I was just released from maximum security prison after serving 3 years for selling drugs. I’m a smart guy and I know the difference between right and wrong. I did what I did and paid the price and I’m not here to cry about it. I’ve been to prison before, even at the federal level, but this time being older I really reflected on my life and where I want to be. I was an inmate in at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in Smyrna, Delaware where on February 1st, 2017 we had a hostage standoff where a correctional officer was killed. Here’s a link to the story:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/06/02/delaware-prison-siege-report/365105001/#
I get the need to have law and order and I believe that if you commit a crime, you should be punished. I get that, but following the incident us inmates were treated very badly. In no way did I support the incident, yet my fellow inmates and I were all treated as we were involved. I thought that what happened was horrible. I knew the officer that was killed. He was painted as an honorable person when he was far from it, but he didn’t deserve to be tortured and killed. We were/are inmates and broke the law in order to be sent to prison, but that doesn’t mean that we should’ve been exposed to the immoral actions of the correctional officers and prison officials for the days, weeks, months to follow. It’s like they were trying to show us they could be more savage.
I was placed in solitary confinement immediately following the incident due to a complaint I previously filed in District Court about the lack of medical care that was available. This was pure retaliation, but what could I do? I mean us inmates should be given at least the most basic of medical attention. The media was heavily covering the story of the uprising and the prison was trying to prevent any information about the prison conditions from being leaked. I wasn’t able to send out mail or use the phone, and I was locked in a cell 24 hours a day and denied visits from my family. I was told that I was “under investigation”. I never did anything that should have warranted this. We were routinely “roughed up” by the guards without justification. The officers were in charge of preparing the food after the uprising and it was routine to have to pick the roaches out before eating. I cringe to think of what was in it that you couldn’t see. I’m not going to get into describing specific incidents for fear of further retaliation. I’m on probation and the probation office is an extension of the Department of Corrections. I’ve experienced more corruption in the system than I ever had on the streets, and I do not trust it.
We have a huge crime and incarceration problem in the small State of Delaware. Some of you may not be able to point out Delaware on the map but check out these interesting facts:
The United States has the highest percentage of its population in prison in the world, ahead even of countries like China and North Korea that are notorious for locking away political dissenters. All in all, close to 1.6 million people – that’s 1 in 200 Americans – are currently serving time in a federal or local prison.
Delaware, being the second smallest state has an area of only 1,982 square miles, but has a population of 897,934 and 6,739 prisoners, for 0.75 percent of the population incarcerated (and 3.4 prisoners per square mile on average).
So if you break this all down, the small state of Delaware ranks third in locking people up in the world and most of you have probably never heard of it.
The biggest city, Wilmington covers an area less than 17 square miles, but check out the murder stats:
Our city was dubbed “MurderTown USA” and there was going to be a tv show starring Jada Pinkett Smith based around but government officials fought hard to not let the show be created:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/11/11/tv-wilmington-murder-town/75601032/#
We have a big problem everywhere in the US with no real solution. Crime is increasing exponentially at staggering rates. Drug use is out of control and most of the issues stem from that. Politician after politician with empty promises give us no hope. Do you stay and try to help your hometown, or run for the hills? I ask myself this every day.
I’m introducing myself to the community with this post because I’ve been checking it out for the past week or so and felt like I want to start contributing. If I were to sum up what sort of posts I would be likely to share in the future, they would be related to cryptocurrency, the internet, food, buzz, marijuana, and life topics. I really like crypto’s. I had the opportunity to get into bitcoin back in 2010 but stupidly chose not to thinking it was just a fad. I’ve read everything I could get my hands on about crypto’s while I was away and I’m really intrigued. I’m trying to build my life back after losing everything due to my incarceration. I used to build web applications and software and have a few ideas that I want to possibly develop. Under no circumstances will I sell drugs again. There is an expression that I’ve heard that says, “I’d rather be a square than live in one.” I can definitely relate. I am in the process of obtaining my medical marijuana card due to complications that I’ve received from being shot in the head. That could be another story for later maybe, but I’d rather not dwell on the negative. I was a grower that deeply believes in the medicinal aspects of the cannabis plant. Maybe some can find my experiences inspiring, who knows. At any rate, I hope this community accepts me. I look forward to contributing here in an attempt to earn some extra money to get back on my feet because I definitely need it. Thanks for taking the time to read this, and God Bless!
