June 2012 Graterfriends

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

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

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

Volume 43 Issue 6 www.prisonsociety.org www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaPrisonSociety June 2012

The Haves and Have-Nots: A Story of Inequality and Unfairness by Omar Askia Ali (Sistrunk), AF-0814, SCI Houtzdale

In this Issue

From the Editors, News ................................................. 2 Pass the Word ................................................................ 3 Mrs. GE-6309 Time, Birthdays, Crossword Solutions .. 4 Legislative Highlights .................................................... 5 Legal Chat ...................................................................... 6 Think About It ................................................................ 7 Mailroom...................................................................... 8-9 Bookcase ....................................................................... 10 Literary Corner ............................................................ 11 Our Voices .................................................................... 12 Announcements ............................................................ 13 Graterfriends Order Form ........................................... 14 Crossword ..................................................................... 15 “The Last Word” by William DiMascio ........................ 16

I have often heard it said that the U.S. is the greatest country on Earth. There is no doubt that it is a military superpower and, without question, it has shown flashes of greatness. But at its core, the U.S. is a country grap-pling with its conscience over how it treats certain seg-ments of its citizenry: i.e., African-Americans, Latinos, and poor whites.

It is no secret that there is an ever-widening chasm of opportunity separating the rich from the poor, the “haves” from the “have-nots,” in this country. According to an Associated Press article on the wealth gap be-tween the rich and the poor, “the richest one percent of Americans have been getting far richer over the last three decades, while the middle-class and the poor have seen their after-tax household income only crawl up in comparison.” It went on to say, “the distribution of after-tax income in the United States was substantially more unequal in 2007 than in 1979.”

Another aspect of this chasm is the disparate treat-ment of the poor relative to the rich in the criminal jus-tice system. Aside from the few Martha Stewarts and Lindsay Lohans, who serve extremely short prison stints or run in and out of court and county jail, but nev-er do any time, and the Bernie Madoff anomalies, there are few rich and wealthy people serving hard time in U.S. prisons.

It is not that they don’t commit the same crimes as the poor, they do. Rather, it’s because every system in the U.S. is set up by the rich and wealthy (the “haves”) for their benefit. These systems tend to also keep the poor (the “have-nots”) at the bottom stratum of society.

The equation is very simple —the rich have money and the poor have it not. Therefore, the system views the “haves” as valuable, important, and essential, while seeing the “have nots” as inconsequential, and thereby expendable. Thus, when a “have” comes into contact with the criminal justice system, every excuse, excep-tion, consideration, and accommodation is made to shield the offending “have” from prosecution and incar-ceration. On the other hand, contact with the “have nots” is always met negatively and prejudicially, with

the full force and weight of the system with a blatant disregard to fairness and due process.

Imagine two first-time offenders. Both eighteen, and both arrested for the same crime — drug possession. The only difference separating them is that one is rich — a “have,” and the other is poor — a “have not.” What hap-pens next is sinister.

The rich kid’s family attorney will usually resolve this problem at the arrest level and it goes no further, while the poor kid’s court-appointed public defender won’t even show up until the preliminary hearing, or a few weeks before trial. In most cases, the rich kid will be released with a slap on the wrist; the poor kid, unable to make bail, will be held until trial.

Say, for some reason, the rich kid’s case makes it to trial. He or she will have the best representation money can buy. The poor kid, however, will have to make do with an underpaid, mistake-prone, overworked, indiffer-ent public defender. The rich kid will no doubt get a dis-missal or the charges drastically reduced from felony to

(See Have and Have-Nots, continued on page 12)

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pennsylvania-Prison-Society/152360631500372

http://articles.philly.com/2011-10-27/news/30328112_1_higher-income-households-middle-class-tax


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From the Editors

Graterfriends is a monthly publication from the Pennsylvania Prison Society. The organization was founded in 1787 and works toward enhancing public safety by providing initiatives that promote a just and humane criminal justice system.

This issue is made possible through contributions from our readers and funding from Phoebus Criminal Justice Initiative through the Bread & Roses Community Fund.

We reserve the right to edit submissions. Original submissions will not be returned. We will not print anonymous letters. Allegations of misconduct must be documented and statistics should be supported by sources.

245 North Broad Street · Suite 300 Philadelphia, PA 19107

Telephone: 215.564.6005 · Fax: 215.564.7926 www.prisonsociety.org

www.facebook.com/PennsylvaniaPrisonSociety

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: William M. DiMascio

MANAGING EDITOR: Mindy Bogue

EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS: Danielle Collins, Bridget Fifer

FOUNDER: Joan Gauker

Letters more than a page in length (200 words) will not be published in their entirety in Mailroom or Legal Chat Room, and may be considered for another column. All columns should be no more than 500 words, or two double-spaced pages.

To protect Graterfriends from copyright infringement, please attach a letter stating, or note on your submission, that you are the original author of the work submitted for publication; date and sign the declaration.

If you have a question about Graterfriends, please contact Mindy Bogue, Communications Manager, at 215-564-6005, ext. 112 or [email protected].

(See Home Front, continued on page 14)

News SUPPORT FROM THE HOME FRONT

by Kim Angle

There are many organizations in Philadelphia that work diligently to support those behind bars, to assist in successful reentry, and work for much-needed changes in the criminal justice system. There is also a strong move-ment on the part of the loved ones of the incarcerated to have a voice and to effect change. Two events held re-cently in Philadelphia help to demonstrate these efforts and commitment.

The Pennsylvania Coalition for the Fair Sentencing of Youth saw a standing-room-only crowd at the Friends Center for a two-hour program on April 14. Agenda items for this inaugural gathering for family and friends of ju-venile lifers included a description of the National Cam-paign for the Fair Sentencing for Youth (CFSY), reflect-ing on the national and legal landscape, areas for family to take action, and individual stories. The testimonies of loved ones brought tears and inspiration to all in attend-ance. One 86-year-old matriarch attended with the assis-tance of a walker in support of her two grandsons, sen-tenced as juveniles to life without parole 27 years ago. She remains committed to getting her “boys” home.

CFSY plans to meet regularly to develop a Philadelphia

The Pennsylvania Prison Society celebrated its 225th anniversary on May 8. At the event we awarded Senator Stewart Greenleaf with our Justice Award, an honor rarely given — and usually given to long-time board members who have given so much to the organization. This is the first time we have given it to a legislator. We are very proud of the work Senator Greenleaf has done in the past decade to help reform criminal justice in Pennsylvania. He has realized the “tough on crime” laws are not working and believes there is a better way. He also garnered a special proclamation from the Pennsyl-vania Senate for the Prison Society’s 225th anniversary. For more information, please see page 9.

On page 7, you’ll read a story about one of Reginald Lewis’s neighbors on Death Row at SCI Graterford — nicknamed “Bernie Mac.” Mr. Lewis and others look out for this prisoner, who they all know is mentally ill. Mr. Lewis also wonders why he’s never seen a psychiatrist visit with Bernie, and why the Pennsylvania DOC spends so much money on those who are mentally ill and could benefit from living elsewhere.

Last but not least, do not miss Executive Director William DiMascio’s “Reflections on Turning 225” on page 16. Our long history goes back to 1787, when prominent citizens of Philadelphia, many who signed the Declaration of Inde-pendence — going up against the strongest nation in the world at the time — decided to visit prisoners in Philadelph-ia and take a stand against the day’s harsh criminal code.

https://www.facebook.com/PACFSY

http://www.endjlwop.org/the-issue/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pennsylvania-Prison-Society/152360631500372



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of his grievances, the Court lacked jurisdiction to provide an additional layer of review beyond the internal appeals process established by the Department of Corrections; (2) The Commonwealth Court also incorrectly held that, to the extent petitioner’s claims that his Constitutional rights were violated by the confiscation or denial of the publications at issue, he summarily failed to establish the requisite personal involvement on the part of respondent by establishing and maintaining a claim pursuant to Art 1, Section 7 of the P.A. Constitution and (3) the Common-wealth incorrectly failed to state a claim or retaliation.

The Supreme Court granted Allocatur and ordered Ap-pellant to file his brief on or before April 24, 2012, at No. 2 WAP 2012 and for the attorney of the grievance exam-iner to file his brief on or before May 24, 2012.

I filed my brief on April 20, 2012 and as soon as the Supreme Court renders a decision I will share it with the Graterfriends readers. This is an important case for all Pennsylvania prisoners who have had their publications rejected by the Inmate Publication Review Committee (IPRC) and told by them their publication was rejected because the content advocated, assisted or is evidence of criminal activity, facility misconduct, racially inflamma-tory material, or material that could cause a threat to the inmate, staff or facility security; their publications might have been banned due to the IPRC’s own personal

(See Banned, continued on page 12)

Pssst… Pass the Word

REGARDING BANNED PUBLICATIONS by George Rashaan Brooks-Bey, AP-4884, SCI Frackville

In Brooks-Bey v. Doriha Varner, Chief Grievance Ex-aminer, No. 322 M.D. 2011, the Commonwealth Court ruled that prison grievances and misconduct decisions are not subject to judicial review unless the case involves a constitutional right not limited by the Department of Corrections. To the extent that the petitioner is challeng-ing the respondent’s decisions denying his grievance ap-peals, the claim is dismissed for lack of jurisdiction, cit-ing, Weaver v. Department of Corr., 824 A. 2d 750 (PA. Cmwlth. 2003).

The Court further ruled, to the extent that the petition-er avers his constitutional rights have been violated by the confiscation and/or rejection of his publications, he fails to allege any personal involvement on the part of the named respondent.

Lastly, the Court ruled the petitioner failed to state a claim for retaliation and failed to aver facts necessary to establish that the publication policy is unconstitutional, citing Yount v. Dept. of Corrections, 966 A. 2d 1115 (PA. 2004); Thornbers v. Abbott, 490 U.S. 401 (1989).

I filed for Allocatur in the State Supreme Court argu-ing: (1) The Commonwealth Court incorrectly held that, to the extent the petitioner is challenging the disposition

PRISONERS AGAINST VIOLENCE by Nurriddin Bullock. AS-1035

and Jermar Hines, EW-5823, SCI Houtzdale (Creators and Founders)

Prisoners at the SCI Houtzdale, who are former and New Day gang members of various ethnicities, have come together for the first time with an initiative to stop gang violence and behaviors that contribute to recidi-vism. Our goals are in line with the Secretary of Correc-tion’s “Map Plot Course for Parolees.” We call it the Pris-oners Against Violence (PAV) Project.

The idea came together easily after reading an article that was written in the Patriot-News newspaper, intro-ducing Secretary Wetzel’s initiative to combat recidivism and allow for re-entry.

It is the prisoners’ belief that Secretary Wetzel’s “Map Plot Course for Parolees” is a new approach that will work to stop one from re-offending. Additionally, it will prepare communities for prisoners’ reentry in a more trusting way.

The article seemed to also suggest that the communi-ties that prisoners would eventually be released into were concerned regarding reintegrating former offend-ers. However, the prisoners themselves believe that they have found the answer for all concerns. On March 22, 2012, prisoners introduced, at the institutional level, a proposal that will not only prepare them for cognitive reentry under socially acceptable terms, but also give the communities a new sense of confidence in them. In addi-tion, it would place the prisoner in a phase of maintain-ing responsibility under socially acceptable behavioral norms, and increase the likelihood that the offender will succeed when released.

The fact that gang members are working together for the first time with an initiative that’s designed to stop violence and associated behaviors is indeed an accom-plishment, as well as a first step toward a resolution at combating violent behaviors, and thus, recidivism. Each person can be proud of this accomplishment, and society can trust it.

There is also a belief that if the superintendent at SCI Houtzdale denies their proposal, this could be a tremen-dous let-down. SCI Houtzdale has been notorious for “gang-related violence.” Thus, if their initiative could bring the myriad of gangs together to stop violence under their own initiative, there is an even stronger belief that this initiative could be relevant statewide.

“Can’t we all just get along?”

Just say “Yes” to the PAV Project.

http://www.jailtraining.org/node/92

http://www.palawdirectory.com/listingsdb/static/commonwealth1025.htm

http://www.leagle.com/xmlResult.aspx?page=6&xmldoc=In%20PACO%2020090320736.xml&docbase=CSLWAR3-2007-CURR&SizeDisp=7

http://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/490/401/


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June Birthdays

DEATH ROW

If you do not want your name published, send a letter to Graterfriends each year you do not want it to be included. Be sure to note your date of birth.

CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS

Below are the solutions to crossword puzzles printed in this issue and the previous issue of Graterfriends.

Mrs. GE-6309 Time

by Reesy Floyd-Thompson

May 2012

NO SUGAR REQUIRED I often hear prisoners’ wives comparing themselves to

military spouses. Early on, I too offered this analogy to help explain away the blank stares, in the context of: “My husband is incarcerated, but it’s no different than his being in the military.” Sure, there are similar tenets: partners are away from each other for extended periods; families must figure out how to raise kids, maintain a home, and create intimacy despite distance. Both rela-tionships face difficulty with reintegration. That’s where the similarities end. For obvious reasons, prisoners’ wives do not receive the same respect as military wives, and there’s another public distinction: military wives stand by their partners, prisoner’s wives wait.

When our partners come home, flags do not wave, TV cameras do not appear, and friends may not even call to say, “Welcome home.” Our partners’ homecoming comes with far less fanfare with some standing in line ready to brand our family — dishonorable.

Mary Poppins said it best, “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.” Likening ourselves to a military partner tastes sweeter than admitting our actual situa-tion. When we try to convince someone our relationship is (like) something else, it devalues the true definition of the relationship. Comparisons seek to offer explanations and justifications. The mere act of analysis diminishes one side over the other.

The decision to remain in a relationship with someone incarcerated is far more than a function of the heart. We take in to account the offense and whether or not it lines up with who we are spiritually and morally. We factor in the long-term effects of the tenure of the sentence. We ask ourselves if we have the mental fortitude to take on, not only the separation, but also the perceptions and criticisms we face. Once we conclude the relationship is worth the hardship, the relationship is valid — nothing else required. When we backpedal with the military com-parison, we wear away at the legitimacy of our relation-ship, with each spoonful of sugar.

Respect comes when we stand our ground and exude pride by stepping into our true skin. The validity of our lives is not in the likeness to another institution, but in the unlikeness of it, and in embracing the notion that our lives are different, not less — eliminating the need for sugar.

Reesy Floyd-Thompson is the founder of Prisoners’ Wives, Girlfriends, & Partners (PWGP). For more information about this group, please write Reesy at:

PWGP P. O. Box 14241 Norfolk, VA 23518

June 2012

Jesse Bond BZ-2493, GRA

Edward Bracey BU-0711, GRA

John W. Brown BP-1313, GRN

Kevin Brian Dowling DY-6243, GRN

Joseph A. Eilliott CA-1717, GRN

James Frey GD-5345, GRN

Ronald Gibson BQ-5220, GRN

Kenneth Hairston FA-9174, GRN

Damon Jones AY-2893, GRA

Alexander Keaton CM-9724, GRN

Emanual Lester BS-0997, GRN

Glenn Lyons KK-2323, GRN

Craig Murphy AY-2939, GRN

Donyell Paddy CX-3459, GRN

Ernest Porter AY-7434, GRN

Rasheen L. Simpson CT-1781, GRN

James M. Smith AY-4901, GRA

Paul Gamboa Taylor BT-2525, GRN

Gerald Watkins DD-5212, GRN

Herbert Watson AY-3075, GRN

GRA = SCI Graterford PO Box 244 Graterford, PA 19426-0244

GRN = SCI Greene 175 Progress Drive Waynesburg, PA 15370-8090

http://pwgp.org/



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Ann Schwartzman

Policy Director, The Pennsylvania Prison Society

Legislative Highlights

The Pennsylvania General Assembly is focusing on the state budget. They have also voted on several criminal justice bills. Here are several bills that you may find of interest. Please note that this list is current as of May 15, 2012.

BILL NO. PRINTER NO.

DESCRIPTION CHIEF SPONSOR PPS POSITION

HB 61 PN 29

States that private collection agencies must cease ef-forts to collect fines, costs, and restitution from defend-ant after 48 months. Currently, the limit is 180 days. (Passed House 6/23/11, 197-0; passed Senate 5/1/12, 41-4. Presented to the Governor 5/8/12.)

Rep. C. Metzger R-Bedford and Somerset counties

Oppose

SB100 PN 1668

Amends Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses), 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) and 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. Provides for prison reform and justice reinvestment; sentencing and guidelines via Pennsylvania Commission on sentencing; court-imposed sanctions for probation violators; visita-tion; providing for time eligibility for prerelease; provid-ing for definitions in boot camp, State intermediate pun-ishment, recidivism risk reduction incentive, county intermediate punishment details; establishing the Safe Community Reentry Program; and provides for the pow-ers and duties of the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole and the Department of Corrections. (Passed Senate 10/1//11, 50-0; In House Judiciary, vote pending.)

Sen. S. Greenleaf R-Bucks and Montgomery counties

Support

SB 1454 PN 2099

Amends Titles 23 (Domestic Relations), 42 (Judiciary & Judicial Procedure) & 44 (Law & Justice) of the Penn-sylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing provisions recommended in the recent Joint State Government Commission Report on The effects on children of incar-cerated parents. It includes: in proceedings prior to peti-tion to adopt, further providing for grounds for involun-tary termination; in juvenile matters, further providing for disposition of dependent child; and adding provisions relating to certain arrest protocols. (In Senate Judici-ary 4/5/12.)

Sen. S. Greenleaf R-Bucks and Montgomery counties

Support

HB 1289 PN 3480

Provides for sentencing enhancement for trafficking drugs in the presence of a minor. (Passed House 5/8/12, 197-0.)

Rep. J. Pyle R-Armstrong and Indiana counties

Oppose

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&sessYr=2011&sessInd=0&billBody=H&billTyp=B&billNbr=0061&pn=0029

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&sessYr=2011&sessInd=0&billBody=H&billTyp=B&billNbr=1289&pn=3480

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&sessYr=2011&sessInd=0&billBody=S&billTyp=B&billNbr=0100&pn=1668


http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/House_bio.cfm?id=1174

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/House_bio.cfm?id=1019

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/Senate_bio.cfm?id=173

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/Senate_bio.cfm?id=173


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When submitting a letter or column to Graterfriends for

publication, please remember to attach a letter (or note on your

submission) that it is for publication and that you are the

original author; date and sign the declaration. Thank you.

Legal Chat

LEGAL REASONING

What is “Legal Reasoning”? To understand it, we must ask ourselves: What are the methods by which law is made, developed, and applied? How do concepts of law operate within the world of legal decision making, affect-ing the thought process of lawyers and judges? To un-derstand the context of legal reasoning, we must under-stand the rules of legal thinking. There’s a thinking and logic in the practice of law and we must learn to com-municate with the court through that thinking and logic. Such thinking involves an awareness of legal precepts and principles underlying the process of legal reasoning. It’s a methodology of thinking in principles.

Legal reasoning is premised upon application of princi-ples formulating rules of law governing categories of facts. It’s an intellectual process of adjudication involv-ing legal precepts premised upon principles applied by the judge to justify his/her decision. Just as there are articulable rules of reasoning, there are rules for the identification and formulation of the principles that are the tools of such reasoning. Legal precepts formulating general rules of law apply categories of facts.

The basic pattern of legal reasoning is reasoning from case to case. Like cases are to be decided in like ways because the same principle controls the decision:

1. Similarity is seen between cases (Facts).

2. Rule of law in first case is identified (Principle).

3. The rule of law is made applicable to second case (Reasoning).

Thinking in principles is the key to understanding legal reasoning. Legal principles and doctrines are the tree, case law is its fruit. Educate yourself to protect yourself. Order via I.L.L. The Myth of Legal Reasoning 40 MD. L. Rev. 338 (1981), Logic for Lawyers 13 PAC. L. J. 59 (1981).

Frederick T. Ray III GF-2852, SCI Greene

THE IMPORTANCE OF POLITICS

To all those who think that politics and voting don’t mean anything, dig this: State Senator Stewart Green-leaf and seven co-sponsors are trying to pass/introduce Senate Bill 1153, which would extend the time period we could file petitions with new evidence that could show that we’re ACTUALLY INNOCENT.

As it stands now, if you are actually innocent of your

crime but neglect to present said evidence within 60 days, you have no recourse to get out of prison. Senate Bill 1153 seeks to change that. To keep an innocent man/woman in jail is a “miscarriage of justice”!

Governor Corbett’s spokesman, Eric Shirk, said that Corbett opposes the bill because it would be difficult for courts to assess who is “factually innocent” because the term in the bill is undefined! The Governor’s office is an ELECTED position! (Pa. Law Weekly, Vol XXXV, No.13).

Keep this in mind the next time you shrug off the im-portance of politics and how it adversely affects our in-carcerated lives!

Terrance Washington DN-3858, SCI Somerset

UNPUBLISHED POLICY REVISION

There has been an unpublished policy revision to DC-ADM 803 under “postage and copying.” A “Petition for Review” to respondents is the only legal document to be served by certified mail, return receipt. In Grievance #380751, I cited that the “return receipt” requirement in department policy actually contradicts State Law, Pa. Rules of Appellate Procedure 1514C dictates certified mail only. The Chief Grievance Office at Central Office upheld my grievance, stating “Policy will be reviewed and necessary changes made.” Yet, three months later, here at SCI Albion, they tried to enforce the return re-ceipt requirement, citing they were unaware of this change. Without the revision, we were forced to spend at LEAST another $4.60 of our money. That, to some, is a serious deterrent, which I believe was the basis for the department inserting that requirement. Please notify your business office and mailroom of the change and cite grievance 380751. Together as a united front, we can make a difference.

Darren Gentilquore GX-1572, SCI Albion

http://digitalcommons.law.umaryland.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1416&context=fac_pubs

http://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?collection=journals&handle=hein.journals/mcglr13&div=15&id=&page=




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Think About It

FALLEN CITIZENS by Torrey Real, EL-1916, SCI Frackville

They say we are the non-producing members of society, the criminal element, lower percentile. I believe that the problem is due, in part, to lack of education and aware-ness. Still, I look around my current surroundings and see men who are supposedly in a sober frame of mind, but there seems to be a lack of interest in our social environ-ment or community. Yet, we wonder why things are still bad, and steadily getting worse.

The DOC has very detailed policies that govern the standard of our incarceration. Although they pertain to rules, procedures and expectations of conduct, these poli-cies work both ways (toward staff and inmates, alike), and most are for our benefit. It’s up to us (inmates) to properly utilize the resources available to us (education, grants, etc.).

I’d like to share a few of the things that I’ve come across, and what ideas I have concerning them, beginning with: (1) Policy 7.2.1/section 3. (Request Slips) B. (Staff Responsibility) 1, which states, “Staff receiving a DC-135A [must] respond to the request within five working days;” (2) DC-ADM 804/III. (Policy), which states, “It is

the policy of the Dept. that every individual committed to its custody shall have access to a formal procedure through which to seek resolution of problems or other issues of concern arising in the course of the confine-ment;” and (3) Policy 3.1.1. (Fiscal Administration)/IV.K (Inmate General Welfare Fund/IGWF), which consists of non-appropriated funds — from various sources — “solely for the benefit of inmates.” It is composed of coun-cil members responsible for: making decisions based up-on the best interest of the beneficiaries of the fund (inmates); and developing an annual budget. Each facili-ty “shall” bring select inmates into the operation of the fund at each facility, and “post a monthly statement of fund [activities] on all inmate bulletin boards…”

Now, I’ve surveyed a few dozen of my fellow communi-ty members (inmates). And it wasn’t shocking to learn that over 90 percent of them didn’t know what IGWF is. Why? Maybe for some of the same reasons I didn’t: it’s not advertised or broadcast. The inmates appointed don’t represent (in a sense of election) the population, our in-put isn’t sought, properly recorded, or thoroughly argued in meetings, and so on. No one, besides me, seems to care or take interest!

The solution I propose — especially at my facility—is for people to stop being reactive and to start taking a pro-active approach to constructively seeking ways to benefit from the tools (IGWF, etc.) we’re given. One idea or ex-ample would be to spend the IGWF funds toward voca-tional programs like “Pen American Center,” which offers writing trades to prisoners. There is very little offered to inmates who already have diplomas or have obtained a GED. There are lots of other ways to appropriate funding. Just be creative. But we must get involved.

MY NEIGHBOR, BERNIE MAC by Reginald S. Lewis, AY-2902, SCI-Graterford

Among the numerous policies implemented by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, one requires Security Level 5 Inmates to move to a new cell every 90 days. This is one rule the peaceful Old Heads on Death Row dread. Having to move next to some idiot always running his mouth, trying to act tough, cursing, blasting his television and radio.

So when they moved fellow death row inmate Bernard McGill next door to me, the tightness in my chest loos-ened. He is one of our more mentally unstable brothers, who suffers from multiple personality disorder or schizo-phrenia. But he is unfailingly polite and respectful. The administration probably moved him to G-Wing because they know we’ll look out for him. You see, he has a fero-cious appetite.

We call him “Bernie Mac” because he puts his food hus-tle down. He’s turned panhandling into a fine art. He hits me up almost everyday — but I don’t care. He’s al-ways grateful and thanks me profusely.

“How you doin’ today, Salahud-din?” He calls me by my Muslim name. “I’m fine,” I reply. “How you doing today, B?” He also likes it when I call him “Big ‘Nard.”

“Salahud-din. You got any coffee?” He asks politely.

I pass him coffee through the bars. I know what’s com-ing next.

“You got any cookies?”

We personally memorize the names of every inmate on the block and lock them in for future reference. Bernie Mac used to flood his cell when he couldn’t get anything to eat — so the administration finally took his television and radio to prevent him from electrocuting himself. But he has his own internal entertainment center. From his cell I hear vicissitudes of sounds and voices that rise and fall, depending upon his mood. His tough, gritty voice is an inflection of the musical assonance of rappers Jah Rule and DMX: a hypnotic euphony anchored on a swirl-ing vortex of driving rhythms. The defiant lyrics of Tupac Shakur spitting tragic, Shakespearean tales of love and pain and social injustice.

(See Bernie Mac, continued on page 14)

http://www.pen.org/


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Mailroom

RE: INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR AT SCI MUNCY

I’d like to thank sister Dana Lomax-Williams, OP-2742, for the very powerful message.

Yes, sisters. It’s time to let your voices sound off as well. Stand firmly in what you believe in. God will give you the grace you need. Thanks to sister Dana Lomax-Williams for speaking out. Your courage is appreciated. So many are afraid; every word was the truth.

God bless all the sisters.

Paulette Carrington OO-5801, SCI Muncy

RESPECT

I look out my window and see a goose sitting on her nest. The nest is on the ground approximately 50 feet from my window. It’s on the other side of the yard next to D-block. I’m housed on C-block. I observe how the in-mates and goose react to each other as the footsteps and images approach the nest. There’s no spreading and flap-ping her wings or flying at them. They look at the goose sitting there incubating her eggs to sustain her way of life. They do not disturb her! It pleases me to see respect shown to the goose. I wish we could have shown the same kind of respect to the victims of our crimes and to society.

At the same time, I wish society could have shown that same kind of respect to some of us. An example of society not showing respect to all its citizens is what is happen-ing to Trayvon Martin’s family in Sanford, Florida.

The point is that inmates can learn to respect “life, liber-ty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Like the goose shifts direction from time to time when sitting on her eggs, in-mates can change their course of direction — especially those who were imprisoned during the latter part of the ‘60s and earlier part of the ‘70s. Some of these seniors no longer pose a threat to society and, in my opinion, no long-er belong in prison. This is simply a matter that society needs to look into. Otherwise, society is doing itself and these changed men and women a grave injustice.

Earl Box AK-2618, SCI Graterford

CONGRATULATIONS TO DAVID M. ALLEN

I would like to extend congratulations to my friend David M. Allen for earning his doctoral degree.

Allen, the son of the Rev. Frank Dick and Nora Allen, is a graduate of Lincoln High School, Rhema School of the Bible, St. Francis College, Berean Bible College, Global University, and Calvary Christian Seminary, where he has earned degrees in Business Administra-tion, Education, and Theology. The author of several col-legiate texts, including A Survey of the Old Testament, New Testament Survey, and The Moses Style Ministry, he earned his ThD in May 2012 with a concentration in Biblical Theology and Hospice Ministry from Calvary Christian Seminary, South Bend, Indiana.

In addition to his educational pursuits, Dave has spent his 28 years of incarceration in service to his fellow in-mates, serving three terms as the president of the Altar Rock Jaycees and two terms as the president of Hunting-don Literary Council while housed at SCI Huntingdon, and two terms as the president of the Phoenix Group Organization at SCI Greensburg.

Thomas Dougherty GB-6452, SCI Greensburg

LACKAWANNA COUNTY BLUES

I am a state prisoner from SCI Dallas and I’ve been sent here to Lackawanna County Prison, like 49 other prison-ers from Dallas State Prison. I have just a few months to go, to max, but I want to make the pitiful treatment of the prisoners in Lackawanna County Prison known.

This is all about financial gain and profit for SCI Dallas and this county prison. I’ve never been in a prison that doesn’t give prisoners milk in the morning with their breakfast. No milk at all, with any meal! They make sure that you get juice that is made in the prison kitchen with every meal. This place is the pits. This is a maximum security prison: controlled movement, 22 hours on a small 14-cell block with two hours of recreation time in a yard that is the size of SCI Dallas RHU yards (THAT’S SMALL!) The library has no books in it, just a couple of computers. They strip you of everything before you get here so that once you’re here, you’re forced to spend your money on the things that you need, like cosmetics and food from commissary (and the prices are extra, extra high.) They even strip you down out of your boots or sneakers, so that everybody walks around with prison-issued shower slippers.

Phone calls from here to Philadelphia cost $13 for twenty minutes of phone time. If you came here with your own medication that was issued, say, up at SCI Dal-las, they discontinue it so that you pay $6 to receive it again. They have us SCI Dallas prisoners scattered throughout the prison, on different blocks, mixed in with the county inmates.

What did we do to deserve this treatment? Oh, I know. For some of us, we are getting close to our maximum sentence. For all of us, they’re making room for the pris-oners that are coming back from Virginia. They should have never been there in the first place.

Steven Walker Lackawanna County Prison



9

AN OPEN LETTER TO SECRETARY WETZEL

I suppose congratulations are in order for your appoint-ment as Secretary of Corrections. You have inherited one of the largest cesspools in America today. You are now king of the world of suppression, and 52,000 of us are wondering once again how one man thinks he can change the system — a vengeful system that supports loss of dignity, freedoms, and identity. All this in the name of penological interests, injustice licensed by the legislature and enforced by the courts and your minions in uniform.

Sorry we missed you recently on your tour of the grounds. Hope that everything was to your satisfaction. They had us spit polish everything. Did we disguise the true milieu of the institution as we were ordered and forced to do? Did you enjoy your meal? We did not like ours.

What are your true aberrations [sic]? Will you use us as many before you for political aspirations? With your staff’s parasitical unions playing on the fears of the pub-lic and the parole board operating with no oversight, I wish you luck in your quest.

Bleeding out from the slashing of educational budgets and programs; where will it all end? I counsel men every day on patience, men that have made parole and await release; for some months, and others years. The Pa. DOC is under the microscope of the Federal Government for abuses of inmates and staff. You know these actions are commonplace and true, and we wonder about your sanity.

If you truly believe in what you have been quoted in the papers as saying, then it is with respect that I say, “Thank you for wanting to do the right thing. Welcome to Little Bighorn.”

Jeffery Neal Saxberg DX-5126, SCI Camp Hill

REFORM SEX OFFENDER LAWS.ORG (RSOL) FILING LAWSUIT AGAINST PENNSYLVANIA

RSOL (Reform Sex Offender Laws.Org) is seeking do-nations from all offenders and their family members for a lawsuit that is going to be filed against the state of Pennsylvania. This lawsuit will be challenging the Adam Walsh Act (Senate Bill 1183), which was recently signed into law by Governor Corbett. It is imperative that all offenders and their family members band together on this issue. This law is very serious and is detrimental to the rights of everyone involved. This law will drastically change every offender's current registration scheme. It is imperative that we challenge this law!

We understand the tough economic times that everyone is currently facing, along with their status as a sex offend-er; however, any donation that you can make is better than nothing. All donations will be confidential, and your information will not be divulged to any third party.

All checks may be sent to:

Attorney Matthew Weisberg 7 South Morton Avenue Morton, PA 19070

You must put "Fight AWA" onto the memo section of the check, so that the attorney can separate it!

The attorney's contact number is: 610-690-0801.

Additional questions can be directed to: Frank (volunteer) at [email protected] or

RSOL P.O. Box 45756 Philadelphia, PA 19149

RSOL is a volunteer organization attempting to change laws that do not work. We are not a legal aid organiza-tion, and we cannot offer any legal advice.

Submitted by RSOL

PRISON SOCIETY PRESENTS JUSTICE AWARD TO SENATOR GREENLEAF

At an event in Philadelphia on May 8, Senator Greenleaf was presented with the Pennsylvania Pris-on Society's Justice Award for his steadfast support of prison reform. The award was presented during the organization's 225th year anniversary celebra-tion. The Senator is only the third person to receive the Justice Award.

Senator Greenleaf has led efforts in the Pennsylva-nia Legislature for a number of years responding to the state's prison overpopulation crisis driven by years of harsh punishments for non-violent drug of-fenders. The Senator is currently working on legisla-tion (SB 100) that would enhance Pennsylvania's alternative sentencing programs for non-violent of-fenders and improve rehabilitation and community re-entry for inmates.

"I am truly honored to receive this recognition from one of the most highly regarded advocacy organiza-tions in Pennsylvania," said the Senator. "I am proud to have the opportunity to work with the Prison Soci-ety on issues that are so important for humanity and the future of our state. The important progress that we are making today is a direct result of their hard work. And not only do they have a profound impact on public policy, but their wide network of staff and volunteers who visit and work with inmates truly turns lives around. Rehabilitation programs within prisons are just as important as good law enforce-ment in keeping our streets safe."

http://www.reformsexoffenderlaws.org/

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/US/HTM/2011/0/0111..HTM

http://senatorgreenleaf.com/

http://senatorgreenleaf.com/

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=S&type=B&BN=0100


10


BOOK REVIEW: JUSTICE OR JUST THIS? A CONSTITUTIONAL TRESPASS

BY HON. JEFFREY KENT SPRECHER Book Review by Danielle Collins, Editorial Assistant

Trial Court Judge Jeffrey Kent Sprecher isn’t the first to identify and articulate the relationship between sen-tencing, judicial independence and over-incarceration in Pennsylvania. However, his position as a veteran Berks County judge might make some more sympathetic to the passionate and reasoned plea contained in Justice or Just This? A Constitutional Trespass. Sprecher, who has twenty years of experience on the bench in Reading’s Court of Common Pleas, gives a historical and anecdotal account of the creation of the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing and the far-reaching impact of the man-datory minimum sentences the Commission imposes. Sprecher links this phenomenon to the decline of judicial independence and discretion in Pennsylvania, noting how legislators bend to political pressure in imposing harsher sentencing laws that strip judges of the ability to decide sentences they deem appropriate.

In Justice or Just This?, Judge Sprecher lends his voice to the multitude who have noted the disproportion-ate impact of the war on drugs on racial and ethnic mi-norities. This discrimination plays out in numerous overt and covert ways, but serves to ensure that African American and Latino youth are more likely to be caught and punished for committing the same crimes as whites. Sprecher comments on the growth of prison as an indus-try in Pennsylvania over the past 30-40 years, linking

Bookcase this trend to the creation of the Pennsylvania Commis-sion on Sentencing. Writes Sprecher: “On average, a new penitentiary was built every ten years in the twentieth century. The passage of mandatory minimum sentencing began in the late 1970s. But since the creation in 1982 of the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing, the Com-monwealth added nearly one new prison each year for the next two decades instead of one prison every decade: a tenfold increase.”

A quick and readable 140 pages, the volume also con-tains a helpful glossary of basic legal terms pertinent to Pennsylvania law. Sprecher’s writing is clear and acces-sible, though his outrage at the injustice of the current system becomes increasingly palpable as you turn the pages. The author loses a bit of his focus in later chap-ters as he includes a lengthy section about corporate misconduct and makes marginally relevant references to 20th century history. His attempts to draw parallels be-tween Nazi fear-mongering in pre-WWII Germany and US political overreaction invite skepticism, but the warning is sound given the magnitude of mass incarcera-tion in this country.

While citing statistics and offering a historical account for the deterioration of criminal justice in Pennsylvania, Sprecher intersperses personal stories and thoughts that illustrate his sense of frustration with the current sys-tem. This view from the “other side” of the bench is illu-minating and helps communicate the author’s anger at handing down sentences he believed unjust. While much of the data contained in Justice or Just This? is available elsewhere, the book is worthwhile just for the uncensored reflections of a veteran judge in the twilight of his career.

To order this book, please send a check or money order for $24.95 ($19.95 + $5 S&H) to:

Hon. Jeffrey Sprecher P.O. Box 884 Reading, PA 19601

IN MEMORIAM

We regret to announce that Graterfriends contributer Jon Yount (AC-8297, SCI Greene) died in late April. We appre-ciated his work to keep other prisoners informed of various criminal justice issues through his articles here in Graterfriends. In honor of his passing, Jeffrey Neal Saxberg (DX-5126, SCI Camp Hill) has written these words:

Sentenced To A Life Of Castigation. A True Pundit Who Stood Up To Retribution.

I’ll Never Forget Your Lessons. Finally May Peace Be With You Brother.

Also, Samuel C. Stretton, an attorney in West Chester, Pa., wrote us saying, “You know Jon Yount and I know him. He and I worked on many cases together. I believe you actually gave him an award through the Society…It is just a great tragedy.”

http://www.jeffreysprecher.com/book.htm

http://pcs.la.psu.edu/



11

Literary Corner

MESSAGE TO THE BLACK MAN by Paul Perry, AF7966, SCI Graterford

To be a real man takes more than heart To win the game of life you’ve got to be smart With information you gain, succeed and maintain To find solutions to your problems you must use the brain You need money for honey… So don’t be ridiculous To accomplish your mission you must be meticulous Gather the data, be a smooth operator. The more you learn The greater you earn… Troubles will burn… You turn Your world into a pearl So stop fantasizing… and start visualizing A future that will take you to a brand new horizon Don’t dress to impress… work hard to be the best At whatever you do ‘Cause when you get good… you get real respect When you master your game… you get a seven digit check Try to specialize in whatever you can Acquire some knowledge that will put you in demand Make a decision… it’s time to take a stand This is a message to the black man Don’t play yourself cheap… your mind’s not weak Stop living in darkness… walking in a deep sleep Open your eyes… Wake up and be alive Start living… Don’t merely survive If you think you’ll get over with a gun in your hand Realistically… statistically… bad plan ‘Cause in the criminal game of slinging drugs to make a name Life expectancy is short… or you’ll end up in court Facing ninety-nine years ‘cause you never really thought You’ll be on the news… and you’ll be crying the blues Pop goes your life…game’s over…you lose Roll correct brothas…Get your life in check Formulate a plan… and put it in effect Be creative… innovative…self educated Only positive minds can deal with the times You can live your life in riddles or make it a rhyme We’ve got to think collectively… cause sometimes subjectively Is not enough… Life can be rough But when we roll in together we’ve got some powerful stuff

So try to work harder…so you can be smarter Then you can take charge and get the things that you oughta Be a model for success… not a demon bringing death To your community… we’ve got to get some unity If you gotta die… don’t die for no lie You’ve got a mind with the power to take you sky high Who’s intellectually inferior…Who’s superior to you or me As far as I can see…we just got caught in the mix Of some sophisticated tricks…so if your life is messed up Then get it fixed Make a decision…It’s time to take a stand This is a message to the black man Brothas don’t wait for fate to take you on a blind date Take command…and try to understand The future of our people is in your hands Like a move in chess that could have took you to victory You’ve got choices in your life that you don’t even see If we keep a negative focus…Oppression will just croak us It ain’t too late… f___ that other hocus-pocus You can still win your case…just back up and retrace The history of blackness is written in your face Remember Martin, Malcolm, Marcus, Steven Beko Geronimo Prate, John Jackson, Antonio Maceio They were only a few… of the many who knew The power of the black man and what he could do We had great civilizations, mighty African Nations Great thinkers and healers, artists and builders We were all that and more…but that wasn’t the end We had it all before and we can have it again So don’t learn about our own past…then just be poor filled with hate Use the knowledge you’ve gained to self-motivate The purpose of my message is perfectly clear Be intelligent black man… and you can make it anywhere THIS IS A MESSAGE TO THE BLACK MAN


12


misdemeanor, or will win an acquittal. The poor kid will not fair so well. His or her public defender will invariably advise him or her to accept a plea bargain regardless of innocence or guilt. If the poor kid goes to trial, the public defender, as usual, will fail to investigate and make nu-merous mistakes and cause a verdict of guilty.

Recently, it was reported in the Philadelphia Inquirer that, “Scores of capital murder convictions in PA have been reversed or sent back because of error by defenders, whose low pay can take a high cost.” (Front page, 10/23/11).

In the final tally, the rich kid is saved. He or she gets to go home, to college, and on with his or her life, allowed to live to laugh about it years later. By contrast, the poor kid will be convicted of a felony, sentenced to years in prison, and stigmatized for life. Chances are that the poor kid will be just making parole when the rich kid is graduating college. Unlike the rich kid, who was given every chance to succeed, the poor kid’s chances for a pro-ductive life have most likely evaporated with that first felony conviction.

This is a diabolical double-standard that reaches into every aspect of this “great” county, ruining many lives. Of course, nobody wants a lawless society, but fair is fair, and the way it is set up now is completely unfair.

What if the poor kid had sufficient representation like a Leon Williams, Willie E. Gary, Johnny Cockran, Dave Rudovsky, or Peter Goldberger? I guarantee the result would be different. The poor kid would not be convicted and there would be a steep decline in the prison popula-tion across the county.

In fact, if the playing field were leveled for the have-nots relative to the haves in all areas of concern: housing, education, employment, and criminal justice, there would be no question about the U.S.’s so-called greatness. But, until it treats its have-nots commiserate to its haves, it will always fall short of its ideals and it will continue to miss the mark of greatness.

Have and Have-Nots continued from page 1

Our Voices

A HOUSE DIVIDED CANNOT STAND by Brandon Bloss, EX0188, SCI Somerset

I am writing this letter in regards to all the bickering that has been going on concerning smoking. Really, peo-ple? You are complaining about smoking when there are more important issues that we need to focus on and stand together to get changed.

“What things?” you may ask. Let me mention a few: 1) parole; 2) pardons for lifers/long-term; 3) inmate base pay raise; 4) medical treatment and co-pay; 5) commis-sary prices; 6) quality of items sold in commissary; 7) cable prices; 8) cost of phone calls; 9) denying publica-tions; 10) taking legal material out of the law libraries; 11) I don’t know about your jail, but the Visiting Room here is now closed on Thursdays; and the most recent to catch my attention —12) copying costs.

Do you know that one case of paper has 5,000 sheets of recycled paper? Let’s say that, at most, the DOC pays $40/case (no taxes, they are exempt), and the contract for the copier is $200/month (hey, let’s say $500/month, why not?) So, doing the math at 10¢ per copy, the DOC makes $500 (or more, if you are making double-sided copies) for one case of paper! That means after one case of paper, the DOC has paid the contract for the copier for that month. The next case of paper already starts generating profit! They profit from your legal research when you print out case laws! How crazy is that? Why did they start selling Vend-a-Cards on the commissary? To make more money! Why aren’t we paying 1¢ per copy?

Everyone wants to complain, but nobody wants to do anything about it because they don’t want to sacrifice anything. Let me ask you this, when the settlers of North America got tired of British rule, did they sit around and complain, hoping it would get better? How about when Germany started to run amok in Europe, did everyone sit around, hoping Germany would stop? Did Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. just make a lot of speeches and then sit back and hope change would come? The answer to all of these questions is “NO!” The people stood together and had to sacrifice their very lives to get the change they desired.

Now, I am not saying that we need to rise up and be-come violent. What I am saying is that we need to come together (including family, friends, relatives, etc.) to get these changes made. Dr. King, Jr. accomplished a lot with his peaceful demonstrations.

So, for all of you who want to complain about smoking and other matters, instead of standing together, I am sure the DOC administration would like to say, “Thank you,” because they know that a house divided cannot stand.

prejudices or unconscious or subjective racism. A favora-ble decision from the State Supreme Court might open the door for prisoners to attack and challenge the DOC’s oppressive arbitrary and racist banning of books like 100 Years of Lynchings, Speeches by U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and Black Robes, White Justice by N.Y. State Judge Bruce Wright.

Banned continued from page 3

http://www.philly.com/



13

Preserving Your Claim Under the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) is a new docu-ment that was recently sent to all of Pennsylvania’s state prison libraries. It was written by Alex Rubenstein, 2012 Candidate for J.D. at Rutgers School of Law-Camden. It is intended to provide some background information on the PLRA, and also explain how the law impacts court claims filed while in jail or prison. Additionally, this pamphlet explains how to properly follow the grievance process employed by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, in order to help protect any claims you may bring relating to prison conditions from being dismissed for failure to exhaust administrative remedies. Even for claims that are not affected by the exhaustion require-ment, this pamphlet should serve as a helpful tool for correctly filing grievances.

If your law library does not have this pamphlet, please contact Graterfriends (address on page 2).

Life Support for Women with an Incarcerated Loved One is a support group for women looking for a safe place to share feelings and con-cerns about incarcerated family members. The group usually meets the second Tuesday of every month, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the Pennsylvania Prison Socie-ty: 245 N. Broad Street, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (Race-Vine station, across from Hahnemann Hos-pital).

Please note: For more information: Mason Barnett, 215-564-6005, ext. 106 (Prison Society)Desiree Cunningham 215-758-5877 (Support Group questions only)

The Yale Law Journal welcomes submis-sions for their first Prison Law Writing Contest. If you are or recently have been in jail or prison, we invite you to write a short essay about your experiences with the law. The three top submissions will win cash prizes, and we hope to publish the best work.

Background: The Journal is one of the world’s most respected and widely read scholarly publications about the law. Our authors and readers include law professors and students, practicing attorneys, and judges. The con-test offers people in prison the chance to share their sto-ries with people who shape the law and to explain how the law affects their lives. Where permitted by state law, the authors of the winning essays will receive prizes:

Announcements

$250 for first place, $100 for second place, and $50 for third place.

Topics: Please write an essay addressing one of the fol-lowing questions:

What does fair treatment look like in prison?

How does your institution deal with inmates who are violent or disruptive? Are people sent to solitary con-finement? Is the disciplinary system fair, and does it help to maintain order?

Tell us about a notable or surprising experience you’ve had with another person in the legal system—whether a judge, a lawyer, a guard, or anyone else. What did you learn from it?

The goals of criminal punishment include retribution (giving people what they deserve), deterrence (discouraging future crimes), and rehabilitation (improving behavior). What purpose, if any, has your time in prison served? Should one of these purposes be emphasized more?

Have you ever filed a grievance with jail or prison authorities to complain about conditions? Tell us about it, and explain how the grievance process works. Are grievances effective? How do prison au-thorities respond to them? How do you feel about federal law’s requirement that prisoners file griev-ances before suing about prison conditions in court?

If you have been released from prison, what chal-lenges did you face in reentering society?

How, if at all, do you maintain relationships with your family while in prison? Describe the prison rules that govern how much contact you can have with your family. How has being in prison affected your family relationships?

Please do not discuss your innocence or guilt or ask for legal assistance with your case. Submissions are not con-fidential. Whatever you write will not be protected by attorney-client privilege. If you have an attorney, please speak with your attorney before submitting your work.

Rules: You may submit an essay if you have been an inmate in a prison or jail at any point from January 1, 2010 through September 30, 2012. We welcome essays of about 1000-5000 words, or roughly 4-20 pages. Please type your submission if possible. If you must write by hand, please be sure your writing is readable. Feel free to work together with others, but your essay should be in your own voice.

Essays must be received by October 1, 2012. Email your submission to [email protected] if possible. If you do not have email access, please mail your work to: The Yale Law Journal, ATTN: Prison Law, P.O. Box 208215, New Haven, CT 06520-8215. Please include your name and the name of the institution where you are or were imprisoned, and tell us the best way to reach you now.

http://www.slideshare.net/PrisonSociety/plra-pamphlet

http://www.prisonsociety.org/Whats_New.shtml

http://yalelawjournal.org/journal-news/journal-happenings/prison-law-writing-contest/


14


NEW SUBSCRIBERS: Please allow 6-8 weeks for receipt of your first issue.

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Prisoners may pay with unused postage stamps.

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Support our mission and become a member!

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$200 Patron $250 Sponsor $500 Founder $1,000 1787 Society

Home Front continued from page 2

base of support and action. The next meeting will be held on June 23.

A week later, the Reentry Support Project, an initiative of the Fox Rothschild Center for Law and Society at Community College of Philadelphia hosted the day-long Prison Advocacy Summit. Several years in the planning, this conference offered numerous workshops on the many ways to work on behalf of our loved ones behind bars. Advocacy sessions included: Overcoming Obstacles to Movement Building, Creating a Voting Power, Legis-lative Advocacy, Mobilizing Families and Networks Against Prisoner Abuse, Using Social Media for Move-ment Building, Developing Youth Leadership, and many others. A generous donation on the part of Pennsylvania State Senator Shirley Kitchen made the summit possi-ble. Numerous other co-sponsors added both their sup-port and expertise. Among those were Angus Love, the director of the Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project, Hannah Zellman of the Institute for Community Justice, Hakim Ali and William Goldsby of Reconstruction, Inc., former political prisoner Laura Whitehorn, and commu-nity activist Bruce Cottman. Tyrone Werts, a recently released lifer, was also in attendance.

Sometimes I hear the rapturous, staccato-tongue of a preacher rousing his congregation. the stentorian baritone pontificating on worldly affairs with a professorial eloquence.

A dashiki-wearing character chants: “Say it Loud! I’m Black and I’m Proud!” He explodes into rage and rants about child molesters. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The sound of gunshots rumble up from his throat as he exacts street justice and comeuppance. Vicious left hooks and hard right hands whistle on the wind as he destroys an imaginary opponent. He sometimes roars like a barbaric post-war survivalist in Mad Max.

But the most dominant voice that emerges from this motley brood — (and probably the one that landed him on Pennsylvania’s Death Row) — takes on the person of a mob boss:

“Mother _____, you don’t want war! I’m Frank Nitti…I’m Nino Brown…I’m Big Al Capone!”

There are countless prisoners trapped in isolation in dark, cruel gulags all across the U.S. designed to enforce sensory deprivation that gradually chips away at the human spirit and mind. For well over 200 years, the U.S. Congress has enacted statutes that provide treatment for federal prisoners. “Who are or Shall become insane dur-ing the term of imprisonment.”

I’ve never seen a prison psychiatrist speak to Bernie Mac. Perhaps they’ve just resigned themselves to the fact that he is just too far gone to be helped. So what purpose does it serve the State to continue to house the mentally ill, year after year, at an estimated annual cost of $36,000 to $40,000?

Listen to B Mac as he reminds his crew: “I did 19 years on Death Row for y’all. 19 years!”

Bernie Mac continued from page 7

“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow con-fines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”

—Martin Luther King, Jr.



15

“A as in…” by Dave Fisher (puzzles.about.com) For solution, see page 4.

On Being 225, continued from page 16

unwarranted expense of another. We have tried to sidestep these mistakes as well.

By staying true to the mission of our founders, we have walked the chalk line of advocacy and our success can be measured in systemic improvements, assistance to needy individuals and their families, and ever expanding collaborations.

They say democracy is messy – a difficult form of governance, at best. Our work is much the same. Anyone who supports an unpopular cause knows how discomforting and how discouraging that can be. We do that every day. And, while we hold no offi-cial portfolio, we don’t let those in power forget the higher purpose of their calling. We struggle constantly to support the agency. And, though we have no great endowments, we enrich the legacy of America.

As advocates we often run risks of being misunderstood and thought insensitive while pressing to uphold a greater good. Some see that as recalcitrance, stubbornness. We view this as the All-American way!

We can and do alter our operating style to fit the times, but then, now, and forever the-se are the values to which we are committed:

to do what is right in the face of staunch opposition;

to respect the humanity in the most downtrodden among us;

to persevere in the face of impatience and ridicule;

to help the unappreciative; and,

to devote the limited time we as indi-viduals have on earth to the better-ment of all.

Our aim is not just to endure, but to pre-vail: To see a future that no longer dimin-ishes men and women through punishment but uplifts them through encouragement, empowerment and assistance.

This is our legacy. This is our reality. And, this is our future!

Across 1. Evaluate 6. Theatrical piece 10. Fix a leak 14. Capital of East

Pakistan 15. B __ Railroad 16. Money in Milan 17. Make use of 18. Gas sign? 19. Mayberry man 20. Variety for 37 across 23. Looks at 24. Places where

scrubs are worn 25. Cell user? 26. Actress Lupino 27. Wear and tear 28. Granola grain 31. Be there 35. Hesitator's word 36. A convex shape 37. Pioneer, Chapman 41. Chills 42. Exists 43. Basic shelter 44. Reel holder 45. Synonym for 38

down 47. __-de-mer

(seasickness) 48. King Kong, e.g. 49. Entertaining 50. It's played by an

''angelo'' 54. Baker's option for

20 across 59. Hot zone 60. Pupil's colorful

place 61. Zones 62. Go over 63. Shower material 64. __ prosequi (court-

record entry) 65. Facile 66. Shout 67. Map in a map Down 1. Wise saying 2. __ Truffle (Beatles

song) 3. Bathroom item,

maybe 4. Sulphuric and hy-

drochloric 5. Harvard rival 6. Bullock of "Speed" 7. Supports for pro-

posers, perhaps 8. TV's "American

____" 9. Restorative drinks 10. Flat area 11. Type of type 12. Language of Paki-

stan 13. Talese and others 21. Simpleton 22. Miler Sebastian 26. Lodge

27. Guy at the plate 28. Sign 29. Help a hustler 30. Kind of list 31. Opened a crack 32. Like some orders 33. Fall follower? 34. Newark to Cape

Cod (dir.) 35. FedEx rival 36. Second-largest

English-speaking country

38. Synonym for 45 across

39. 10 down to a gau-cho

40. Slippery one 45. Wall St. debut 46. Funny business 47. Clam's relative 48. Irk 49. Perk 50. Cook's cover 51. Cambodian dol-

lars 52. Norman Vincent

__ 53. Something in the

plus column 54. Went fast 55. Place for 60 across 56. Commies 57. Shallowest Great

Lake 58. Indian princess

http://puzzles.about.com/


16


THE LAST WORD

Reflections On Turning 225

by William M. DiMascio Executive Director, The Pennsylvania Prison Society

First Class postage is required to re-mail

245 North Broad Street Suite 300 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107

June 2012

(see 225, continued on page 15)

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE PAID CLAYSBURG, PA PERMIT NO. 84

On May 8, 2012, the Prison Society celebrated its 225th anniversary. It was a joyous occasion buoyed by the act of “widening our circle of compassion.” The opening re-marks at the reception follow:

Thank you for joining us in celebrating this milestone in our history. Just to have survived for 225 years is sig-nificant, but to have carried the torch for humanity for all those years is momentous.

The Prison Society has grown up with this nation. Our values are rooted in the same humanitarian soil as the democracy that defines the United States of America.

Our founders were among the individuals who put their necks on the line by declaring those principles in the Declaration of Independence and who later came together to draft the constitution that gave this fledging government its blueprint for operation.

The colonists stood up against the most powerful gov-ernment of the day to assert their beliefs. So, too, did the Prison Society’s earliest members stand up to the cus-tomary way of meting out harsh corporal punishments for the least offenses and of treating prisoners like ani-mals. And we have maintained that stance through the years and through changes in our culture.

It is too easy in today’s materialistic society to sur-render to the forces of expediency, to accept absurdly long sentences imposed more to make a statement about our outrage than to benefit society. We have avoided this pitfall.

It is likewise appealing to point a quick finger of blame in an effort to curry favor with one constituency at the

Human beings are a part of the whole, called by us "the universe," a part limited in time and space. We experience ourselves, our thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest--a kind of optical delusion of our consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our own personal

desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.

—Albert Einstein

Technology

June 2012 Graterfriends