Running Club

By: Douglas V. Johnson

Congratulations to the participants of the victim impact-related “416-2-911 RUNNING CLUB” program at RNCC. Due to the years-long waiting list for the Victim Impact Program at RNCC, incarcerated military Veterans took the initiative to start a running club in honor of the victims in their cases, their families, and their own families. The running club also doubles as an empathy-building, mentoring/peer-support program.

On 4-16 (2007), there were 32 Virginia Tech students and faculty members killed in a mass shooting. On 9-11 (2001), there were 2,977 people killed in the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil.

In the five months between 16 April and 11 September, the twenty-man Veteran and non-Veteran running club ran a combined total of 2055 laps (222 miles) around their recreation yard. On 9-11, they closed out their run with an Army cadence.

The requirements to be in the running club:
1.) Request to be added to the RNCC Victim Impact Program wait list;
2.) Watch the VADOC Victim Impact video (on JP6 players);
3.) Participate in H.O.P.E. (Helping Ourselves Progress and Evolve) Self-Awareness Program discussions/conversations;
4.) Intend to stay infraction-free, and
5.) Most importantly, to realize that they are running with a purpose.

If we are genuinely striving towards personal growth, it is critical we realize our crimes still have a tremendous ripple effect on others. The greatest service that we can do now, is to not waste the time they are serving in prison.

Although program opportunities and mental health services may be severely limited while we are incarcerated, let us all continue to take the initiative in creating our own opportunities for our personal growth.

DOUGLAS V. JOHNSON, II (#1937011)
RNCC Veterans Support Group
Mentorship Committee Chairman

*RNCC Facility Leader/Lead Mentor/Education Advocate for The Forty STRONG, Brilliance Behind Bars, & TF CXJ III

Understaffing in Women’s Correctional Facilities

The epidemic of understaffing is growing rapidly. For as long as I’ve been incarcerated, since July of 2020, the staffing issue is getting worse not only in prisons but in jails as well. The first jail I was housed at held no compassion whatsoever. It was filthy, biased, and inhumane. The guards decided to pick and choose what they paid attention to. When situations were important, they were nowhere to be found. A girl was dragged around and beat up in an open dorm for forty five minutes while another girl screamed at the top of her lungs yet no guards came for hours. This is one of the many examples I experienced just from my first year in jail, whether it was due to negligence or understaffing I’ll never know. It’s an issue that needs to be addressed. Once I got transferred to prison, I truly understood the crisis. From nurses to officers to counselors, they are all overworked and it affects our daily lives as much as theirs. A recent incident drives this point home and I believe everyone needs to hear it.

On Saturday, May 18th, around 8 in the morning, in my building, a girl that I’ve known for two years now, cut another girls arm wide open with a blade. The sole reason is that she is a schizophrenic, among other issues, in general population with too many triggers and not enough help for her. She is a highly intelligent individual. She’s had outbursts before, suicidal threats, episodes, etc. She has been housed in acute/mental health after past incidents then released back into population, which has made her a danger to not only herself but others for obvious reasons. She had no beefs with this girl. This other girl had just come from intake and had been minding her business at a table in the day room doing arts and crafts. The intake had asked this lady how she was and maybe that made her a target. Ultimately, anyone could have been. Something triggered her to do what she did and the intake had to go to the hospital to get eleven stitches. It could have been a lot worse. Both of these girls are victims as well as the many others who witnessed the incident. Later that day, the building attempted to hold a peaceful protest in the chow hall during lunch because this incident was the final straw for many and needs attention. There are no mental health counselors on staff during the weekend. Why is that? We don’t have staff to support the need for on call weekend shifts. So, the initial answer from administration is to lock up the individuals in segregation that were part of the protest because it’s actually considered “inciting a riot.” They didn’t even know the whole situation, once they did then they decided against seg. We incarcerated are instantly in the wrong just because we want change and have to show out for what we want or need and there’s no other way. I have actually heard from a counselor that they don’t have enough staff to see everyone that wants/needs to be seen.

THAT’S A PROBLEM! The understaffing crisis makes our living environment even tougher to navigate. Just human warehouses to stuff us in by numbers and lowest status possible. We must look after one another and work harder to keep us afloat and safe. This environment is so much for self. It truly needs unity. There are many that do go against the grain and establish so much change as well as rehabilitation. They are resilient against all odds. The system needs revival and staff to make changes. There are plenty of opportunities coming about after the Covid hit, only we need staff to operate these things. These matters need the spotlight to bring about differences in prisons all across the nation.

My name is Jennifer Zukerman. (DOC #2080583) I am currently housed at Fluvanna Correctional center for Women.

The Cliff-of-Death

By D.V. JOHNSON, II (#1937011, River North)

Ice Cold gusty wailing winds and ravaging torrential rains of The Storm as I stand on The Cliff-of-Death’s verge… Electrified trials & tribulations converge&merge causing me to sway&swerve, I see glimpses of my demons clawing up from the Notorious bottomless pit below..

Urges to elude these thunderous throes vigorously intensify, but, threats to throw me over are thereby thwarted… My bellowing cries for a Renewal of Perspective cause me to realize that without pain, I’d have no frame of reference for when something truly deserves to be Glorified…

RECALIBRATING so I can Stand Strong on this cliff-of-death, as my Life’s Purpose is continuously enlightened & further refined.

*Inspired by Psalm 57 during Mental Health Awareness Month (May 2024).

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

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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

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?

What’s in the Box!?

A Perspective on Trauma CompartMENTALization v/s Processing While Incarcerated
BY: DOUGLAS V. JOHNSON, II (RNCC, #1937011)

We stare down into the seemingly bottomless & packed “box” suppressed with our demons/issues/insecurities/trauma. Not getting overwhelmed can be a tremendous task in itself… It can definitely lead to some significant procrastination… A fear of stirring up old pain can cause us to put it off until later as we find something sweet to keep us occupied/distracted.

Unpacking this box alone is not recommended because things usually get worse, before they get better… Unfortunately, in incarcerated settings, mental health resources/programs are severely limited/scarce. If we were in society we could get a dedicated counselor/therapist to help us unpack this box…

Prior to my incarceration, I ran from working on myself for so long, but now I only wish I had a professional to take me through the process of processing it all. I just poured Gin&Jen on the box and lit it on fire, only to wake up the next morning with it weighing heavily upon my chest… I stored that old beat-up&tattered box in the back of the garage. I got tired of seeing that worn-out taped-up box, so I put it in the Fu€#!ng basement, & then the attic.

But, sitting with me in solitary confinement, I was alone with the box for two consecutive years… Emotions intensified to the n’th degree. The first piece of advice I got from my Boss/Colleague/Mentor was: “A counselor just helps you understand yourself better and will give you tools to cope with your issues… So now, it will be on you to gain a greater sense of self-awareness which includes acknowledging your pain & demons… Begin to WRITE & Read, and Keep WRITING and Reading!”

Anyhow, the box gets lighter as we take our time to inventory its contents and acknowledge what’s in there… then, one by one we take it apart to process it, and then put each item on the damn shelf as if it were a trophy, somehow turning it into a Positive. Transforming the gruesome pain into Greater Purpose!!!… Then, we decide when to take the next item out of the box…

As I now confidently look my shelf of sculptures in the eye, I feel tremendous Clarity of my issues. I have now taken my POWER back from the box. As the box got lighter, I began to understand myself so much better… A fresh perspective and outlook on life.

Something else also happened… My inability to concentrate began to dissipate and my reading comprehension and memory began to improve. I then realized the impact that my unprocessed trauma had on me over the years.

In our incarcerated settings, the lack of mental health services can exacerbate our mental health issues. Many of us turn to self-medicating our issues which worsens our situations. If we really want to honestly address our problems, we HAVE TO take the initiative to educate ourselves, better understand ourselves/issues, utilize any & all available resources, and invest in & cultivate our support systems. We CANNOT stop at “well, there are no mental health services.” If we wait on DOC (regardless of the state) to provide more services without taking personal accountability & initiative, then we are wasting our ‘Time.’

With all of the reading/writing/self-reflection, my communications skills also significantly improved… All of these improvements have led to me making HEALTHIER life-altering decisions and helped ensure I was emotionally available for my family.

Addressing our suppressed mental health issues requires extremely hard work when we are out there in a free society even with an abundant amount of resources (therapists/counselors, support groups, variety of medication, treatment methods, etc.). While incarcerated, we have to work infinitely harder if we want to grow and build. One advantage that we do have on this side of the wall is, our ‘Time’ to get laser-focused on unpacking that box… Growth follows acknowledgement…

Humbly,
~D.V. JOHNSON, II

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

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

Mental Health, Hopelessness, Depression, and Despair: You Are Not the Sin.

MENTAL HEALTH IS THE TOPIC,
NOW ALLOW ME TO ROCK IT.

Mental Health, Hopelessness, Depression and Despair, you are not the sin,
You are sometimes just misunderstood on your acceptance as a friend.
Mental Health is a friend and guide to help you heal inside,
She’s not evil’s prize come to take you to the other side.
Relax’s and understand Hopelessness is just a distant relative of despair,
Introducing you to hard times, so you can find out who you are.
Depression is no more than an emotion trapped inside of an illusion,
Expressing an array of feelings while searching for a conclusion.
But first things first, allow me to introduce Myself,
My name is “Alexander Cameron,” and of course you are Mental Health,
My vernacular is very sharp and cunning, How about yourself?
Mental Telepathy is how I roll, I think y’all call it Top Shelf!
Well, Mr. Top Shelf, Gun Violence has you labeled as a crisis,
Pay attention my son, its called politicians making sacrifices,
Y’all call it splitting hairs, we call it word splices,
You know, that lip service, that has you and yours on drugs and reaching for vices.
Check it: Japan say Guns on the streets are just simply dumb,
Her deaths through gun violence in 2022 is absolutely none,
Now, America, you know you are just too through,
Death’s through gun violence has you at Four Hundred Fifty Thousands in the year 2022.
America’s relationship with Mental Health knows no truth,
Mental Health, you are expendable and less than an excuse,
At lease there’s a silver lining, you are not responsible for the youth,
Who has their parents turning back the clock, looking for a clue,
To free their kid’s from this paranoid maze of deceit,
That has their minds trapped in what appears to be certain defeat;
Listen Children;
Your problems are yours to confront, but first you must understand,
No life is without problems, they go hand in hand.
Ultimately your problems are yours to face and yours to Solve,
Excuses are for cowards, get yourself Involved.
Some problems are easy peesy and some are very
hard,
but, its only when you try solving them, that you can tell yourself Good Job.
So, America, let us all give Mental Health her due: because;
No one is responsible for your happiness but you and only you.

Submitted By:

Alexander Cameron
# 1172733

Beaumont Correctional Center
3500 Beaumont Road
Beaumont, Virginia 23014

A Solution: Body Cams

“What can we do as incarcerated people to ensure that we put the right people in office who care about our lives”?

Well, first of all, we need to tell all our friends and love ones on the outside to vote this year for candidates who are supporting “Second Chance.” Also, for candidates who are willing to push for a new “MANDATORY” legislative law… requiring that [all] Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) officials (Wardens, Majors, Unit Managers, Captains, Lieutenants, and Subordinates) to wear “body cam”, and for it to be kelp on at [all] times when enter acting with inmates. This will ensure there’s no misunderstanding as to what was said between the VADOC officials and inmates. The lack of “body cams” have clearly caused major problems within the VADOC…because most investigations end up “UNFOUNDED, due to lack of evidence. These problems could have been avoided years ago…if “body cams” were issued to every VADOC official. We need candidates who will step up and fight for the rights of incarcerated individuals. Look at the life’s that have been lost in the VADOC due to violence. We need everyone to get out there during voting time and vote for candidates who’s will to serve and protect those who are housed within the VADOC. We need everyone to get on board! Please do this for your love ones…because they need you. The time is now!!!

Secondly, we have to be proactive ourselves, and write to those candidates as well. When writing to such candidates, please be respectful and explain to them your thoughts and concerns.

Thank you,

Curtis L. Floyd, #1036136