I am about to lose my mind! This is going to be a very very depressing post. I am sorry yall but I gotta get this out. I feel like I have no right to complain because I am staying with my husband and YES he is in prison but CRAP how much am I supposed to be able to take?????? As you all know he has been transfered to Texarkana Reg. Main. Boy what a big joke that is! Things are so bad there it is unreal. My husband says he works harder and in more sh$$ than he ever did while on hoe squad. Last week they had them working in RAW SEWAGE! No boots, nothing! Just their old plain prison clothes. They work from 7 until 3, no matter what the temp is! He is ate up with poison ivy and I have to pay the 3$ copay for him to get something for it. The phones are broke down there and have been since last Wednesday. The LT. told them he didnt care if they ever got fixed. So I cant talk to my husband and make sure he is OK. For once my phone doesnt work and its NOT mci's fault. My husband has put in a request to be shipped back to his unit but CS told me today that could take anywhere up to 6 months. I cant take him being there for 6 more months. I thought Work release was supposed to be a privilage and a step up..a good thing. He is treated worse than a class 4 inmate on the real hoe squad! We heard all kinds of good things about Texarkana BEFORE he went down there. Now that he is there we know the REAL deal. You are only supposed to be on RM for 90 days and then you go to WR but they use a number system there and he is # 30 to go to WR. They only send you to WR when someone leaves. They have NO ONE scheduled to leave until the end of August and thats only 2 people so that would put him at # 28 when he should be getting ready to go over there at the end of September. There is no one there that I have talked to that hasnt been there at least 5 months. When they finally go to WR they are put on another list to get a min. wage job at a resturant that wont even cover the 125.00 a week rent so they have to work a "rent paying" job and a real job. If any of your loved ones think they want to go to Texarkana tell them NO! Stay where they are, even if it is Tucker Max. The Lt. told someone there that the only way they were going to leave was with a discip. my husband is actually considering getting one so he can get away and I support that. I have NEVER supported him getting in trouble but this time I stand behind him 100%. Before he said he would get in trouble he said he was just going to beak his arm! It is really that bad. Why wont they even try to get the phones fixed so I can talk to him?!?!?!?! OH, get this..the Lt. reads every letter in the morning before they go to work (there are only 32 guys there so it doesnt take him long to read them) once he gets done reading them he comments on each one that he had just read to the whole bus of inmates. I know there is NO privacy for an inmate but come on..that has to cross some kind of line. Im sure after I called Mrs. Works today they are really giving my husband hell but I had to do something. I am so sick inside. We just have 2 years left and I will be very happy with him doing them at a unit. Forget all this "glory" they tell you you can have once you get so many months short and as long as you are a good little inmate. There is no glory like real freedom and one day he will be home. They can take Texarkana and shove it you know where!!!

I hate that you and your husband are going through that. I pray it gets better for the both of you. Stay strong and no you are not alone.

Sorry to hear about all of this Cris! I had always thought that Texarkana was supposed to be one of the better work releases - but it definitely sounds like it's not! My fiance was trying to get into Texarkana before he got accepted to be a 309. I hope things get better for you guys and either he goes back to "prison" prison without having to get a disciplinary or gets into the work release part speedily! My thoughts and prayers are with you guys!

Thanks Hunts girl. Be very very glad your husband did NOT get Texarkana. We had always heard that Texarkana and Springdale were the two best places to be....wonder who took that survey?? Im willing to bet a years salary it wasnt an inmate that had been at Texarkana

That Is Awful . I Bet You Are Just Sick , Worried And Upset Over It .. My Fiancee Is On The Waiting List To Go To Benton Unit Work Release !! I Hope Its Not As Bad As Texarkana!!! Id Be Upset Too .. I Hope Eveything Works Out For Your Husband And You To .. Ya'll Are In My Prayers ..
And I Would Think That The Man Reading The Letters And Makin Comments To Inmates About It Would Be Breaking Some Kinda Rule As A State Worker ?? Thats Wrong Real Wrong How Would He Feel If The Shoe Was On The Other Foot And He Was The Inmate !! I Thought Also That Work Release Was For Inmates With Good Behavoir And Class 1 .. I Will Pass The Word On To Shawn No Texarkana For Him .. Hope Things Get Better

God Bless
Stephanie Lynn

OMGosh...I am SO sorry..... I know you are worried and I know that he is fed up.....me and Matthew were the SAME way when he 1st got to Benton,,,it was REALLY bad on R.M. there too. They were horrible to them there,,,(At Benton) He cried everynight and his hands and feet were in such a mess from all the work they had to do....it really was worse than the hoe squad. I know how you feel and I know that it sucks not being able to talk to him....I can't afford the calls ($21.33 for a 15 minute call) so all we have are letters...cept one call every 2 weeks.....and yes they read all the letters at Benton too(mine and his) ...but that about them commenting on them thats B.S. Thats taking it a little too far......Benton Unit doesn't do that Thank Goodness!!!!!
Matthew had told me that his last choice of W.R units was Texarkana,,,now I see why.....I am SO VERY sorry you and your husband have to go through this,,,,I hope and pray things will get better for him.....and you!!!! I know it's easier said than done ,,,but hang in there....PRAY!!!!! Is there a way he couls transfer to another W.R unit???? Maybe Benton ????? I won't lie to you,,,it's hard on R.M. ,,,but I think it's a little better than where he is,,,,,and Matthew only had to stay on R.M.(the work part of it anyway) for 30 days. He is still technically on R.M., but he works for the Lt. over R.M. now,,,he is his clerk,,,and he will be eligible for a $$$ job in Sept.....They have A/C,,,,and phones,,,,so that is definately a PLUS!!!!! Maybe you should check in to it????

I already called Benton and they dont transfer from one work release to another :(...My husband doesnt mind the work just the crap they put them through. He can take a lot but hes had ENOUGH! We dont care if he EVER gets another work release. When I called Benton I asked Mrs. Bradley if they were guarented a job after RM and she said NO. What is the point in working you tail off for free or the "possibility" of a job when he can stay at his unit and KNOW hes working for free and things are going to stay the same. No bull crap like...well when you finish this you will get the "special" stuff when there is NO special stuff. Its just build your hopes up and then let you down. I am so sick and tired of this roller coaster. Atleast at the unit we know whats happenin'

Wellllllllllllllllllllllllllll, hes being shipped again. We dont know where or when and really dont care as long as its out of Texarkana. They are really coming down on him hard but he is holding up. We will not EVER try for another work release. I am sure I wont be on here much anymore because they is just nothing to report about the units. Everyone already knows about them and Im sure yall will be glad to get rid of my whinning A$$. You guys take care and good luck to all of you. Just remember STAY AWAY FROM TEXARKANA WORK RELEASE!!!!

CrisnClay

I am sorry things didn't work out for you guys,,,I know you both must be happy that he is getting out of there, Good luck with the knew place!!! I hate to hear that you won't be on as much,,,please check in from time to time and let us know how y'all are doing...k?. Well Take care and God bless!!!!!!
Stacy