Your Vote Matters

By: Joshua Hairston

Amendment XV (15)

Passed by Congress February 26, 1869. Ratified February 3, 1870.

Section 1.
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude…

Recently, after conversing with the eldest of my brothers, I found myself disheartened; his lack of appreciation for his civil rights, the inexorable firmness he exhibited in being indifferent toward the summons of those in position to represent his interests, my own disconcerting effort to inspire in him a deeper sense of attachment to these privileges, all worked to frustrate me beyond the etiquette of tolerance that accompanies my belief in self-determination.

For several years now, I have pitched to him, using differing approaches, recognizing the vicissitude of the African American experience, the importance of him, a young inner-city black, casting his ballot.

“The historian Edmund S. Morgan argues…that well-off white Virginians…could champion a form of republican representative government defined by the absence of a formal ruling class or monarchy without threatening their own status as elites for one simple reason: They knew that the system of slavery meant that most of the poor in Virginia were enslaved, SO THEY HAD NO LEGAL RIGHTS AND COULD NEVER PARTICIPATE IN POLITICS.” – The 1619 Project

“1857 Dred Scott…Supreme Court decided Mar. 6…BLACKS WERE NOT AND COULD NOT BE CITIZENS.” (The Court also ruled that slaves were not citizens of any state nor of the U.S.) – The World Almanac And Book Of Facts

Foolheartedly, I support his choice to articulate and actualize perspectives and values that contextualize his experience. Vindicating himself pursuing that which concerns him most. Expressing, openly, his ideas of freedom.

However, I fear that to offer approval, even if only for the inalienable right of choice, to anyone who proclaims such as their stance dismisses the sacrifices made in advancing the African American, in a manner so transgressive, it warrants severe objection.

“Congress then passed the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments abolishing slavery, making blacks citizens, and giving them the right to vote.”

The progress encompassed in these Amendments, a consequence of suffering generations of subjugation, oppression, and deprivation – an infinitesimal return on the spilled blood and broken bodies of the human beings who built America – was not made in convening with adversaries who, conceding the validity of our grievances, decided, peaceably, to acquiesce to our demands.

“Reconstruction lasted eleven years, from 1866 to 1877.
…blacks made great strides in education, economics, and voting rights.”

These improvements to our existence did not occur without clear and assertive actions, having the overwhelming probability to result in either relief or death.

“…by 1898 nearly all black males in the South had been disenfranchised by poll taxes, literacy tests, property requirements, grandfather clauses, and the actions of terrorist groups like the Ku Klux Klan,”

“Before the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the civil and human rights of blacks throughout the South were routinely violated by sheriffs, police officers…
…Blacks were often denied the right to vote, and were beaten, raped, and murdered, receiving virtually no protection from…lawmakers or law enforcers.”

“Since the end of Reconstruction…states, through intimidation, violence, and murder, had systematically prevented blacks from exercising their constitutional rights.
The Voting Rights Act (1965) forced…states…to repeal poll taxes, grandfather clauses, and other constitutional laws to prevent blacks from voting.”

While, to some extent, many of us acknowledge the immensity of what was given to access citizenship, we behave, relative to this induction, unaware of the essential significance and the responsibility inherited in making such an advance.

Failing to accurately apprehend the plight of our predecessors, we have become strangers to the very spirit that drove their campaign for rights, civil and human.

Furthermore, a cohort of us, young African Americans, live as if disinherited, almost completely, from the reality of how our civil rights were acquired and the inestimable sacrifices of the courageous and resilient men, women and children who secured them.

The reasons my beloved brother presented, in defense of his position, for not voting were reasons created by the liberties earned by diplomatic warriors who turned over their lives for their succession (us) to know the privilege of being able to influence the society comprising us, absent the pressing need to risk it all. Perhaps, the absence of this pressing need is why we consider that our vote does not matter.

It is not my intent to communicate this matter harshly, though I have found, rarely, the truth to be gentle. To consider that your vote does not matter is to think degradingly of the incomprehensible offerings of those who made it possible for us to have a vote; or it is to be absent-minded of how your position and status was gained.

We can narrowly afford to take for granted the status of citizen and the civil rights we are gifted by being legislated as such.

“These events and the movement impacted not only African Americans, but Asian, Hispanic, Native American, and other ethnic groups in this country, as well as women.”

“These events and the people who participated in them have profoundly changed America for all who live here.”

VOTE FOR THEM!

My brother, he will vote, Tuesday 11/05/24, if for no other reason than for his little brother, disenfranchised by the 13th Amendment, who cannot.

Who will you vote for that cannot or could not, if you are not informed or motivated enough to do so for yourself?

Joshua J. Hairston

The Miscarriage of Justice: Howard Garnett’s Fight for Innocence

The case of Howard Garnett, Jr.

By Lord Serious

Miscarriage of Justice. A miscarriage of justice, warranting reversal, should be declared only when the court, after examination of entire cause, including the evidence, is of the opinion that it is reasonably probable that a result more favorable to appealing party would have been reached in absence of error. (Black’s Law Dictionary, Abridged Fifth Edition)

By age 35, Howard Garnett, Jr. had an estimated net worth of $4.7 million. He acquired his wealth through a combination of inheritance, thrift, hard work and ingenuity. This accomplished businessman held a Class A dairy license, a Class B Contractor’s license, and he owned 174 acres of farmland which had been in his family for more than one hundred years. But none of these achievements seem to compare to the sense of pride he feels whenever he talks about his children. “I have a daughter who is now 30 and my son is 27. And my daughter just gave birth to my granddaughter”, Mr. Garnett told me as we sat and discussed his life on Christmas morning.

The various business ventures he was involved in prior to incarceration will allow him to do for his children what his father had done for him. “My father taught me everything there is to know about business and general contracting”, said Mr. Garnett. He also gives his mother credit for the strong work ethic she instilled in him, and for teaching him the importance of making decisions in life that honor his core values.

Court records reveal that he initially met the woman who would change his life forever while conducting business. When she first approached him, Mr. Garnett was in the process of subdividing some of his land into building lots. “She wanted to do some business with me. She asked me to build her a house.” The two met later to finalize the terms of their agreement over dinner. Mr. Garnett admits, “The business relationship soon became personal, and we became romantically involved.”

Mr. Garnett claims, “She moved in to live with me in my apartment for 15 months. Then after I finished building her house she invited me to move in with her. But I told her I was fine at the apartment. But she really wanted me to move in with her, so I did.” Their relationship grew and they became a couple as well as business partners. “She would do design work and run errands throughout town to help me out”, said Mr. Garnett.

On April 17, 2002, she fell and injured herself after undergoing a medical procedure at the Culpeper Hospital. When Mr. Garnett arrived to pick her up, “Her face was bruised, she had a fractured nose, and two black eyes.” He said, “She asked me to take pictures of her injuries. She told me that she might sue. So I went to purchase one of those disposable cameras and I took some pictures of her injuries.” However, Mr. Garnett states that he did not send the film out to be developed at that time.

Shortly after that the two would break up. Mr. Garnett moved out, but they stayed on friendly terms, and continued working together on projects. Mr. Garnett started dating a new woman, and he claims all of his legal troubles began after his ex found out about him moving on.

On July 24, 2003, the Madison County police requested that Mr. Garnett meet with detectives at the station for an interview. When Mr. Garnett arrived he was told that his ex-girlfriend had sworn out a warrant against him, and accusing him of beating her and raping her

Mr. Garnett states he voluntarily spoke with police without an attorney, because he was innocent, and he thought by being truthful and cooperative the police would see that his accuser was lying. “I learned that even when you are innocent you should never speak to police without your attorney present”, Mr. Garnett sighs, “I admitted that I had not slept with her in two months. And they used my statement against me and arrested me, while not knowing she had answered that question in the same manner.” Then seven days later on July 31, 2003 she filed additional criminal complaints against Mr. Garnett.

He was charged with three counts of rape, one count of abduction, and three counts of assault and battery. Mr. Garnett says at trial his accuser testified that she had told police she had ended their relationship at the end of 2002. But according to Mr. Garnett, they still had business dealings that carried on throughout 2003. The woman claimed that he had raped her and assaulted her on January 2003, April 2003, and July 2003. His accuser made multiple statements to police that were full of inconveniences and false accusations. But he was denied access to the transcripts and tapes of these interviews before trial.

The Madison County Commonwealth’s Attorney Office had a closed file policy at that time. Therefore, they claimed their office was not legally obligated to divulge this evidence to Mr. Garnett’s attorney. “The statements made by my accuser were being withheld from me and this violated the law.” Mr. Garnett argues that this evidence was exculpatory and had it been provided to him before trial he could have used it to prove his innocence.

“At trial the prosecutor showed pictures of her injuries to the jury”, Mr. Garnett continues, “They showed her face bruised appearing to have two black eyes, and one bite mark on her forearm.” The Commonwealth represented that the injuries in those photos were the result of Mr. Garnett beating and raping her in April 2003. He said, “When I saw those photos I realized those injuries were similar to the ones she had sustained after her fall in the hospital. Right then I knew those pictures were taken in April 2002, not April 2003.” Mr. Garnett said he then asked his power of attorney to retrieve the disposable camera from his office. He wanted to get the film developed and he informed his attorney that those pictures were taken in April 2003 as the prosecution had been misrepresenting to the jury.

Mr. Garnett was acquitted of all charges relating to January 2003, and April 2003 allegations. These had been the criminal complaints she filed seven days later after his arrest. However, the jury did convict him of all charges relating to the July 2003 accusations. Mr. Garnett was sentenced to serve 65 years in the custody of the Virginia Department of Corrections (VDOC).

This was Mr. Garnett’s first crimAinal conviction, and he knew very little about criminal law. Nevertheless, Mr. Garnett has spent the greater part of his incarceration working as a legal aid clerk in the prison law library. Thanks to this job he has been able to spend most of his time throughout his confinement studying the law. His fight to prove his innocence and vindicate his name is not some long shot. “My case has been overturned by the courts twice already,” he paused then continued, “and I still haven’t received a copy of the tapes from her interview with police yet.”

In 2006, the Virginia Court of Appeals reversed and remanded his conviction, granting Mr. Garnett a new trial. But in 2007 the state appealed and that decision was reversed. After he exhausted his direct appeal in 2008, Mr. Garnett filed his petition for habeas corpus, and in 2011 the Supreme Court of Virginia reversed and remanded his conviction back to the Circuit Court with instructions to grant such discovery as it found advisable.

The Circuit Court conducted an evidentiary hearing and it denied Mr. Garnett’s habeas petition without providing him access to his accuser’s taped interviews with police. The Commonwealth’s Attorney consistently opposed all of Mr. Garnett’s attempts to get the taped interviews of his accuser.

Despite having closed file policies, the Commonwealth was required by law to disclose all exculpatory evidence to the defense. Exculpatory evidence is any evidence that may suggest the accused is innocent. Mr. Garnett feels strongly that there is something on the tapes that the Commonwealth’s Attorney is hiding. He believes they are afraid to let the truth be known, so they have been doing everything in their power to keep this evidence suppressed.

After his accuser filed a lawsuit against him, Mr. Garnett finally received a copy of the transcripts from the woman’s interviews with police. However, even the court involved in that civil suit refused to provide him with a copy of the tapes.

Under Virginia’s rules of discovery at that time the Commonwealth’s Attorney Office had discretion over whether or not they’d limit defense counsel’s access to the evidence they collected during criminal investigations. Policies varied from office to office. However, even before Mr. Garnett’s arrest the law has always required prosecuting attorneys to turn over all exculpatory evidence to the defense before trial, or as soon as it is uncovered. Mr. Garnett claims this law was violated and that is the only reason he was convicted.

On July 1, 2020 there was a break in this case when the rules of discovery in Virginia changed. Under the new legal statue, closed file policies are now prohibited. This change has given Mr. Garnett’s case, new life, because now he has the legal standing needed to force the Commonwealth’s Attorney Office to hand over those tapes. He feels certain that once he gains access to this exculpatory evidence it will finally prove his innocence and he will be released from prison.

He told me, “My accuser’s statements were being withheld from me in violation of the law. Now they can’t hide the tapes from me anymore. They will now have to account for what they’ve done to me. The truth will come out.”

We, the incarcerated, have limited options on how we pursue justice. We often find our pleas for help being ignored or they sometimes go unheard for years. What kind of justice system corrects injustice by imposing more injustice on the falsely accused? What kind of criminal justice system conceals exculpatory evidence and hides the truth? Justice may be blind to status, position, wealth, race, gender, or Creed. But justice will never turn a blind eye to a miscarriage of justice. And neither should you.

After reviewing this article before submitting it for publication Mr. Garnett asked could he give a special shout out to his new legal counsel, Attorney Charles T. Tucker, Jr. for believing in him and supporting his efforts to prove his innocence.

P.E.A.C.E

Pardon Exonerate Appeal Cases Everywhere

#FreeHowardGarnettJr

#LordSeriousSpeaks

#miscarriageofjustice

#socialjustice

#justiceforall

The Older and Old Law

Just laying back in the rack, and pondering. I am sixty-eight years old, and I hear more often these days of actors and musicians I’ve idolized while growing up, passing on; and so I too see the window on my life closing, and it saddens and frightens me.

I look around the pod and see all of the old people – incarcerated. Wheelchairs, walkers, and canes. It’s unfathomable that little, or, a great deal of misguided and apathetic effort has been put into the mix to get to where we are. I’ve been told that I’m the one who is misguided for seeing things as they are! That what the system is doing, has been doing all these years, works best, and I just don’t know any better.

It is true, many incarcerated have not been able to mature on an intellectual level; to think more rationally, decide more responsibly, and act more humanely, and generally, to just take better care of themselves. But they haven’t been provided an appropriate and effective opportunity to support becoming better human beings. Who’s fault is that?

It is even more true that those incarcerated have just tried to do the best they could, to make it from one day to the next…staying ignorant and apathetic about the world that surrounds them. It’s not their fault, for a person, a human being, will do that which they only know how to do! That’s why we’re in this dreaded place in life! It is this way, until the wake up call arrives, when the door may finally open, or not, and it is then change is desired, and the need to do so is thrust upon us in vain once more, for it takes years to undo that which has been the norm for so long.

The picture is simple! It’s about retribution. It always has been and will be for some time to come. It’s about fear, distain, apathy, and yes, ignorance. Those who are running out of resources and ideas to more effectively manage us, the window is closing for them too! Maybe just keep us as quiet and hidden as is possible. Pacify us just a little more! Maybe no one will notice!

These days, we cannot use certain words or phrases out of concern for offending the status quo. “Don’t say PTSD, it may trigger this or that!” “For that matter, don’t say the word “trigger” either.” At one point we were not inmates, we were offenders. More so, the worst of the worst! People are not “victims”, they’re “survivors”, or is it the other way around? These are not “correctional facilities”, they are “warehouses”, industrial complexes, constructed originally to only house those who truly posed a risk to society, but here we are!

There are many incarcerated who are not so ignorant as I claim above. They too can see! And I certainly applaud the efforts of many on the inside and outside of these razor-laden fences, who are working tirelessly to have those of us who have been ready, and deserve it, released. But, it has for some time now, amazed me how individuals and groups will throw around words, phrases, paragraphs, and essays, all in an effort to display for us in here, the change they promise to make, and the change that is coming. In the meantime, those of us in here throw around in the same fashion, our pain, sorrow, fears, and regrets. The ignorant always get their hopes up! Those of us who have been watching, paying attention, see that change just doesn’t happen, or feel nowadays, that it won’t happen in our lifetime!!

A couple of examples. Many of us will be gone (use that word as you will) by the time a “Second Look” bill is passed and have it change lives. Just how effective will that bill be when it becomes law? How long will it take to see results? Like so many others, how will it be circumvented, twisted, and suppressed with the line item veto? We’ve done so much time already, and we are in our late 60’s & 70’s, what difference will such a bill make for our lives then?

Thanks to VDOC Director Dotson and many others, an unbelievable amount of effort has created many positive changes with regards to the parole board. Much of that effort, however, has been circumvented, twisted, and suppressed as well. Practically no one is being released, still!

Out of fear, it seems no secret that behind it all has been the idea to keep us in here until we’re no longer physically and mentally able to re-offend. Yet, many new law people continue to serve less time than us older folks! Don’t get me started on “Earned Sentence Credit” or “Good Time Credit”. I’ve stopped earning anything a long time ago. How sad!

I am sixty-eight years old, and I hear more often these days of actors and musicians I’ve idolized while growing up, passing on; and so I too see the window on my life closing, and it saddens and frightens me.

-unanimous

Of Racial Injustice

This expression of accuracy, aligns to verify a truth that has been shown as a “RACIALLY MOTIVATED ACTION” by the Virginia Beach Circuit Court, as well as an unknown number of City and County Judges throughout the State of Virginia, intending to increase the Prison Population with the unfair sentencing of Black Men and Women in the State of Virginia. While some may consider this to be an “unfair speculation”, I assure you that the record and the research of past Criminal offenses, will not only show the discrepancies in sentencing practices in the Va. Beach Circuit Courts, but also the unfair sentencing practices that exists throughout the State of Virginia, as well as every other State to make up the sum total 50.

Due to these VERIFIABLE Decisions/Judgments, it’s painfully obvious that there WAS and IS an empathetic “benefit of doubt” giving, this is and continues to be extended to White people, over Black and Brown People. While the STRICT enactment of the “Tough On Crime Bill and its Harsher Sentences” created far more hardships, than lied about; it’s rigid application, has resulted in the Black Males being found guilty of Criminal Offenses that are identical to White Males, but when it came to sentencing, Black Men and Women were sentenced to a much longer term of incarceration.

While the inaccurate titles of “Conspiracy Theorist” or “Angry Black Man” is likely to be spat, but when this act of racism is spoken about, such an unwarranted labeling only confirms the arrogance and audacious mentality of the people who are appointed to “Judge and Punish” by an ethical balancing. There are TOO MANY factual occurrences that will show the biasness of these robed officials, who continue to cloak their devious ideologies with the letter of the law.

But tell me…WHEN THE FACTS can be shown by researching the sentences of Black and Brown People Convicted and Sentenced for Felony Homicide, and those researched numbers, when compared to the number of White People Convicted and Sentenced for Felony Homicide, the flagrant discrimination is revealed. So tell Me, will “THEY” change the unwarranted attachment of inappropriate naming, when the revelation of “lopsided” Justice, accurately shows the “Black and Brown People Who Were Unjustly Tried or Unfairly Sentenced”?

Shouldn’t the findings of an honest comparison, be deemed UNJUST if the findings reflect a Judicial imbalance, when different people are before the Court? While Harsher Sentences are the result of a “Tough On Crime Bill” that utilized fear mongering tactics to fill the coffers of State Officials, as well as the individual “stakeholders” of Corporate and Privatization plannings, that would come to exploit the Incarcerated Person as well as their loved ones.

The Imprisoning and Warehousing of Black Men and Women hadn’t only become “BIG” business, but an oppressive reason to “over police” low-income neighborhoods, which are predominantly Black or Brown communities, due to stratification and the socioeconomic circumstances put in place by Legislative Officials, who saw low-income housing as Political Catapults for career minded Politicians.

I mean, how hard is it to figure, when the of Jury of my Trial Proceedings, UNANIMOUSLY ACQUITTED me of a Firearm I never possessed or used? That very “acquittal” has a GIGANTIC importance, with a SUBSTANTIAL VALUE to my incarceration. Not only did the ACQUITTAL remove the Firearm from my possession, but it also proved the IMPOSSIBILITY of me, being responsible for the act of First-Degree Murder that had been committed! These verifiable FACTS, ELIMINATES any accusation of a Violent Act being committed by my hands. And since the trial Jury had determined that I DID NOT HAVE or USE the weapon proven to have killed the victim, the determined verdict clarified the “lack of any physical action” committed on my part, thus proving my innocence ON IT’S FACE(meaning: Absolutely Obvious)!

But even as a “NONCONTRIBUTING ACCESSORY” in the crime committed, there was NO EVIDENCE to show that I knowingly or unknowingly, Aided; Assisted; or Abetted, by Actions; Words; or Gestures! Nor was there any evidence to support the accusation, that I had prior knowledge of any intention to commit a crime, let alone the crime of First-Degree Murder.

With all of the FACTS I just conveyed to you, being accessible to the public, I HEREBY ACCUSE THE VA. BEACH CIRCUIT COURT, OF DELIBERATELY SENTENCING ME TO A TERM OF CONFINEMENT, THAT WOULD EXCEED THE TERM OF CONFINEMENT MY “WHITE” CODEFENDANT WAS SENTENCED TO, AFTER BEING FOUND GUILTY OF ALL INDICTMENTS, DECLARED “TRUE BILLS” BY THE GRAND JURY! THE NUMERICAL TERM DIFFERENCE IS ’10’ YEARS! PER THE VERIFIED SENTENCE SUMMARY, MY “WHITE” CODEFENDANT WAS SENTENCED TO LESS TIME ON EVERY CRIMINAL INDICTMENT! AND EVEN THOUGH I HAD BEEN ACQUITTED OF THE VERY INSTRUMENT USED TO COMMIT THE CRIMINAL OFFENSE; HE WAS FOUND GUILTY OF ‘USE OF A FIREARM IN THE COMMISSION OF A FELONY’, AND I STILL WAS SENTENCED TO A MORE EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF TIME!

For the record, He received 29 years total, and I received 39 years. Where I was sentenced to 25 years for First Degree Murder, he was sentenced to 20 years! Where I was sentenced to 10 years for Attempted Robbery, he was sentenced to 6 years! Where I was sentenced to 4 year for Conspiracy, he was given 12 months! Where I was ACQUITTED of Use of a Firearm in the commission of a felony, he was given 3 years!!! That’s just to put things in perspective for you. I was TRIED; CONVICTED; and SENTENCED to 4 decades, for BEING BLACK!! That’s not what I’m saying, that’s what the facts has shown!

-Alfonso Skyles

Pray For Me(Song from Boosie Badazz)”

There has been much to do, when holding one’s self accountable. I’ve sat and witnessed the many, become victims
to the very environment that’s meant to be productive and rehabilitative. With understanding, I’ve asked myself, if the
inhumane actions done to individuals incarcerated, resemble the same inhumane treatments of individuals who are
in society? I ask myself and God, does the tears and cries of the downtrodden, matter, even though we’ve made the
mistakes that landed us in these unfortunate set of circumstances?

I can’t speak to the mistreatment of the incarcerated, without speaking to the mistreatment of the staff who are in the
trenches with us. My rationale for this expression, is to see and recognize the lacking of Human decency, as it
pertains to ALL PEOPLE; even the Men and Women who work to earn a livable wage…they are also victims of the
Carceral System, as it creates the traumas that often goes unnoticed or unconsidered.
These People…these Men; Women; Sons; Daughters; Fathers; and Mothers, have been hard pressed to do the
right thing, as it aligns with the Human Spirit. In all honesty, I’ve had Staff, care enough about me than the
inhabitants who live around me; those who’re within the exact same position and experiencing the same conditions.
I’ve had Staff and Inhabitants of this environment, care enough about each other, from a humanity stand point, that it
establishes a fondness and respect for the people they are. But it’s too often, that such truths and behaviors are
misrepresented as “Fraternization”, because the respectful smiles and treatments of an individual incarcerated, goes
against the identity of what the Imprisonment of Human Beings has always been.

On August 16, 2024, Greensville Correctional Center, was so short of staff, that they couldn’t manage the regular
issues that are necessary for Housing the Men here. My Unit Manager showed so much strength and
fortitude, while enduring the overwhelming stress of being the Unit Manager, Lieutenant, Sergeant, Floor Officer,
and the floating officer, to ensure that the Officers who worked in the building, were able to have the necessary
breaks. I watched this Woman; this Mother; this Concerned and Professional Person, look Beat Down; Bruised;
Defeated and Unconsidered.
I watched as the choice swirled in the conscious mind of an overworked; overlooked and unappreciated employee.
The unfortunate circumstances, made a Mother have to choose between being a “professional oppressor”, due to
the many unaddressed issues, that makes one choose their profession, over being Mothers; Fathers; and Human
Beings. I watched as adjustments had to be made, as a result of a staff shortage, which couldn’t allow a Mother to
go home, at the respectable hour to pick up her child. I watched her shoulder the burden of the World and the
Heavens, only to become a victim of the lazy mentality, of those who are in authority over Her or work alongside her,
in this environment.
This is not an essay to point fingers or name names. But what has become true from the past, up to now, is that
there’s no accountability of those issues that are often great sound bites or article fillers. Frankly, there is no
Humanized treatment of the staff or the residents of this institution. The fraternal order of “Correctional Officers”, are
only working as the means to support their lives and their families, remaining unconcerned of who suffers the Mental
Strains; the Broken Families; as well as those Questions of one’s very own worth, within a much Bigger Human
Family.
There’s so many OUTSTANDING People, who are currently employed here, at Greensville Correctional Center, that
are leaving here, in order to work at Lawrenceville Correctional Center. One of the best People, who’s a Unit Manager of the Reentry Building and Army Veteran is also leaving. She has always been the proper example of a Good Person; a Great Manager of any and all affairs, that addresses the issues of people… if
their jumping ship, what does that say about the environment and the people who manage/control it, as an overall.
Those are just a few of the people who are losing their own humanity, due to the expectation of separating their humanity from their occupation. They have relied heavily, on those of us, who has made the choice to work towards
Building Bridges and Mending Fences. Yes, those Bridges takes effort and time, but when there’s no efforts put towards the action, which leads to solutions, we fail at the proper outcomes we’re trying to gain.

This next expression is very close to me, and that’s because it speaks to the excessive force, utilized, without having clear and present evidence, to justify such force or the order of that force, being utilized. Please know that I compose this, at a risk of being viewed differently; handled differently; as well as treated differently. But I WILL NOT sit around and allow the very nature of People, to be disrupted, corrupted, or looked at with a biasness, that can’t be shown out of uniform, as it is displayed while in the uniform. Meaning…if you have an ulterior motive, towards the
population of incarcerated Men and Women, then state it; embrace; and outwardly display it, for the Free World to see, as well as the incarcerated one, to know and accept. {NOTE: This is to speak to the Mentality of the environment and how such a Mentality, has not only risked the lives
of people, but the very Humanity that separates the People from animals}. As I am held to the standard of a Human Being first, and Man second; how is it fair and decent, to absolve the Staff Officials of such a standard? So this is
just a few of the Inhumane treatments that’s occurring, within these Imprisoning facilities.}

Alfonso “Ghaza” Skyles (aka. Quillz) (#1134129)

Greensville Correctional Center

Of Law and Justice

Idealistically, law is suppose to be the vessel of justice, and in the more chaotic times of our antiquity there was a much clearer path to that interpretation.

As time has accrued, law has taken on a more sophisticated form in modern day society. It now serves as a mere balancing sheet for lawmakers to differentiate the cost of the quality of human life versus economical wealth. From such a vantage point, law and justice lie on opposite sides of a gap that is trending a wider course as distrust in the government grows more rampant.

The mold that is justice used to shape the law is ornamented in such a way that it has become almost indiscernible. The common American is overwhelmed with the law’s immense frame of reference that has come to exceed far beyond the general welfare of its citizens. In our capitalist society, the average citizen has no time (thus no money) enough to give to the task of deciphering the justice in law today.

Plus, for too many people take for granted the influence environment has over their innate sense of justice. It takes virtually no effort to feel and a relatively great deal more effort to analyze. This dynamic form the basis for the average Americans susceptibility to being told what justice is. As of a consequence of this dynamic, they are led further away from how justice feels. This product is the cornerstone of the demagogue politician’s playbook.

The irony of former President Trump and his allies to proclaim that the justice system is being “weaponized” against the former President speaks volumes to the malleability of our understanding what the American justice system is. Yet, it brings forth this unsightly truth about our justice system– that is can and HAS been used as a weapon time and time again. This devious application of justice system is not particular to America nor is it particular to this era in time. Justice systems have been utilized since the times of antiquity in order to dispatch unsavory people who may potentially pose a threat to an establishment’s order– as did the Romans use the justice system to incarcerate Jesus.

Understand, I am NOT relating Trump to Jesus! I deem Trump’s situation to be ironic because it was his blatant abuse of power that allowed me to see the stark contrast between law and justice. Now, as he stands convicted of 34 felonies (in a state court outside of the pardoning power of a sitting president), he now wants to direct the public’s attention to the weapon-ready capabilities of the justice system. So far after this same system has wrongfully claimed the lives of countless, unprivileged, disadvantaged people. All under the guise of justice.

As it stands now, a person can be found not guilty of a charge they stand accused of, yet, be serving a life sentence for it. How can this be? Certainly, this is NOT justice, but it is the LAW. (reference Waverley VA case, man wrongfully accused of killing a police officer, found not guilty but serving life).

This is not an undressing of a completely corrupt system, overtly debased and unsalvageable. In our overly sophisticated society, there has been great work on part of noble lawmakers who still seek to reflect justice in their policymaking. Still, they are trying to re-right a ship that has been off course for far more than 200 years. All this, in addition to being up against a monumental force that refuses to die out quietly.

Regardless of this, they press on. This is cause justice is not a mere thing subjected to the laws of entropy– it cannot and will not die. It is a spirit that eternally lives within the heart of the human soul. Those of us who will not cower to the inner corners of ourselves, writhed with fear and desperation, will be its vessel. Those ones will serve as a torch, burning bright, the light of justice.

In the words of the famous Black psychologist, Bobby E. Wright

“A luta continua– lisima tush inde mbilshaka”
(The struggle must continue– and we will conquer without a doubt)

Love, peace, and power
Q.

There has to be a better way…(part I)

I’m doing 10 years in Virginia State Prison, for Involuntary Manslaughter, for the accidental overdose of my late girlfriend Nicole Shifflet. My story needs to be told, hopefully to help prevent another overdose, promote overdose awareness, to educate, and put a spotlight on Virginia’s Good Samaritan/ Overdose Protection Law (18.2-251.03).

On 8-11-2020, my girlfriend Nichole “Nikki” Shifflet wanted to come and stay with me for a couple days at my hotel in Williamsburg. Nikki and I are both addicts and have multiple mental health diagnosis as well. We met each other at an assisted living facility for people with mental health problems. The Monday of the 10th, Nikki starts to make plans to get a ride to me, I was on the chase to get my daily dose of heroin (dope, as I will refer to) with my dealer/friend. We go and get some dope, some crack, and some weed and we are headed back to my hotel. I met Nikki at a 7-11 and paid her friends some cash and weed for bringing her and waiting for me. We went back to my hotel, my dealer/Friend left and went to his room down the hall. We started using the drugs i bought, we had sex, then we went swimming in the pool for a few hours came back and showered together used more drugs then we went and got snacks, and then ordered dinner from the bar. We went back to our room and used some more, got in bed and hooked up again and then went to sleep. Around 12:30 am on 8-12-2020 my dealer/friend came knocking on my door and woke us up, he asked me if I had any dope left from what he sold me earlier, I told him I had a little bit left for the morning. He then said he could not re-up until later the next morning, that he had some more crack we could all smoke if I shared the dope with him and he would give it back once he got more later that day. He came in we all started smoking crack together, I gave him the rest of the dope. He poured some on the table and sniffed a couple lines, and Nikki asked if she could try some, I told her no way, baby you do not even use dope! I told her that this stuff was really strong and how all dope nowadays probably has fentanyl in it. We argued back and forth and the dealer/friend said a lil bit would not hurt anybody, so I gave up arguing and he scraped a little tiny bump and handed her a rolled up bill and she sniffed it, said “thank you baby, I love you” and gave me a kiss then hopped up on the bed next to the table we were all sitting at. She was smoking a cigarette and I prepared to inject ( i was the only IV addict) the rest of the dope while we were all talking and laughing. The next thing I know she was no longer holding my hand and she was not responding. I jumped straight up and started trying to wake her, I told my dealer/friend she was overdosing. I grabbed a Narcan nasal spray and administered it while I started calling 911. The dealer/friend freaked out and said he was not sticking around. He said that I had it under control and not to tell anyone he was there, and he ran away and hid. I was already giving CPR as he left and was telling 911 operator what happened. I never gave up, I never left her, I kept her alive until police and EMT took over, they told me to wait in hallway, I was devastated and could not stop crying and asking if she was going to be okay. I was told over and over again that I did everything right and everything I could, it was now in God’s hands. She never went without oxygen, and she had a breathing machine on her when they took her to the hospital.

The police asked me what happened and I told them she sniffed heroin and fell unconscious they started taking pictures and picking up all the drugs and paraphernalia that was in view( I never attempted to conceal anything, my only concern was for Nikki!!). Unfortunately, Nikki passed away 3 days later from ” Cardiac arrest, caused by acute combined cocaine and fentanyl overdoses, with chronic substance abuses contributing”. I was and still am trying to understand how she didn’t recover, why I was spared? She was an amazing beautiful young lady, a mom of a 6 year old son! Exactly one week has passed, now I am completely out of control and using so much trying to kill myself. I am arrested by Williamsburg Major Crimes Division, for possession of drugs and paraphernalia from the night of Nikki’s overdose. I tell them I will only talk with a lawyer present. I’m released on bond because my lawyer tells me the charges are bogus and can not stick because I 100% qualify for relief from Virginia’s Good Samaritan Law. I go to detox, trying to get help, and go to rehab. But this is the height of the pandemic and there is no bed space available.

I keep trying and trying relapsing hoping I would OD and join Nikki. Eventually, the charges were dropped, because I qualified for 18.2-251.03. I still could not deal with the loss or get the help I needed, so I ran away from everyone I knew and hid at a house in my hometown with no power until I was arrested on 2-16-2021 for probation violation. The same cops arrested me and wanted to know what happened the night of 8-12-2020. I waived my Miranda warning thinking I could tell them the truth because #1.) I was not a drug dealer, #2.) I did everything I could to save her, and #3 the Good Samaritan Law. I was so hig#h at time of my arrest, I was scared, vulnerable, and fell for the bullshit line the cops were telling me!

I originally said that Nikki had her own drugs, my only lie, but then I told them everything that happened every detail over and over again. They said they wanted to make sure there was no foul play that everybody knew what drugs we were using. They asked me who paid for the drugs, I told them I did over and over again. The interview ended when I realized (sobered up!!)

Tyler McMillen(#1502960)

Glouster, VA.

Lunenburg Correctional Center

C. floyd on Understaffing

Dear BBB,
I enjoy receiving your newsletters, and if the subject questions are something I can respond to…than, I will. With that being said, I’d like to respond to the question: “What do you think the cause of understaffing of prisons nationwide?”

Well, I seriously believe that its because of safety concerns. Staff don’t feel safe when there’s no pod cameras, body cams, and the shortage in staff positions. It makes them feel unsafe! Therefore, they probably decided to choose a different type of job positioning…where they do not have to deal with such violence, and unsafe conditions.

I believe the Department of Corrections (“DOC”) will have to show that they have the prisons under control, and the safety concerns are fixed before any of the staff positions are actually filled back up. With that being said, the DOC has to come up with a plan.

First of all, there has to be more pod cameras in each pod, and every correctional officer needs to wear a body cam…this is to give staff the feeling that they are safe. If they don’t feel safe…they probably will not work in such an environment. So, you can understand why there’s a staffing crisis. Who would want to work in an unsafe environment? Nobody!

Secondly, there has to be more staff presence in each housing area. Meaning more security checks. Staff has to pull together in order to make this happen. Its the only way to keep everyone safe.

Thirdly, DOC also has to put adequate ads out about job openings, and offer a bonus to all new staff members who are still working after one year. This will ensure the chance of fill up all the job openings.

Fourthly, if the DOC brought back smoking in prisons…they wouldn’t have to worry about the money issue they’re currently having because every state was making millions of dollars a year on the taxes from tobacco products sold in prisons nationwide. This money could be used to hire new staff…to fill all the open positions, and to put cameras in the pods of the facilities that don’t have them. This would be a win, win for each state. If there’s an issue with non-smokers…than, the DOC can designate one of its prisons to be used as a non-smoking prison.

By achieving these four goals, the DOC will see a big change in the staffing crisis effecting prisons nationwide. The DOC needs to find solutions to these problems and fixing them. Saving money is not an option…lives are more important. Prisons need to be fully staffed at all times…this is the only way to keep staff and inmates safe. Staff would rather work in a peaceful work environment, not a violent one.

C. Floyd, #1036136
Red Onion State Prison

Design

It is not a matter of if the prison system is broken. Thats an understatement. The prison system is doing exactly what it was designed to do! Not only is it a business at the end of the day, but the beginning as well all at the expense of our people. This country was built upon slavery. So if you don’t acknowledge that; there’s no way that we can expect different result!

Leroy Williams
Deerfield Correctional