P4C 1) Contributers Letters.
PRISONERS FOR CHANGE...
‘DON’T COUNT US OUT JUST BECAUSE WE ARE INCARCERATED”
Since my incarceration, there has always been one thing that bothers me the most, and that is, the education system. The education system is one thing out of many, I would like to change. I mean
a 360 degree turn around. The fi rst time I enrolled in any school was at U.S.P. Hazelton, in West Virginia. When I enrolled, I said to myself, I’m going to get my G.E.D. Then after, I will pick up more
trades. But, to my surprize, I was wrong! First of all, there was no teacher (staff) in the classroom, there was only an inmate tutor teaching us.
So, I asked the inmate tutor, “where is the teacher?” and he responded, “you’re looking at him.” That’s when I said Ok, that’s how they run the school system in the Bureau of Prisons (BOP). I never got to learn anything because there was never any supervision in the classroom; no staff present and you had other inmates from other classes running in and out disrupting the class.
At first I had said to myself, “I’m here to learn and I’m not going to let them interrupt/disturb me,” but it was too much; I couldn’t concentrate at all. And, that’s when I would just come in the class and do nothing. I can honestly say, “I GAVE UP!” I put in my 480 hours in and signed out of school.
Then about a month later, they told me that my release date was pushed back four months. I don’t think it’s fair/right to take 120 days from an inmate who was willing and trying hard as he could to get his GED, with no help from any trained/experienced BOP staff/ teacher. I was doing my part, but the BOP Education Department staff wasn’t doing their job. And, if you write them up as I seen other students doing, the same staff you write up would be the ones responding to your complaint and covering for each other. If your complaint is strong, the warden would either put you in the hole so you would drop your grievance or transfer you to another prison; that’s why students/ prisoners are scared to fi le against staff about their misconducts.
Now, I’m attending a GED class at USP - McCreary. So, when I got here, I thought it would be the same way, but it was a little different. In my classroom, you have a teacher, but in some of the other classes, you still only have a tutor doing all the teaching. I can now say thanks to my tutor, Davidson and my teacher, Mrs. A. Partin. I went from an elementary reading and math level, to a high school level in a few months. This time I will not give up. I will get my GED here at USP - McCreary.
Most of the times we get treated like if we were nobody, just a name and a number. I would like to get treated like a human being. When we talk to the staff, they don’t listen. I always try to go through the proper channels. But, I never get any positive results. I had a situation with the Education Department, so I went to the Associate Warden (AW) of Programs, Mr. McCleod, and told him my problem and I tryed to give him a cop-out with my complaint, but he refused to accept it; he told me that he was not going to take it. The things I was explaining and saying to him, went in one ear and out the other. The A.W. wasn’t concerned with nothing I had to say to him. Now, if I would have gotten into a verbal argument with one of his offi cers, the fi rst thing he would’ve said was, “why didn’t you come talk to me fi rst about that situation?”
Things like that must change. Because, after he would’ve put me in the hole, he would have said, “if you would’ve just come talk to me, this would have never happened.” I want to make the Education Department in the BOP/Penal System, much better for other prisoners that may come after me. In the Education Department nationwide/globally,
“WE NEED CHANGE THAT WE CAN BELIEVE IN!”
By: Tracy Peterson
Reg. No. 24747-056
‘DON’T COUNT US OUT JUST BECAUSE WE ARE INCARCERATED”
Since my incarceration, there has always been one thing that bothers me the most, and that is, the education system. The education system is one thing out of many, I would like to change. I mean
a 360 degree turn around. The fi rst time I enrolled in any school was at U.S.P. Hazelton, in West Virginia. When I enrolled, I said to myself, I’m going to get my G.E.D. Then after, I will pick up more
trades. But, to my surprize, I was wrong! First of all, there was no teacher (staff) in the classroom, there was only an inmate tutor teaching us.
So, I asked the inmate tutor, “where is the teacher?” and he responded, “you’re looking at him.” That’s when I said Ok, that’s how they run the school system in the Bureau of Prisons (BOP). I never got to learn anything because there was never any supervision in the classroom; no staff present and you had other inmates from other classes running in and out disrupting the class.
At first I had said to myself, “I’m here to learn and I’m not going to let them interrupt/disturb me,” but it was too much; I couldn’t concentrate at all. And, that’s when I would just come in the class and do nothing. I can honestly say, “I GAVE UP!” I put in my 480 hours in and signed out of school.
Then about a month later, they told me that my release date was pushed back four months. I don’t think it’s fair/right to take 120 days from an inmate who was willing and trying hard as he could to get his GED, with no help from any trained/experienced BOP staff/ teacher. I was doing my part, but the BOP Education Department staff wasn’t doing their job. And, if you write them up as I seen other students doing, the same staff you write up would be the ones responding to your complaint and covering for each other. If your complaint is strong, the warden would either put you in the hole so you would drop your grievance or transfer you to another prison; that’s why students/ prisoners are scared to fi le against staff about their misconducts.
Now, I’m attending a GED class at USP - McCreary. So, when I got here, I thought it would be the same way, but it was a little different. In my classroom, you have a teacher, but in some of the other classes, you still only have a tutor doing all the teaching. I can now say thanks to my tutor, Davidson and my teacher, Mrs. A. Partin. I went from an elementary reading and math level, to a high school level in a few months. This time I will not give up. I will get my GED here at USP - McCreary.
Most of the times we get treated like if we were nobody, just a name and a number. I would like to get treated like a human being. When we talk to the staff, they don’t listen. I always try to go through the proper channels. But, I never get any positive results. I had a situation with the Education Department, so I went to the Associate Warden (AW) of Programs, Mr. McCleod, and told him my problem and I tryed to give him a cop-out with my complaint, but he refused to accept it; he told me that he was not going to take it. The things I was explaining and saying to him, went in one ear and out the other. The A.W. wasn’t concerned with nothing I had to say to him. Now, if I would have gotten into a verbal argument with one of his offi cers, the fi rst thing he would’ve said was, “why didn’t you come talk to me fi rst about that situation?”
Things like that must change. Because, after he would’ve put me in the hole, he would have said, “if you would’ve just come talk to me, this would have never happened.” I want to make the Education Department in the BOP/Penal System, much better for other prisoners that may come after me. In the Education Department nationwide/globally,
“WE NEED CHANGE THAT WE CAN BELIEVE IN!”
By: Tracy Peterson
Reg. No. 24747-056
“PRISONERS FOR CHANGE & PRISIONEROS PARA CAMBIO”
“PRISONERS FOR CHANGE & PRISIONEROS PARA CAMBIO”
My name is Carlton Wallace, a supporter of Senator Barack Obama. I am also an inmate at McCreary, Kentucky, that is a United States Penitentiary. We need a “CHANGE” in this system in so many perspectives.
This system is being used as a money making organization, instead of rehabilitation institutions. The American people on the outside do not truly understand what is going on here in the inside. And, until they have a loved one or a family member or themself to fall into this system, they will never know the truth! The media and congress only show the American people what they want them to see and/or hear.
This is a very dangerous system which is over crowded and more inmates waiting to come. The time that is being handed down to us is completely out of line.
Please do not misinterpret my comment. There are inmates that do deserve their time (sentence). But, that is only a few.
I am here becuase of drugs. We need “STEP DOWN PROGRAMS” for the inmates whom are sincerely trying to do the right things inside, to get back home to their loved ones. I would love to see the American people be able to just get a small example of what is going on in this system, so maybe they can have some influence on some changes that could help solve some of the true problems. I hope that my thoughts can be considered and maybe we all can make a “CHANGE” for the better for everyone.
Thank you,
Carlton Wallace
Reg. No.20739-074
My name is Carlton Wallace, a supporter of Senator Barack Obama. I am also an inmate at McCreary, Kentucky, that is a United States Penitentiary. We need a “CHANGE” in this system in so many perspectives.
This system is being used as a money making organization, instead of rehabilitation institutions. The American people on the outside do not truly understand what is going on here in the inside. And, until they have a loved one or a family member or themself to fall into this system, they will never know the truth! The media and congress only show the American people what they want them to see and/or hear.
This is a very dangerous system which is over crowded and more inmates waiting to come. The time that is being handed down to us is completely out of line.
Please do not misinterpret my comment. There are inmates that do deserve their time (sentence). But, that is only a few.
I am here becuase of drugs. We need “STEP DOWN PROGRAMS” for the inmates whom are sincerely trying to do the right things inside, to get back home to their loved ones. I would love to see the American people be able to just get a small example of what is going on in this system, so maybe they can have some influence on some changes that could help solve some of the true problems. I hope that my thoughts can be considered and maybe we all can make a “CHANGE” for the better for everyone.
Thank you,
Carlton Wallace
Reg. No.20739-074