Days 105 & 106 (1/5/15) Nervous and Jittery

Monday morning, the start of a new week. Only two days before the next prison run. Our housing unit is now down to only 33 inmates. I like it, it’s nice and quiet. All morning, all the talk was about the big fight last night. Eyebrows was moved to one of the lockdown units, 3E. While Skeletor was moved next door to unit 3C. But, Rockstar got moved to 3A. The units are supposed to be set up that you start in 3D and move up to 3A. If you are programming, behaving, and following the rules, you get to move. 3A has a microwave, soda machine, and ice cream machine in their unit. But, it seems they treat these 4 housing units the same. How can someone get into a fight and get moved to a better dorm ? It makes no sense to me. There’s no incentive whatsoever to behave and act right here. The inconsistency of the rules and deputies on a daily basis is frustrating. Every deputy has different rules or shall I say every deputy picks and chooses what rules they want to enforce. It drives me crazy, I can’t wait to get out of here. 

On a good note, I had an amazing visit with my Husband. Tomorrow is my Son’s turn. We had two incredible deputies today. Both our day and night deputies were awesome. So , it makes my last two days here rather enjoyable. 

Day 106 (1/6/15)

It’s Tuesday, I’m 99% sure I’m on that prison bus tonight. I have to be, I’ve been here 15 weeks, it’s time for me to go. I am nervous and a little jittery this morning. But, I’m ready to go. I want to get home to my family and the only way to get home is to get transferred and get on with the process. Today was a good day, went by fast and I got an hour visit with my Son. The final of my 3 visits this week. It was the perfect visit before I leave. Everything seems to be working out. Got my shower in this evening, all my letters in the mail and my final calls to my family. I hope tonight is the night. 

“One never knows what each day is going to bring. The important thing is to be open and ready for it”

Days 100 & 104 Eyebrows, Skeletor, and Rockstar

Happy New Year. Day one pf 2015. It’s nice to be able to say I will be home this year, even though I don’t get my official release date until after I’m transferred to the Department of Corrections. I’m confident I will be released and be coming home this year. As I start the new year, I’m staying strong and positive. I’m ready to be transferred and finish serving my prison sentence. I can’t wait to come home and start the new chapter of my life. As my journey continues, I hope to help others, promote reform, and create programs that are effective, better lives, keep our communities safe, and end the cycle of crime. 

Day 104 (1/4/15)

Sunday inspection day. This weeks inspection went by quickly. As a unit, we passed and earned late night. Only 2 cells went on lockdown for not getting up for inspection. Today’s going to be a great day. I’ve been looking forward to today and the next two days. I have 3 visits, starting with today's. It was just me and my daughter. We both needed that visit. I was in a great mood after our visit. But, got a little sad because I miss my daughter and friend very much. I am happy to have spent the time together, laughing and talking. It was a really wonderful visit. 30 minutes after my visit, we went on facility lockdown. Seriously, this is the second time this week. I am so over facility lockdowns. Not counting our holiday lockdowns, I have been through 8 facility lockdowns. 

The lockdown was lifted shortly after 4:30pm. I was just glad to get our evening dayroom time. We have late night tonight, we get out until 11pm. We have not earned late night for the past 2 weeks. 

The new year has been pretty quiet and peaceful in our housing unit. Until tonight, when  a fight broke out a little after 9pm. There went late night and back to lockdown. 

We were watching a movie, when a group of girls decided to clown and make fun of Eyebrows. Eyebrows has tattooed eyebrows. So, these girls got up and drew eyebrows on Skeletor (yes, that’s her prison name) and attempted to do her hair the same. Then they came back, sat down, and started laughing and talking shit. Eyebrows got off the phone and went to her roommate and asked what they were saying and doing. When she found out, that set her off. Eyebrows tried to call Skeletor over, but she refused to get up. So, Eyebrows grabbed some toilet paper and came up to Skeletor, got in her face and told her “take it off”. Skeletor replied with “fuck you”. She told her again to take it off. She refused. Eyebrows went to walk away and then grabbed Skeletor’s hair, yanked her head back and started punching her in the face. In all the commotion, Rockstar jumped up and started wailing on Eyebrows. The two of them were throwing down. The deputy got up and told them to stop fighting at least 3 times. They wouldn’t stop, so she pepper sprayed them . Rockstar ended taking the brunt of it. The fight ended immediately. We all locked down as 4 or 5 deputies rushed in. All 3 girls were rolled out of our unit. Another day at Las Colinas.. 

Day 99 & 100 (12/30/14) Lockdown / Life has changed

Not sure what happened today, but at 9:15am, we had another facility lockdown. We got stuck eating our lunch in our housing unit. Thankfully, it was lifted by 1pm. But still, I am over all these lockdowns. We have been locked down 5 times this past week. 2 because of the holidays, 2 for a fight (one in our unit and one next door), and then today's and I have no idea why. I’m hoping I can make it the next seven days with a “normal” schedule. 

We had a great deputy today, but she was irritated with our housing unit. We are supposed to be an incentive dorm. We earn extras like, walking to the chow hall, not being tiered, getting patio time, access to classes and programs, but she was disappointed how dirty our housing unit was and a lot of the cells. She was going to take away our afternoon tv time, but myself and a couple of other women offered to help clean after dinner and she agreed. A lot of these women do not pick up after themselves. They spill and they leave it, they don’t throw their trash away and they don’t put things back (chairs, games, books). It’s horrible. So, after dinner, we spent an hour and a half cleaning our unit. That’s the cleanest it’s ever been. A lot of these women don’t care and take for granted the housing unit they are in. I think the women who can’t follow the rules and those who don’t care and or take the unit for granted, should be moved. I’m tired of them. Let the experience the non-movement dorms like I was in and maybe they will be grateful for what they have. 

Day 100 (12/31/14)

New Years Eve. Just another day here. No lockdown tonight due to the holiday, so that was pleasant. Surprise, spent New Years Eve watching Pretty Woman and then in bed by 9:30pm. As I lay here, I think about my family. The years we would try and stay awake for midnight together. The time my Husband and I went to a big New Years party. It was so much fun. My, has life changed. 

I’m ready for the new year. I am hopeful that 2015 will be a good year and that my family and friends will have a happy and healthy year. 

Day 97 & 98 (12/28/14) Inspection / The sun will shine

Sunday inspection, our cell passed of course, but 12 cells failed. Over half of them because they were not up and ready for inspection. The deputy had to go wake them up. Totally ridiculous. This deputy didn’t even start until 7am and we usually would start at 6am. These women have no excuse. So many cells were on lockdown, we lost tv privileges for the entire day, including the evening. Really sucks for those of us that follow the rules. I guess we're supposed to help the new women and work as a unit to get ready. Not sure how that’s possible when we are locked in our cells. The only person you can help is your cellmate and if they refuse to get up or follow the rules, what are you supposed to do ? We are grown women here. Start taking some responsibility and get your act together. I hate inspection day and not because of the actual inspection, but of the consequences I may face because of others. Others I cannot control. Well with no tv, the dayroom was pretty boring and the time went by slow. At least, I had a good book to read. 

Day 98 (12/29/14) The sun will shine sometimes

It’s Monday, the start of a new week. We have our tv privileges back today. I’m ready to get through another week. I had a visit today from my Husband. I got to visit with my Husband and kids yesterday afternoon. We schedule all our visits on Sunday and Monday so I get them in before I transfer. Today was a great visit with my Husband. The deputy on duty gave us almost a full hour for our visit, instead of the normal 30 minutes. It was incredible and I really enjoyed that extra time. On top of the extra time, the deputy also scheduled my one hour visitation with my son ! They have a program here for mother and children visits outside the normal visiting schedule. I’ve been trying to get one since October, but have been unsuccessful. But, I refused to give up and continued to apply and put in requests and then finally I got approved. The deputy scheduled me for every Tuesday night in January from 5-6 pm. One hour visit with my son. It’s only for children 12 and under, so unfortunately, my daughter does not meet the requirement. I won’t get a chance to use all the visits with my son because I’ll be transferring, but I am very happy and thankful to get one in before I transfer. I am very excited and have something great to look forward to this week. 3 visits. Sunday with my daughter, Monday with my Husband, and Tuesday with my son ! It works out perfect right before I hopefully leave. It was a great day to start off my week. 

Day 95 & 96 (12/27/14) I need medical. Too Bad

Another holiday done and over, with 6 days more days until the new year. I am ready to put an end to 2014 and get 2015 started. Today was pretty uneventful. Mrs. B came back from medical today pretty upset. 5 months ago she saw the doctor about a foot problem and pain. The doctor told her she had bone spurs and ordered her a pair of orthopedic shoes. We are given plastic sandals to wear and they are very bad for your feet. Needless to say, she never received the shoes the doctor ordered for her. Mrs. B even offered to pay for them. She didn’t want the shoes denied for lack of funds by the San Diego Sheriff. Still no shoes. She had her follow up with the doctor today and was told her condition was worse because she keeps walking in the sandals and not the orthopedic shoes. She’s facing surgery if she cannot get the shoes. She gets released in 3 weeks, she will thankfully be able to see her doctor when she gets out. 

As inmates, we are given medical treatment, the doctor’s seem to be pretty good, the problem lies with approving the doctor’s orders. Whether it’s ordering shoes, scheduling a surgery, filling a prescription or ordering a special diet. I mean, we are incarcerated, but we still have medical needs. We are human. There are those that work here that care and treat you with respect and then there are others that could care less. Like the deputy that told the inmate “I don’t know why you bother with treatment, you’re going to die anyway”. The inmate was battling cancer. They become judge and jury deciding whether or not you deserve the antibiotics the doctor ordered, or allowing you to see the doctor when you’re in pain, or even telling you “Oh well” when you were served spoiled lunch meat or rotten fruit. I know medical treatment while incarcerated has always been an issue, now I’m actually witnessing it. I really pray I never get really sick in here. 

Day 96 (12/27/14) Put Up or Shut Up 

Yesterday was pretty uneventful. But, today was not. We had lots of drama. At lunch today, we found out one of the inmates in our dorm was in here for child abuse charges. I thought you were automatically kept separate with those types of charges, but I guess not. She was telling people, so I guess she didn’t care. Well, my roommate decided that that was not acceptable and went to kick her ass in the chow hall. She got up from the table and myself and another inmate stopped her. we had her sit her ass back down and reminded her she only had 10 months to go and did she want to spend the full 10 months on lockdown ? She would have only been hurting herself to prove what ? We don’t even know the circumstances or the details of her charges. She’s supposed to leave on Monday, so why give up your opportunity for schooling, contact visits and work for a complete stranger ? Plus, I don’t want to suffer the consequences of a fight in the chow hall. 

So, we diffused the the lunch situation, but another arose at dinner. We have a new girl that showed up at our dorm on Tuesday. We call her “The Spitter”, because she spits all the time. It’s actually quite gross. Well, tonight, she decided to spit in the chow hall while we were in line at dinner, narrowly missing the girl in front of her. The girl got really upset and made a huge scene. Then the entire dorm went off about how disgusting she was and how she needed to be removed from our housing unit. The deputies finally addressed the issue and removed her from chow hall. She stayed in our housing but was on lockdown for 2 days. She leaves Monday morning, so we don’t need t worry about her anymore. 

Then 7pm rolls around, we are out for our evening dayroom time and within 5 minutes of us being out, a fight breaks out downstairs in cell 11. Now, we are being locked down for an hour and 45 minutes. Locked down because to selfish bitches have to go at it. The couldn’t wait until 9:50pm to fight ? It was so petty. I was pissed the entire housing unit suffered because one of the girls couldn’t be “punked like that”, when she was the one talking shit behind the other girls back for two days. Cuba got mad about a comment Cort made on Thursday when we were in line for dinner. But, Cuba didn’t say anything or kick her ass right then. Instead, she spent the next 2 days talking shit, including telling Cort’s roommate to give her the message. Total immature BS. Cort ignored her and laughed it off, but Cuba wouldn’t let it go. So, Cort went to her room and confronted her and told her if she had something to say, say it ! Then I believe it was “Put up or shut up” and Cuba “put up” and gave her a black eye and possibly broke Cort’s nose. After Cort got back from medical, she was rolled up and sent to 3F (behavioral). Cuba was supposed to go to 3E, but begged to stay. She’s still here but on a 3 day lockdown. I’m irritated that Cuba’s still here. She should have been removed too. I’m sure there will be lots of bragging, but I really don’t care. It’s just a bad High School here. Please let me transfer ! 

Day 94 (12/25/14) WE will make a difference

Merry Christmas from Las Colinas Women’s Detention Facility. 

I woke up to the cell doors popping open this morning. I jumped up, got ready, and ran downstairs to call my family. It was good to hear their voices on Christmas morning. I’m thankful for the call. Today was like any other day, nothing special. The dorm did get a gift today, “Charmed” was not on TV ! Thank you Santa ! There was a full Catholic Mass this morning at the outside amphitheater and for dinner we got roast beef with marble cake and vanilla ice cream. The girls in mu housing unit had a Christmas party. They made food for the entire unit and did a secret Santa gift exchange. The food was really good. It’s amazing how creative you can get in jail with limited resources. Miss Miserable tried to ruin the party, but the girls made it happen. I spent my lockdown playing 3 hours of rummy, before reading and going to bed. Our night deputy let us make a phone call home and I got to talk to my family again and hear all about their day. It was a nice surprise. Before bed, I read my Husbands Christmas email:

“I am thankful to have such an awesome, supportive family. I am thankful, that even though my Wife’s away, she still finds a way to encourage me. I am thankful that my kids and I have a chance to see their Mom face to face before she leaves for receiving. 

I am thankful for the two deputies at the visitation that have been kind and helpful to us. I am thankful for my Wife’s first roommate that comforted her and prayed for her. I am thankful for the deputy that realized my Wife was in the wrong housing unit and made the effort to get her moved into the correct housing, resulting in contact visits. I am thankful that my Wife has remained safe in the first phase of her incarceration. I am thankful that I have met many people with the same views on incarceration reform. I am hopeful when my Wife gets home, WE can make a difference together” 

I couldn’t have said it better. I am thankful for my wonderful Husband. Merry Christmas, I love you. 

Day 93 (12/24/14) I was ready and said my goodbyes again.

It’s Christmas Eve and I’m still here. I did not get transferred to receiving (CCWF) last night. A little disappointed and frustrated this morning. I was ready. I was packed and said my goodbyes (again) to my family, just have to do it all again next week. 

It was a rough night. I didn’t go to sleep until after midnight and this morning was just as hard. I called my Husband to let him know I was still here. I was very upset. He helped me through it as usual. Once I reminded myself that everything happens for a reason and thought of all the positives. Like getting two more visits with my Husband and kids. Getting to call my family on Christmas morning, spending lockdown with a good roommate, and reminding myself, it could always be worse. I know people here, I have good “acquaintances”, I’m comfortable, it’s only 7 more days until the next chance to leave. I can do this, it’s not that bad. But, in the back of my mind, I’m thinking, what’s the next part of this going to be like ? Will it be like Las Colinas ? Receiving is the hardest part of this whole journey. The mix of all crimes and security levels. 

I got through the day, even though Miss Miserable is back working our unit the next two days. I hope I never see her again. Negativity is infectious and I don’t like to be around it. Then, to top off the night, we were on lockdown. They were short staffed, so it was lockdown. I wasn’t expecting it tonight.  I knew Christmas we would be on lockdown, but two nights in a row really sucks and my family is waiting for my phone call tonight. 

It was difficult, but I got through the night. I think of my Husband and kids whenever I’m down. They give me the strength to make it through another day. 

Christmas Eve was always the night my Husband and I would share our gifts with each other. So much love. Plus, that would free up Christmas morning for the kids. This is the first time in 17+ years we won’t have that. I can’t even describe the feeling and I don’t want to. This will be the last one ever we’ll be apart.