I have a sister in Tutwiler.. she is 25 and will probably be there until 2019 because I just don't see her getting out for good behavior. Anyway, I am new to prisontalk and am now very worried. Jessica has withdrawn almost completely... She asks about me and my life but offers no insight to hers... also with all the threads that I have read it's to my understanding that this place is just horrible. Does anyone have any good news to offer as I do not think Jess will... thanks. Erica

It is a horrible place. When my loved one was sent there, I read everything I could on the internet, but after reading about the rotten place, I stopped looking at internet articles because it made me mad and scared for her. It is considered the worst prison in America for good reason. Wait until you have the pleasure of going to visiting day. The fact that she has withdrawn is not unusual. The inmates usually have nothing to do, are bored to tears and they either withdraw from life, get involved with the prison life and working the angles in every way or they focus on something else, religion or something else. My fiance has written to me only a few times in the last few months (although she calls frequently) because she said that there is nothing to write about as life there is bad, boring, frightening and the treatment is abysmal. The food is barely edible, the guards are either beating them or looking for sex and things are about as bad as you can imagine.

The good news is that she can get involved in either SAP or Crime bill, which are 8 week and 6 month drug programs, respectively. There is no more prison factory for work, the library is not much but there is one. All you can do is let her know that someone on the outside loves her, write to her, visit her, put some money in her account so she can at least buy a few things and just be there for her. If you can afford it, get a phone account so she can call you. But, don't be surprised that there will be times when you don't hear from her-it could be due to lockdown, quiet time, or other nonsense. you can send her two softcover books per month.

Pay close attention to the money you send to her. I recommend that all letters be numbered so she can be sure that she gets them. Write in the letter what you are sending (money and how much, stamps, envelopes-that is about all you can mail directly to her). Send her pictures that will remind her of home.

Don't give up on her.