made a giant “X” across the cell door.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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

The Budget’s Body Count

I stood in the pod and listened to WRIC Richmond 8News as they reported that VADOC plans to close four of its state facilities and assume control of its now only private-ran prison, Lawrenceville Correction Center, back from GEO Group. These plans are to take effect in 2024. Allegedly, this proposed course of action is in response to the staff shortages, the sharp spike in drug overdoses, and drug overdose related deaths.

What continues to elude me is that given all the reports and coverage, there is not one utterance of the apparent correlation between the increasingly lethal conditions befalling the incarcerated and Governor Youngkin’s budget that keeps the prison population unnecessarily high and extremely vulnerable to the effects of the deadly fentanyl epidemic.

It is evident that the ENTIRE world was ensnared in the chaos brought on by the Cornanvirus Pandemic. This should not exclude the fact that the immense adverse effects on the mental, physical, and emotional scapes of people did not fail to reach us here in prison. Reasonably, the struggles stood to endure by the public were undoubtedly intensified by the conditions of incarcerated living…

As sickness ravaged the public, the prison population suffered the amplified effects of disease associated with cramped living conditions. As the economy experienced joblessness, the prison experienced a lack of security staff and thus a harmful lapse in overall security, jeopardizing the health and safety of the entire incarcerated population.

The country, as a whole, is still enduring a mental health crisis. The only difference between the public and prison is the availability of professional psychiatric help for the incarcerated. Alongside the fact that prison, in itself, is a major mental stressor. Without proper counseling and a fertile, constructive environment, such mental stress is bound to convert into substance abuse. And in turn, a substance abuse habit has become a much more lethal coping mechanism in the midst of the fentanyl epidemic.

I guess the task of protecting the people, entrusted to our state leaders, doesn’t extend to the many human beings excessively incarcerated by a broken system. Or maybe state leadership, headed up by Governor Youngkin, could not properly assess these critical factors behind the very real blinders of polarized, partisan politics. In any case, the budget amendment could be seen as mere political maneuvering, but given its very lethal effects, the call to stay thousands of me and women to excessive prison sentences has proven deadly.

I have been incarcerated well before the abolishment of the death penalty in Virginia. That has not sheltered me from the continuous heart break time and time again having to witness the needless death of men whom where never expected to die in prison… Those whom just the simple support of home, family, or professional counseling could be here today.

Though many of us in prison are here because of the choices we’ve made, none of us remain here under the strength of our own volition. Excessive sentencing, political gaming, and human profiteering has held us captive in what is becoming an even greater deathtrap than ever before…

There is always a price for power. The price for political power in this instance, has been at the very affordable cost of human lives…

Love, Peace, and Power
Q.

Prompt:

Have you noticed the uptick in overdoses in your respective facility? How has this affected you and those closest to you?

Due to the budget amendment, a large number of people have been blocked from going home. Do you think that contributes to the uptick?

How can we as incarcerated people help with the drug crisis within the prisons?

What do you think the prime agents are that contribute to substance abuse in prison? And how can state leaders address this problem?

Fit For Society

How much time am I expected to serve before I’m deemed by the public eye as being fit for society? When will enough be enough? There has to be a common denominator where the offender and the people in power can have a meeting of the minds to determine how much is enough time. What is time but the calculated motion measuring how long it takes to get from one place to another? With that being said who are you to determine how far I have come in my growth and development as a man, and how long it has taken me to do so? So once again, how much is enough time?

What if my rehabilitation has come faster than the average offender’s? I have done more than enough to exemplify that I am, and have been for a while now, deemed fit for society. What is the purpose of programs, vocational trades, maintaining employment, and being infraction free if they are not tools used to determine whether or not a person is rehabilitated? The prison system is broken and it is obvious that those in power do not believe in their own system. Their theory is to lock them up and throw away the key, whether you’re innocent or guilty. I have been incarcerated for 21 years and have done everything there is to do, but yet I am not deserving of the good time sentence credit because I am considered to be a violent offender.

Before parole was abolished, was it not for non-violent and violent offenders. When the 85% good time went into effect, was it not for both non-violent and violent offenders? If so, then why change the customs of past laws and legislations to exclude a certain category and class of people that in past history, were treated with equality. Did our United States Constitution not grant us equality and protect us from cruel and unusual punishment? Are those in power not supposed to uphold the Constitution?

How much is too much time? A message for the political powers that be. I am serving a 53-year sentence for a robbery that I committed in which no one was harmed. I plead guilty to a term of 13 years for this offense. I was given 40 years solely for a crime that is documented that I didn’t commit – so you tell me how much is enough time.

My name is Antoinne Pitt # 1157338 I’m currently housed at Lawrenceville Correctional Center. Peace and Blessings to you all.

Undiscovered Talent

On of the biggest difficulties that I come across on a daily basis has to be the undiscovered talent and skills individuals have, and us ‘inmates’ are the only ones that tend to see them. With very limited access to the outside environment, many of the talents and beautiful skills that these incarcerated individuals have go undiscovered for years (and sometimes even lifetimes) without ever being discovered by normal society. This is one of the things that tends to rub me in the wrong way.

Freedom of expression in our free world (country) should be and unalienable right? Am I wrong? And without the proper platforms for these types of expressions to reach the free world, turns into a form of oppression in my personal opinion. Don’t get me wrong, there are a few ways that we can contact the outside , but we have to pay for it in order to do these things. From buying postage stamps, J-Pay stamps, and collect and debit calls. J-Pay & GTL Phone services offer very few things for individuals whole are not fortunate enough to have financial support on the outside. This not only inhibits people from reaching out to the people who could spread the word of their particular gifts and talents, but this is also morally crushing as well.

The state offers employment, but the waiting list for a job opportunity can be very lengthy. Additionally, over the years the educational opportunities have become fewer and fewer.
In conclusion, another terrible thing is that this bill that was rescinded after many people across Virginia were promised closer release dates. My time is very short so I have to end this as briefly as possible because of the time limit on the kiosk. But these are some of the things that aren’t right from my perspective. We need more people to notice the true Brilliance Behind Bars!!

J. Reinard #1523818
Lawrenceville Correctional Center

A Letter From Jerry James to State Leaders

To The Senators and Delegates,

My name is Jerry L. James. I am a first-time offender who received 73 years with 35 years suspended, which left me with a 38-year sentence. As I sit here at Deerfield Correctional Center, 22 years later, I have done all I can to rehabilitate myself by completing mind-changing programs, as well as getting my G.E.D., plus enrolled myself into college to receive an Associate’s Degree in Biblical Studies.

I also remained charge-free for 17 years of the 22 years I’ve done already. I give all praises to God, who has given me the strength to hold on this long. Not knowing there wasn’t no parole for the new-law prisoners when I came in the system which make it very hard to know you have to do all your time unless you receive a pardon by the Governor. Which we know is like winning the Mega Millions – a slim shot to none.

When the the General Assembly voted and passed the enhanced earned sentence credit bill in 2020, which gives guys like myself a sense of hope for an opportunity to earn more good time to be able to go home a little earlier because we’re only getting 4.5 days a month of good time as I speak. But as we know, Governor Youngkin added a Budget Amendment that replaced the bill -which caused guys like myself to be exempt from getting something that we worked hard to get.

I had to tell my 71-year old father the bad news. He is still recovering from a stroke he had a few years back. I know I did wrong to get in here, but with 10 more years to do, please somebody have some type of compassion and give me a chance and the guys like myself, before our love ones will be no more.

l would like to thank you for this opportunity to share my thoughts with you. If you would like to contact me with feedback, questions, or just a conversation. Go to the app store, and download the JPay app, using my name and number to create an account to email me.

Jerry L. James
#1157844

Why I Believe “CHANGE” is Possible

I would like to thank you ll for this opportunity to share my thoughts and feeling, about the current status of the VADOC, and its policy. I have been incarcerated for almost 30 years, and by no means am I asking that anyone should feel sorry for me. I committed one of, if not the worse crime, I took another person’s life.

With that said most of the men incarcerated today (90-95%), will be released back into someone’s community. I know for many of you this is a very scary thought. Now that we know this fact, my question to you today is: who do you want that man or woman to be? One that has been given the opportunity to change, or a very angry person? The next question is: do you believe people are capable of “CHANGE?” If so don’t we want these men and woman who could be your neighbor, to at the very LEAST be given that chance.

In my almost 30 years of incarceration, I have held many jobs, some for the income to support myself. For the last 5 years, I have worked as an Elder/Peer Mentor in the Deerfield Correctional Center Re-entry Program, and I can say without a doubt this has been the most rewarding job I’ve held. This gave me the opportunity to see first hand that people can “CHANGE.” It also allowed me to help others, and myself at the same time. It is so amazing how much you learn about yourself when you are helping someone else. The other thing that I have learned is “CHANGE” is a personal choice, there is nothing anyone can do until the person wants that “CHANGE” for him, or herself. The best part of my job was to see that light come on for them. This is why it is so important to have these programs and opportunities in place for those man and women who want help. They may not always know how to ask, but I know change is possible because l have seen the change, and am lucky enough to be here to help these men when they are ready.

The very sad truth is under our new Governor, we have lost the re-entry program here at DFCC. The re-entry program provides the time and opportunity for these men to make that “CHANGE” in programs like Thinking for a Change, and Victims Impact. The focus seems to be more about punishment, not rehabilitation; which we all know does not work. If it did, why are so many men and women locked up today? I know it sounds great to say ‘lock them up and throw away the key,’ and if that was the end, that might work – but that brings me back to this fact: 90-95% will be released.

My hope in writing this is just to say we can “CHANGE.” I have changed, I have grown, but it was not easy. The most important thing is I wanted help. I have taken responsibility for all my action. I know I caused a lot of pain to so many good people, some that I can never repair. It also doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try. The last thing that I would like to leave you with is: one of the answers to the violence that we are seein today is not the police – its men like myself, who will be willing to go out into those community and speak to these young men, and women to tell them there are other choices – you too, can “CHANGE.”

Thank you for this opportunity to share my thoughts with you. If you would like to contact me with your feedback, questions or a longer conversation, go to the app store and download the JPay app using my name and number to create an account and email me.

I have not lost hope and I won’t, nor will I give up on “CHANGE.”

Kenneth Bibbs #1114910
Deerfield Correctional Center

Thinking Within

What’s poppin’ my God’s & Goddesses of the Universe? I invade your atmosphere as God of my Universe in the name of Allure The Seer of Truth and as always, I want to give a warm and genuine thank you and salute to the brilliant founder of this platform, Q.

I want to start off by saying: “The devil’s time is up. These are desperate times for the devils for they know what most of us know not.” I know what they think I know not, I don’t feel bad cause I know and understand they are 100% weak and wicked they have no good in them. So when they do things of this nature, I understand it is their nature to do so. The evolution of extraordinary things is happening before our physical eyes but we have to give more attention to our mental eye for it is the all-seeing, all-knowing, all-wise. These devils do these hideous things to us because they know we care about the material rather than the most precious jewel on earth, universe, which is ‘US’. If what we’ve been doing isn’t working, then let’s do something different. For example, Dragonball Z, when a villain comes with all physical powerful strength, they use their energy and thoughts to ‘in-think’ the villain. I say ‘in’ because within is where everything exists, and is projected out. GET It?

Let’s use our energy together and overcome everything that is not us. For all that belongs to us, do your research on self and find out how powerful you really are.

Allure The Seer of Truth
DeAnthony Clark
#1411732, is where you can reach me on JPay.