John’s newsletter from Eastham Unit n°38

JOURNEY FROM DEATH ROW
John’s newsletter from Eastham Unit n°38
15th of April 2009

Dear all,
This month’s newsletter is dedicated to the first part of John’s article about his transfer last December. I would like to thank the three “As” (Emma, Laura, Barbara!!!) who helphed me translating this document in French. Many many thanks my dear friends!

Tina and Celine, editing committee

How is John doing these days?

John is still trying to get a transfer to another unit, closer to his family (who lives 4-hour drive from Eastham unit). He thanks all the people who sent him commissary money that helps him dramatically improve his living conditions.

What’s new about his judicial procedure?
Nothing new to share with you.

John’s own words

Recent tour of Texas Prisons
12-23-08-12-31-08

Greetings! Smile! How has the new year been treating y'all? I hope that your holidays and the new year is going to be wonderful and full of luck for each of you. As for myself, I have recently gone through a bit of a change. I wanted to write and give a bit of an update.

On December 23rd, 2008 I was transferred from Ellis where I had been for nearly 2 years. They have a new program over there called GRAD which is basically where confirmed gang members that are in administrative segregation go through this new program, they supposedly lay down their colors to reenter general population. They can only get out of segregation by going through this program. There are only a few units that offer the program. They began shipping them to Ellis which meant they also had to make room for them by shipping some of the general population out to other units. Low and behold I was on the chain list for the morning of December 23rd. The last chain going out before the holidays began. I knew as soon as I heard my name called it would mean a lot of changes and no visits for the holidays.

So, on the bus I went the morning of the 23rd. The bus was full , when they put you on the bus like that you are handcuffed to a second prisoner, one set of cuffs, your wrist to his wrist and one hand free. In a way I was kind of excited because it had been almost 2 years since I had been off Ellis prison grounds. It was kind of like a field trip. I get to see the free world, mostly woods, but still cars and houses and ponds and lakes and people that are not wearing either white or gray! When I left that morning we went to several different units where the load and unload prisoners. My destination was The Walls unit in Huntsville, where they execute death row prisoners. I knew that I was going to be stuck in transit over there as they only house ex cops and ex TDCJ guards and such. I knew I would not be in general population there.

After going to 4 different prions we finally got to the Walls. They took us all in and brought us to a big holding area that looks like an old gym that has been converted into a giant shakedown area. I had not been at the Walls since the last time I passed through going to the Ellis. We went through the song and dance of having to stripped naked and inspected by an office, then they shakedown your red property bag. You are not allowed to bring your property with you on the chain when you are shipped. You are only allowed a small red bag, which is like an onion bag, not much can fit in it. You have to leave everything behind and hope they ship it to you.

I went through the shakedown and while I'm being assigned housing I ask the guard what it says on my paperwork about what unit I will be going to. He told me it said Polunsky unit but no chains are going out for at least a week! I was in a 24 hour lock down cell by myself. They only let prisoners in transit out of the cell to shower in the morning and walk to chow. Each time I took this little stroll, out the side of the transit building, I could not help but look down the back alley where at the end is a solid steel door to the execution chamber. I would look down there and could not help but think that is the spot where so many of the men that I have seen leave the row during my death row days, this is there last point of seeing sunlight, seeing the sky, hearing any type of birds or free world sounds before entering the death house. I look up at the sky myself a few times and could not help but say a little prayer and thank God for intervening on my behalf and not allowing the state to murder me!! I had casually asked a guard here and there, without revealing my death row past, where the death house was and what type of experiences each had with it. They were pretty tight lipped about it mostly. A few pointed down the back alley and said it was 'death valley' that lead to the death house. One guard made a crude joke about how he had seen more than a few go weak in the knees entering the death house and had to be carried. I looked at him with disgust in my eyes but held my tongue.


To be continued next month...