Has anyone ever tried to speak with your loved one's counselor? A prison penpal site recommended it and I wonder if it would help to speak to the counselor to see how I could help my friend who is having a clemency hearing in June. My friend is at Newton Correctional Facility in TX.

Are prison counselors really counselors? Have they actually helped anyone?

Thanks, Karen

Hey Karen

My brother is in an arizona prison and his counselor is the sweetest guy ever! He even calls me and tells me updates on my brother etc. If you can get the extension to your man's counselor then be persistant and keep calling thats what i did at first and now we've sort of become friends. When i was visiting him he came out and i got to meet him face to face, and to be honest i really do think that counselors help the inmates. My brother can be very bipolar sometimes, some moments he's on cloud nine, others im afraid he's going to commit suicide, but he tells me he went to see Jones and then i guess it was all ok. What complex is he at?

Thanks for the encouraging comments. My friend was transferred from Yuma to Newton in Newton, TX and tells me he was randomly selected for detention when the whole dorm had a drinking party last Thanksgiving. He's currently in detention again for alcohol and I wonder if they did any testing. He needs help and certainly isn't getting any.

Newton is a private prison, the staff pay starts at $7/hr and it doesn't take much to get the guards to carry stuff in. According to one mother on this list, half the guards work for the prisoners. With their contract renewal in question in June, I don't think they are too motivated to care.

I just hope my friend gets transferred soon. Glad to hear your brother has a better experience.

Thanks for caring, Karen


Hey Karen

My brother is in an arizona prison and his counselor is the sweetest guy ever! He even calls me and tells me updates on my brother etc. If you can get the extension to your man's counselor then be persistant and keep calling thats what i did at first and now we've sort of become friends. When i was visiting him he came out and i got to meet him face to face, and to be honest i really do think that counselors help the inmates. My brother can be very bipolar sometimes, some moments he's on cloud nine, others im afraid he's going to commit suicide, but he tells me he went to see Jones and then i guess it was all ok. What complex is he at?

I was a prison counselor, and YES they do help the inmates, IF they are there to help them and not just there for the paycheck. I spent my 8 hours a day running for the inmates, and getting them what they need, doing parole summaries, couseling one on one.. approving phone calls.. and the list goes on and on...

You need to have your man SEND you the name of the counselor. Then you call the prison, and act like you know them, and say May I speak to John Smith, or whom ever, and find out what unit he is in, etc... you can get through, and they will help you if they are there to help.

I took calls all the time. I wish you luck on your endevour.. God bless!

what Bonnie said is right...you'll be lucky to get one that's not just there for the paycheck and is really there to help...my man's counselor is an off-the-street-lackie, that is lazy and doesn't really try hard at getting things done, let alone ever go above and beyond his duty...I got a market extention # and it took about a month for him to approve it...he kept telling Tim he was trying to get ahold of me, but couldn't...so, not only is he lazy, but he's a liar...he was telling him this long after he had already called to verify it...so, we're not so lucky

I saw it all too often those that were there only for two reasons, a paycheck or a power trip. I was there for neither... I was called into it through prison ministry! I didn't care about pay check or power.. I was there for inmates, stickly. They were my number one concern, and when you aren't there for the prison, and actually do something, then all of a sudden, i was a "Convict lover", "Inmate advocate", "Trash", and boy when I MARRIED a convict I met while working there, I was really white trash to the other employees, and that is why I am with Jeff Dicks Medical Coalition! I SAW first hand the crappy medical treatment when I was employed there, and could DO NOTHING... but now, I WORK my butt off trying to get the help I couldn't while there, and I AM being heard by the commissioner of DOC because I worked there.

I pray for each and everyone of you that you FIND just one that is there totally for the calling and not for pay or power... you will be the luckiest person alive. The system is so bad, and those of us who are GOOD cannot survive it.. they run us off, or set us up for failure or termination... I RESIGNED... and now, PRAISE GOD, I am eligable to work there again, maybe not in that prison, but in juvenile corrections or welfare system.

GOOD always overcomes EVIL... Light cannot co-habit with darkness - but we just need more people with the light to over power that dark gloomy prison that has been controlled by darkness for far too long...

Sorry, got to preaching... LOL You all are in my prayers!





what Bonnie said is right...you'll be lucky to get one that's not just there for the paycheck and is really there to help...my man's counselor is an off-the-street-lackie, that is lazy and doesn't really try hard at getting things done, let alone ever go above and beyond his duty...I got a market extention # and it took about a month for him to approve it...he kept telling Tim he was trying to get ahold of me, but couldn't...so, not only is he lazy, but he's a liar...he was telling him this long after he had already called to verify it...so, we're not so lucky

Bonnie,

I admire your dedication and ability to treat all people with the respect they deserve. Thanks for the helpful information and good luck with your organization. After having my eyes opened about prison conditions in the last few years, I am ready to become an activist myself. We need so many more compassionate people like you. Best wishes, Karen

Those inmates at that prison taught me so much about humanity and respect. I learned more in the year that I worked there than most could in a lifetime about what it's like to be treated like a REAL HUMAN! Most of the correctional officers there were nasty to the men, but there were a few that I really liked cause they were fair, and they treated the men fairly and respect. It is a true shame some of those men don't learn what it's like to be treated like an animal cause they messed up, or be caged like one. If they did, I bet their attitudes would change, especially if it were their father or brother. Some never will!

I respected those men because their blood ran red like mine, and no matter what was on paper that they did, they had families, mothers, fathers just like me, and no matter what, they deserve to be treated with respect. In return I earned the respect of the men in my unit, and they helped me any time I needed it, and when something was getting ready to go down, they'd come and tell me, cause I kept it confidential, and they didn't want me hurt.

Those men put up with more crap in the prison than we even know about. It's NOT fair that those who work there don't cut them some slack, and leave them alone if they aren't doing anything to be in trouble for.

Anyway, inmate treatment is a big issue with me, especially in Medical. If any body ever needs me, just PM me... I will answer asap.

Take care and God bless!
Bonnie

Bonnie, you sound so passionate and dedicated to the work you do to help the inmates...I have so much respect for you and really wish there were more co's and other employees of DOC that felt the same way. Don't these co's, counselors and other employees understand, that if thet show a little respect and fairness to the inmates, there would likely be less hostility towards them? No, because, like you said, they simply don't care. They're there for the $$$. I'm not saying a co should open up the gate so the inmate can take a little walk..lol..I'm just saying treat them like they are HUMAN. Again, I have much respect for what you are doing.

Lana

Thank you for your kind words. I wish there were more like us too, who went there with the inmate in thier hearts, and not the $ signes. In prison, when you earn the respect and trust of an inmate, you have done a GREAT THING, because that is certianly EARNED, not just given freely, and it takes GIVING them respect and trust. I used to tell my inmates I would help them as much as I could, but If I ever caught them lying to me, I'd never help them again, and I'd look them straight in the eye and tell them that, and not once did I catch one lying. I said, "I don't lie to you, and never will, and I expect the same from you!" They looked out for me. It was other staff that did me wrong.

I have so many good memories of that prison and all those inmates. Now my husband is back in prison at one where a lot of my inmates were transferred to, and they know we are together, he calls and they all want to talk to me. Last night I talked to five or six who just wanted to say hello and they missed me... makes me almost cry that I'm not there helping them. When the DOC found out about my relationship with Norman, they FORCED me to resign or they were going to fire me, so I resigned, so I had a chance at getting a state job again. Well, I am BACK on the roster, waiting to get called for another state job. Cross your fingers for me. I can't work in DOC while Norman is there, but I can in Juvenile Services, or the Welfare Department. So, I'm crossing my fingers! Keep me in your all's prayers!


Bonnie, you sound so passionate and dedicated to the work you do to help the inmates...I have so much respect for you and really wish there were more co's and other employees of DOC that felt the same way. Don't these co's, counselors and other employees understand, that if thet show a little respect and fairness to the inmates, there would likely be less hostility towards them? No, because, like you said, they simply don't care. They're there for the $$$. I'm not saying a co should open up the gate so the inmate can take a little walk..lol..I'm just saying treat them like they are HUMAN. Again, I have much respect for what you are doing.

Lana

Yes, Definitely, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. It would be great for you to work with children/minors. Some of thise children that are geeting into trouble at a young age, just need someone to reach out to them and show them they do have someone in this world that cares about them. You seem like you would be perfect for that. Good luck to you.

Thank you so much for your encouragement and kind words again. I would love to work with the youth. When I was at the prison, they took the teens on a tour through there, and hand picked inmates to talk to them, the so called "bad asses" from the unit, but it was all a show. I remember what it was like to talk bad to the kids and all,but they have no idea what it's really like to be put there.. no contact with family, scared all the time...

I want to do anything that will help. I have a daughter that's 19, and she's been a good girl all her life... but even she could have benefited from a REAL TOUR, not one of those fake ones that they gave!

Once I saw a court tv show, where the judge primarily deals with the youth and she sent a young man (about 15-17) to jail for two days, as a wake-up call. By the time it was over, he was practically in tears. They left him in solitary conf. the entire time(which, of course they would have to) but he was scared. They also had other inmates come by and talk to him, throgh that little 3" x 7" or so, little box in the door. That is a real tour. They need to make these kids that are heading down that path to really feel how it would be in there. Family visitation, letters, calls, IF you're lucky. Talking to other inmates is a great idea. Have you ever seen Scared Straight? The first time I ever saw that show, I was in Jr. High...I was SCARED!! I was even a big trouble maker, but it sure did make me think about the type of people I wanted to be around, etc., because I never wanted to end up there. If they could just do that when they first see the signs of a young person going down that path, so much heart ache and TIME could be spared. They could save someone. Okay, now I'm rambling on...lol