Peace and Blessings Family,

Do You Have ... or ever had ... Family in Prison?

My nephew is in prison, and will probably be there for the rest of his life. He Spent most of his young life in there too. He was in, got out, and went right back. I've never visited him in prison, not even sure what prison he's in. He was arrested, prosecuted, all that stuff, in Chicago, so he's probably in a prison in IL. I'm gonna talk to my Sister and find out.

I also had 2 cousins that spent time in prison. They're both out now.

I could probably have more Family Members incarcerated, but if so, i'm not aware of it.

I think it would be good for us to bring ourselves even closer together, as i can't imagine that there are a whole lot of us who don't, or never have had, a Family Member in prison ... but yall never cease to amaze me ... as i might be the only one! :(

Please vote in the poll above, and post your comments below.

I just love yall ... thanks for sharing !!! :love:

:heart:

Destee

Yes i've had some members of my family doing time behind bars
some is as guilty as sin and some was caught up in the system
and i have or had a few that was innocent as day !

I have had a few cousins in there for drugs.
Fyi destee if he's in there for the rest of his life, you should go see him.
Write him ,he would really appreciate it.:spinstar:

I have had a few cousins in there for drugs.
Fyi destee if he's in there for the rest of his life, you should go see him.
Write him ,he would really appreciate it.:spinstar:

You are absolutely right Sister ... and please be sure to vote in the poll too. Thanks!

:heart:

Destee

mY BROTHER WAS RELEASED TWO YEARS AGO.

hmm i've never had a family member in prison, immediate or extended to my knowledge.

mY BROTHER WAS RELEASED TWO YEARS AGO.

Brother Therious ... thanks for sharing. Please vote in the poll above too.


hmm i've never had a family member in prison, immediate or extended to my knowledge.

Charity2 ... Hello and Welcome ... :wave:

That's a blessing for you and your Family! Thanks for sharing and voting in the poll.

:heart:

Destee

Hi Destee and family:hiya:
This is right up my alley. My husband is in federal prison. He is out here in Louisiana, thank God I don't have to travel out of state to visit. I feel that if you have any family incarcerated, go visit. They don't have anybody really in there to support them. And it is a shame how our people fill them up so much. And the government really doesn't care about them. They try and lie to say they encourage family visits and all, but in reality the officers hate to see inmates get love and attention. And the visits, I hate and dread it so much, but I have to see my husband, we both need each other. Most of the prisons give you a hard time when you are visiting. Most make you sit and wait long periods of time before you can go back to the visiting room. You have to go by a strict dress code, and if you don't pass it you will have to end up spending money getting another outfit or wasting time going to the hotel to change. It is VERY emotional and right now they don't have too many people stepping up to be their voice. So try to be there for them as much as you can. I know that my husband lives for mail call, every little thing counts.

Peace and Blessings Family,

Do You Have ... or ever had ... Family in Prison?

My nephew is in prison, and will probably be there for the rest of his life. He Spent most of his young life in there too. He was in, got out, and went right back. I've never visited him in prison, not even sure what prison he's in. He was arrested, prosecuted, all that stuff, in Chicago, so he's probably in a prison in IL. I'm gonna talk to my Sister and find out.

I also had 2 cousins that spent time in prison. They're both out now.

I could probably have more Family Members incarcerated, but if so, i'm not aware of it.

I think it would be good for us to bring ourselves even closer together, as i can't imagine that there are a whole lot of us who don't, or never have had, a Family Member in prison ... but yall never cease to amaze me ... as i might be the only one! :(

Please vote in the poll above, and post your comments below.

I just love yall ... thanks for sharing !!! :love:

:heart:

Destee

None that I'm aware of but I'm sure there must be some in my family who were incarcerated because many of them grew up on the "street" and dealt in that element. I probably have more family members who would have been but weren't because they couldn't be caught or no one found out. I know people who have been to prison and are in prison. I know a sister who is in for life because she killed her husband who was a career criminal and woman abuser. He was in the process of raping and strangling her when she stabbed him to death. She was sentenced to life because she testified that she knew a beating was coming when she arrived home one evening from grocery shopping, sent her two children to their aunts house to avoid them seeing it happen. What the husband didn't know was that she kept a pair of scissors hidden between the mattress and box spring of their bed and that's what she used to defend herself and he died in the process. She was a custodian that worked in my building and we used to talk in the evenings when her shift began and I worked late. It upset me that she was given life in prison when another woman that committed a similar "crime", did no jail time and used the same defense--she was white though. I'm sure you all have seen the movie with Farrah Fawcett, called "Burning Bed". That happened in Michigan.

Yes...my cousin has been in and out of prison since the age of 18, and is still there right now. I would visit & write him when he first went in, but that stopped after a while.

My Uncle served time in three different states. About a year for each. He's doing good now. Taking care of the wife and kids.

Yes. I currently have a 20 year old cousin in prison. This year in April he stabbed his own mother to death over money because he wanted to buy drugs. They found her bleeding to death in the street. Her other son and daughter took it so bad.

yup we got hell@ f@m in d@ pen we got hell@ d@t aint but we got hell@ d@t is too

Yuh.....friends and family that are in, some that were in and a few that are well on their way to going in...

Red

Hi Destee and family:hiya:
This is right up my alley. My husband is in federal prison. He is out here in Louisiana, thank God I don't have to travel out of state to visit. I feel that if you have any family incarcerated, go visit. They don't have anybody really in there to support them. And it is a shame how our people fill them up so much. And the government really doesn't care about them. They try and lie to say they encourage family visits and all, but in reality the officers hate to see inmates get love and attention. And the visits, I hate and dread it so much, but I have to see my husband, we both need each other. Most of the prisons give you a hard time when you are visiting. Most make you sit and wait long periods of time before you can go back to the visiting room. You have to go by a strict dress code, and if you don't pass it you will have to end up spending money getting another outfit or wasting time going to the hotel to change. It is VERY emotional and right now they don't have too many people stepping up to be their voice. So try to be there for them as much as you can. I know that my husband lives for mail call, every little thing counts.

Sister VirgoMistress ... bless your sweet heart .. may the Creator and our Ancestors forever look out for you and your husband. Thank you for sharing what it's like to visit a prison. While i've never visited anyone in prison, it's obvious from your account that they mean to make it difficult for us to do. They want us to forget about all these strong Black Men they have locked up. Out of sight and out of mind.

Thank you for sharing Sister and voting in the poll above.

:heart:

Destee

mY BROTHER WAS RELEASED TWO YEARS AGO.

Brother Therious ... thanks for responding, but i need you to vote in the poll above too ... k ?? ... :)

Thanks.

:heart:

Destee

None that I'm aware of but I'm sure there must be some in my family who were incarcerated because many of them grew up on the "street" and dealt in that element. I probably have more family members who would have been but weren't because they couldn't be caught or no one found out. I know people who have been to prison and are in prison. I know a sister who is in for life because she killed her husband who was a career criminal and woman abuser. He was in the process of raping and strangling her when she stabbed him to death. She was sentenced to life because she testified that she knew a beating was coming when she arrived home one evening from grocery shopping, sent her two children to their aunts house to avoid them seeing it happen. What the husband didn't know was that she kept a pair of scissors hidden between the mattress and box spring of their bed and that's what she used to defend herself and he died in the process. She was a custodian that worked in my building and we used to talk in the evenings when her shift began and I worked late. It upset me that she was given life in prison when another woman that committed a similar "crime", did no jail time and used the same defense--she was white though. I'm sure you all have seen the movie with Farrah Fawcett, called "Burning Bed". That happened in Michigan.

Sister Queenie ... thanks for sharing ... and i'm glad that there are none in your Family that you know of, that have fallen victim to a system that is obviously quite biased against us. Such a blessing.

Please vote in the poll above too. Thanks. :)

:heart:

Destee

Yes...my cousin has been in and out of prison since the age of 18, and is still there right now. I would visit & write him when he first went in, but that stopped after a while.

Sister Sonnee ... thanks for sharing and voting ... :love:

I understand what you're saying Sister, about at first you were more involved, and then as time passed, contact stopped. That's kinda how it was for me and my nephew. When he first went in, he would call me more regularly, i'd accept the long distance charges ... but that is expensive ... and when there's no real end in sight and money is tight ... what is a person to do?

They've set it up this way. Calls from prison costing how much now these days? Why is the cost so great?

They know they keep their foot on our economic necks. They know they make sure we (collectively) have the most menial of jobs, paying the less money, can't hardly make it from month to month ... it becomes one of our easiest decisions to make ... do we spend money on prison phone calls, or the light bill?

Do we spend energies on our Family Members navigating thru the land mines, or the ones already blown up by them?

They keep us between a rock and a hard place.

Love You!

:heart:

Destee

My Uncle served time in three different states. About a year for each. He's doing good now. Taking care of the wife and kids.

Sister NDeep ... May the Creator and our Ancestors forever protect your Uncle from these people. It's nice when the story has a happy ending.

Thanks for sharing and voting.

:heart:

Destee

Yes. I currently have a 20 year old cousin in prison. This year in April he stabbed his own mother to death over money because he wanted to buy drugs. They found her bleeding to death in the street. Her other son and daughter took it so bad.

Brother BacktoAfrica ... i am so sorry that any of us would have to experience the likes of what you've described ... but i believe that is why drugs were put into our communities ... to take our minds ... to have us doing things that we could not even concieve of on our own ... parents leaving their children ... children killing their parents ... terrible terrible things. Your Family is not alone, far too many of us have fallen victim to this, manifesting it in one way or another.

Thanks for sharing and please vote in the poll above. Thanks.

:heart:

Destee

yup we got hell@ f@m in d@ pen we got hell@ d@t aint but we got hell@ d@t is too

Sister Tiana ... haaaaaay ... :wave: ... you don't hardly post much ... i'm so glad you decided to share here. Yes, collectively, we got far too many of our Family Members locked up. It should be somewhat comforting in knowing that it aint just your Family. It aint like your Family Members are some low-down and dirty kinda folk ... nope ... that aint it at all. There is a concerted effort to lock Black Men up, and we got the evidence to prove it!

Thank you for sharing and voting.

:heart:

Destee

Yuh.....friends and family that are in, some that were in and a few that are well on their way to going in...

Red

Brother Mississippi ... wassup wit yo' vote ... ionsee it ... QQ ... :love:

Thanks for sharing.

:heart:

Destee

According to this "unofficial poll" ... 92% of African Americans have or have had Family Members in prison.

What's that say?

:heart:

Destee

yup.cousins,other direct family, and alot of freinds that fell through the cracks and another who has been in for sellin the powder since I was like 14-15.

yup.cousins,other direct family, and alot of freinds that fell through the cracks and another who has been in for sellin the powder since I was like 14-15.

Brother I-khan ... thanks for sharing ... and please vote in the poll too.

:heart:

Destee

I'VE watched those Family Members who had it coming...
'get it.' And I'VE watched those who DID'NT get it as well.

(Friends as well....) I have a nephew who'll never get out
also, tragic but in His case WE make OUR own beds.

For this I Do Not feel guilty. HE should, for not thinking
enough of his Family to supercede the 'system,' and not

let it supercede him. He'd had enough 'Afrikan Education'.
Visitation for those whom are Wronged? Of course, but

remember, the 'system' will treat YOU just as much as a
'prisoner,' as most inmates because it is not 'beholding'

to american citizenry, but the citizenry is beholden to it.
As in every other area of amerikan 'life'.

I found something though that I thought was Very Interesting,
(at least to maybe whom it may apply) and it's right next door
to Ala.

http://www.motherswithsonsinprison.com

More of this type of atten: should exist to protect those
who Really need it from this barbaric amerkan judicial system.
IMO.


Btw, I-KHAN I L-O-V-E YOUR avatar!! (not exactly sure why!)
But it makes ME wanna do a 'premium'!!!

(Stranger things have happened!)

ROARIN........

I've had 2 uncles in prison. One spent most of his adult life there, when he finally got out, he was able to marry and have children later in life. He passed about 19 years ago. The other one robbed a bank, and with his other past offenses, will be in jail probably for the rest of his life. In the past he lived with family members, including myself, but...I don't know, he always seemed to get into trouble somehow, and had to move in with yet another family member.
I've had cousins incarcerated for drug dealing, and one old classmate who spent most of his adult life in jail for something he didn't do. It seems he took the rap for someone else. smh...

Destee,
I can only think of one word when it comes to this...UNICOR!!!!
These (federal) inmates make billions of dollars for the US, and don't quote me on the percentage but I do know that Barbara Bush owns a large percentage of the company or has a majority of the stock, something like but you get the picture!
Since my husband is in a federal prison, he is allowed to call home on a prepaid calling card, which is cheaper than calling collect. I just send money to him at the beginning of the month to take care of the calls because they get 300 minutes a month for the phone.
There needs to be more advocates to help with this, there are some organizations that are trying to get in between the monopoly but I guess only time will tell.

Sister Sonnee ... thanks for sharing and voting ... :love:

I understand what you're saying Sister, about at first you were more involved, and then as time passed, contact stopped. That's kinda how it was for me and my nephew. When he first went in, he would call me more regularly, i'd accept the long distance charges ... but that is expensive ... and when there's no real end in sight and money is tight ... what is a person to do?

They've set it up this way. Calls from prison costing how much now these days? Why is the cost so great?

They know they keep their foot on our economic necks. They know they make sure we (collectively) have the most menial of jobs, paying the less money, can't hardly make it from month to month ... it becomes one of our easiest decisions to make ... do we spend money on prison phone calls, or the light bill?

Do we spend energies on our Family Members navigating thru the land mines, or the ones already blown up by them?

They keep us between a rock and a hard place.

Love You!

:heart:

Destee

I'll have to admit; my family was on the fortunate side in not becoming entrapped in the criminal justice system. Fortunately ONLY ONE family member had gone to prison, and that was my brother on some "unsubstantiated" burglary he was convicted of. Explain that one....I can't. He served his time; got out; cleaned his act up; and is now faring well. Working, supporting his family, and happier than ever. I am so happy for him:)

:grouphug:

:love:

yes i have a cousin in prison right now on a Armed Robbery charge i believe it is

I'VE watched those Family Members who had it coming...
'get it.' And I'VE watched those who DID'NT get it as well.

(Friends as well....) I have a nephew who'll never get out
also, tragic but in His case WE make OUR own beds.

For this I Do Not feel guilty. HE should, for not thinking
enough of his Family to supercede the 'system,' and not

let it supercede him. He'd had enough 'Afrikan Education'.
Visitation for those whom are Wronged? Of course, but

remember, the 'system' will treat YOU just as much as a
'prisoner,' as most inmates because it is not 'beholding'

to american citizenry, but the citizenry is beholden to it.
As in every other area of amerikan 'life'.

I found something though that I thought was Very Interesting,
(at least to maybe whom it may apply) and it's right next door
to Ala.

http://www.motherswithsonsinprison.com

More of this type of atten: should exist to protect those
who Really need it from this barbaric amerkan judicial system.
IMO.


Btw, I-KHAN I L-O-V-E YOUR avatar!! (not exactly sure why!)
But it makes ME wanna do a 'premium'!!!

(Stranger things have happened!)

ROARIN........

Brother Roarin ... thanks for sharing and voting in the poll.

I checked out the link you shared, and i couldn't get a grasp on if it is a site for, by, and about Black people. They have a mix of Black and white images on there. I guess that doesn't make a WHOLE lot of difference, as the work they are doing seems to be a good thing, but my focus right now is all about us. I wish them well, and i'm sure many appreciate them being there.

:heart:

Destee

I've had 2 uncles in prison. One spent most of his adult life there, when he finally got out, he was able to marry and have children later in life. He passed about 19 years ago. The other one robbed a bank, and with his other past offenses, will be in jail probably for the rest of his life. In the past he lived with family members, including myself, but...I don't know, he always seemed to get into trouble somehow, and had to move in with yet another family member.
I've had cousins incarcerated for drug dealing, and one old classmate who spent most of his adult life in jail for something he didn't do. It seems he took the rap for someone else. smh...

Sister Watz ... thanks for sharing and please vote in the poll above. Love You!

:heart:

Destee

Destee,
I can only think of one word when it comes to this...UNICOR!!!!
These (federal) inmates make billions of dollars for the US, and don't quote me on the percentage but I do know that Barbara Bush owns a large percentage of the company or has a majority of the stock, something like but you get the picture!
Since my husband is in a federal prison, he is allowed to call home on a prepaid calling card, which is cheaper than calling collect. I just send money to him at the beginning of the month to take care of the calls because they get 300 minutes a month for the phone.
There needs to be more advocates to help with this, there are some organizations that are trying to get in between the monopoly but I guess only time will tell.

Sister VirgoMistress ... thank you. I had never heard of UNICOR and did a little search ... here's their web site ... www.unicor.gov ... and a bit of the text found there ...


For six decades, FPI has been self-sufficient, funding operations through the sale or its products to the Federal Government, rather than Government appropriations. In fact, over the years, FPI has returned over $80 million to the U.S. Treasury.

During its history, FPI has provided valuable products and services to the Federal Government. Soldiers have had their uniforms, bedding, shoes, dorm furniture, helmets, flak vests, and other items made by FPI. Likewise, FPI has provided veterans hospitals with pajamas, towels, sheets, and mattresses. FPI has also produced missile cables (including those used on the Patriot missiles during the Gulf War), wiring harnesses for jets and tanks, radio mounts, battery boxes, postal bags, weather instrument parachutes, office furniture, and signs. Services provided to the Government include rebuilding vehicles, remanufacturing electric motors, entering data, and printing Government documents [such as the original print version of this document].

All these products and services have been provided in response to the needs of our Federal Government customers and in service to the Nation. It is a legacy of which we are very proud. And it is the reason why FPI is one of the country's most successful Government programs.

"No single phase of life within prison walls is more important to the public or to the inmate than efficient industrial operations and the intelligent utilization of the labor of prisoners," stated a Federal Bureau of Prisons report in 1949. This statement is still true today, nearly 50 years later. As long as society relies on incarceration to punish convicted offenders, it will be necessary to maintain vibrant industrial programs to employ prisoners. Safe and effective prison administration would be virtually impossible without prison industries.

Since 1934, Federal Prison Industries, Incorporated-a wholly-owned corporation of the United States Government-has operated factories and employed inmates in America's Federal prisons. Also known as FPI or UNICOR, Federal Prison Industries, Inc., has made an incalculable contribution to law enforcement by contributing to the safety and security of Federal correctional institutions. At the same time, it has produced a wide array of products for use by the U.S. Government and provided tens of thousands of inmates with the vocational training and work experience they needed to become gainfully-employed, law-abiding citizens after release. FPI serves many constituencies-the public, prison staff, other Federal agencies, and even the inmates themselves. It is one of the most successful and cost-effective enterprises of the Federal Government.

But they want us to believe that these are men who are no good to society, can never be gainfully employed, could never be an asset to their communities ... but somehow ... mysteriously ... miraculously ... they are able to turn them into "productive inmates / slaves" for the service of their country, the needs of their government, and the masses at large ... making billions a year. So much so that you and i can go to this web site and buy the goods and services provided by our enslaved Sisters and Brothers.

C'mon Family ... c'mon ... please c'mon.

Whew.

Thanks again for sharing Sister VirgoMistress

:heart:

Destee

I'll have to admit; my family was on the fortunate side in not becoming entrapped in the criminal justice system. Fortunately ONLY ONE family member had gone to prison, and that was my brother on some "unsubstantiated" burglary he was convicted of. Explain that one....I can't. He served his time; got out; cleaned his act up; and is now faring well. Working, supporting his family, and happier than ever. I am so happy for him:)

:grouphug:

:love:

Sister Spicy ... thanks for sharing ... yes, it is a blessing if only one of your Family Members has got caught up in the traps and snares laid for all of us. Please don't forget to vote in the poll above. Love You!

:heart:

Destee

yes i have a cousin in prison right now on a Armed Robbery charge i believe it is

Brother Knightwolf ... thanks for sharing and voting! Love You!

:heart:

Destee

Family ... do you all realize the very serious implications of this informal poll?

Almost 95% of us have Family that is or was incarcerated in a prison in this country. 95% !

While we ... i ... have been focused on the overwhelming number of our people locked up in prisons ... that in and of itself is devastating, overwhelming, hard to fathom ... but broaden the view a little and see just how great this problem is and how much it impacts our lives on a daily basis.

I don't believe i've ever seen a poll like this, asking, how many of our Family Members are / have been in prison.

This is a percentage worse than how HIV AIDS impacts us, yet no one is talking about it, let alone doing anything about it. How long will we quietly sit by and watch these things happening to us.

This is terrible. This implies that all Black people are criminal, for you are made of the same thing your Brother is made of ... at least i am.

Please Family ... keep voting and sharing ... we need to know about this, how great we are impacted.

:heart:

Destee

Brother Roarin ... thanks for sharing and voting in the poll.

I checked out the link you shared, and i couldn't get a grasp on if it is a site for, by, and about Black people. They have a mix of Black and white images on there. I guess that doesn't make a WHOLE lot of difference, as the work they are doing seems to be a good thing, but my focus right now is all about us. I wish them well, and i'm sure many appreciate them being there.

:heart:

Destee

Excellent Observation. Baring in mind, that sometimes WE
need to get clean in dirty water.

ROARIN........

If I had, say 50 bucks for everyone in my family or friends of the family that has been to jail or is still in there? I wouldn't be extremely wealthy but I'd probably walk away with some Who wants to be a millionaire money.

Sad to say, but most of the males in my family spend the majority of their young lives in prison. At the moment there aren't any lock down but there are about 5 or 6 on the way, if they don't change, including my younger brother.:bye:

My big brother did 3 months in Jail for causing a riot in his former high school.

There has been an outrageous increase in the number of blacks, males in particular, who have been incarcerated in the last thirty years. Most of the increase can be traced back to the drug epidemic, which too many of our young men see as an opportunity to make a living. Many drop out of school to become full time drug dealers.

My second oldest son has served time in prisons. He has been sentenced at least four times, usually for drug dealing and/or child support delinquency. I've never disowned him, but I won't visit him in jail, because of my principles for one. Also because of my occupation, it's forbidden.

Some of the threads on this site refer to this as enslavement. I think we should cease the opportunity to make some corrections in our community, by nipping this problem in the bud, when we first see a child acting in a criminal way. My son always apologizes to me for turning out the way he did, he is now free of all his charges including parole and probation, and is trying to live legitimately.

Many of the young black men in jail are there due to inadequate legal advice and protection. If a white kid is picked up for drug dealing, his family rushes down to the police station with a criminal attorney, who knows the system. He can usually find a way to get the kid off, or plea bargain the charges. The black kid, same circumstances, is on his own, no family attorney to represent him. The court appoints an attorney in this case. That attorney has no affililation with the kid or the family, does just enough to meet the requirements, might even advise the kid to plead guilty. So the black kid goes to jail, the white kid goes home to repeat the same pattern.

For those of you who are truly concerned, call your local prison and find out what the release requirements are for inmates. You'd be surprised at how many are just waiting for someone to take them in, to get released. They usually have to have a place to go before they can be released.

I have two cousins in prison. I wouldn't waste an ounce of gas to go see them, nor would I spend a dime to call them. They put themselves there. The system just supplied the transportation and the cell. Don't do the crime and the poor black drug dealer won't need a lawyer. They are pathetic idiots, period.

Unfortunately, yes.

Yeah, and the sad part is they got out and is now back in for a very long time.

HMMMM DESTEE YOU SURE DO KNOW HOW TO BRING IT OUT DON'T YOU!
WELL LETS SEE I HAVE A BROTHER WHO HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF PRISON SINCE THE AGE OF 18 AND HE IS NOW 35 AND JUST GOT OUT 3YRS AGO AND YOU KNOW HE WAS LOCKED UP FOR SELLING DRUGS AND THEN HE BECAME A "VICTIM OF YO HUSTLE" AND HE STARTED USING. DESTEE MY BROTHER IS STILL A PRISONER OF CRACK, I PRAY FOR HIM EVERYDAY BECAUSE HE HAS SUCH AN ILLUMINATING LIGHT THAT SHINES INSIDE YET IT IS DIMMED BY HIS SKELETONS
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT PRISON CAN BRING ON MORE BONDAGE EVEN AFTER THE RELEASE DATE

MUCH MUCH LOVE SWEETTEE29

I have an update on my cousin.. he's been home for like 3 weeks, and I tell you it's good to have him home.

His mom gave him a "welcome home dinner" and it turned out really nice. He looks well, we all played some cards, had some good eats and of course listened to some good music.

Last I heard, he is looking for job.

I have an update on my cousin.. he's been home for like 3 weeks, and I tell you it's good to have him home.

His mom gave him a "welcome home dinner" and it turned out really nice. He looks well, we all played some cards, had some good eats and of course listened to some good music.

Last I heard, he is looking for job.

Big upps to your dear cousin Sonnee. May peace and prosperity be with him.

:welldone:

:picture:

I've had cousins and friends go to jail and prison........ I used to feel sorry for those lost souls, but the majority of the time they belong there. I myself could've been there a few times, and was predicted by some older cats to be going to the Big House. But, having been around career criminals and career drug abusers I no longer have any sympathy for them. I've lost my compassion. Don't call me, don't come by my house, and don't ask for any money.....but always remember I'm your family.

......I feel this way, because I've seen and felt first hand how criminals tear apart your family.

My man is in prison. He will be home in 2009.

My oldest nephew just got out of prison this month, hopefully for the last time, he made 38 in July, he was there for his birthday once again. He began getting lock-up as a juvenile and has always lived life as fast as he could. However, it is sad to say he was locked up in the 80's when his mother passed and had to come to the funeral services in shackles. It was heart-breaking to see. He was out in 2003, when his father passed but was arrested about three days after the services and spent a year or so in prison. Each time I heard he was locked up I would write and ask him, is he attending school while there, he would answer yes, but I have yet to see evidence of that.

i had uncles,cousins, in prison, or even worst, sum were in jail
my father was in and out...but hes out now 4 gud
one of my oldest brothaz was in prison 4 a while buh now hes out,..buh da luks of it aint dat gud ..cuz he mite go bak

blackluv and bp

I have a brother in prison probably looking at the rest of his life behind bars. He is my bestfriend and I don't know what I'm gon do without him. Life is soo hard but you know what they sa::happens:

My dad spent 13yrs in prison, missed most of his childrens growing up..

I have a husband in prison. I have cousins and uncles, and a aunt in prison. My daddy was in prison over 17 yrs.

I have two cousins in prison. I wouldn't waste an ounce of gas to go see them, nor would I spend a dime to call them. They put themselves there. The system just supplied the transportation and the cell. Don't do the crime and the poor black drug dealer won't need a lawyer. They are pathetic idiots, period.

Did you hear about the man in GA who was just released after almost 22 years for crime he didn't commit? You come down hard brother-I hope you're never in a position like his.

I know first how easy trouble is to get into and how hard it is to get out. I've been in jail and almost got sent to prison. That was 10 years ago so I also know that people are capable of learning from their mistakes and changing their lives around. Has anyone seen Monique's new stand up show, "I Could Be Your Cellmate?" That really hit home for me.

There has been an outrageous increase in the number of blacks, males in particular, who have been incarcerated in the last thirty years. Most of the increase can be traced back to the drug epidemic, which too many of our young men see as an opportunity to make a living. Many drop out of school to become full time drug dealers.

My second oldest son has served time in prisons. He has been sentenced at least four times, usually for drug dealing and/or child support delinquency. I've never disowned him, but I won't visit him in jail, because of my principles for one. Also because of my occupation, it's forbidden.

Some of the threads on this site refer to this as enslavement. I think we should cease the opportunity to make some corrections in our community, by nipping this problem in the bud, when we first see a child acting in a criminal way. My son always apologizes to me for turning out the way he did, he is now free of all his charges including parole and probation, and is trying to live legitimately.

Many of the young black men in jail are there due to inadequate legal advice and protection. If a white kid is picked up for drug dealing, his family rushes down to the police station with a criminal attorney, who knows the system. He can usually find a way to get the kid off, or plea bargain the charges. The black kid, same circumstances, is on his own, no family attorney to represent him. The court appoints an attorney in this case. That attorney has no affililation with the kid or the family, does just enough to meet the requirements, might even advise the kid to plead guilty. So the black kid goes to jail, the white kid goes home to repeat the same pattern.

For those of you who are truly concerned, call your local prison and find out what the release requirements are for inmates. You'd be surprised at how many are just waiting for someone to take them in, to get released. They usually have to have a place to go before they can be released.

:darts: The thing is getting our black men and women to recognize this and to use the resources that are available when and if they get out here so that they don't continue with the same path of destruction. Most end up institutionalized and overwhelmed once they get out, especially with no positive influences in their lives.

My brother was recently incarcerated. Two days after xmas. DEA agents came into our home at 4 am during my meditation while the children were in bed and arrested him.

We are still recovering from that. I don't think I'll ever forget the feeling of hearing the front door crash open and men coming in shouting "FEDERAL AGENTS!!!!".

They are pathetic idiots, period.

I used to feel the same way about my brother, thinking that whatever consequences he faced were his own. But, I changed my mind when I realized that it was his beleifs about himself that got him there. Rather than shun and shame him. I seek to lift him up and offer healing so that this won't be the path he turns to again.

I can't judge him, because the penal system knows nothing of maat, even if it does use her as their symbol. They do enough punishing without my having to add to it.

I used to feel the same way about my brother, thinking that whatever consequences he faced were his own. But, I changed my mind when I realized that it was his beleifs about himself that got him there. Rather than shun and shame him. I seek to lift him up and offer healing so that this won't be the path he turns to again.
I can't judge him, because the penal system knows nothing of maat, even if it does use her as their symbol. They do enough punishing without my having to add to it.

:couple: :hi: I bow to your wisdom, grace and compassion....
Thank you for speaking the unspoken:luv: :terrific: :dance:

I have an uncle in currently. I honestly hope that he stays there.

i have anywhere between 7-14 family members (all cousins) serving 1-5 years....... and at least 2 that have greater sentences. along with a couple that are in and out before the end of the week/month for stupid stuff,
i stay away from all of them havent seen most of them in years anyways,, :slingshot

Though not at all suprising, this thread still depressed the hell out of me. It confirms what most of us already know about Amerikkka, but seem powerless to stop, and that is there is a concerted and conscious effort to keep Black Man - and now, Black Women - locked down and enslaved.

Statistics compiled in state after state in the U.S. speak to the rise in Prison Construction in the past 35 years(more prisons built in that time than in the previous 150 years), the rise in Black Male/Female imprisonment, and legislation designed to put juveniles and three-time offenders behind bars for exceedingly long periods, or life, tell us all this is a concerted conscious, effort on the part of White America to use, exploit, and enslave Blacks once again. It is called the Prison Industrial Complex, where these inmates basically function like workers in China or India, the difference being
Chinese and Indian Workers get a little chump change for their work.

Again, when I see those videos of us in orange jumpsuits in the prison yard, or being chased and caught by cops after some criminal act, I lose my composure, because I see the DUMB message being sent to impressionable minds = going to prison is hip and fly... Why put that DUMB message out here to our children, and then tell us not to let them watch it? If you are so powerful, use your power more wisely than you do.

peace!

http://www.prisonsucks.com/

"Incarceration is not an equal opportunity punishment
On December 31, 2005, there were 2,193,798 people in U.S. prisons and jails. The United States incarcerates a greater share of its population, 737 per 100,000 residents, than any other country on the planet. But when you break down the statistics you see that incarceration is not an equal opportunity punishment.

U.S. incarceration rates by race, June 30, 2004:

Whites: 393 per 100,000
Latinos: 957 per 100,000
Blacks: 2,531 per 100,000
Gender is an important "filter" on the who goes to prison or jail, June 30, 2005:

Females: 129 per 100,000
Males: 1,371 per 100,000
Look at just the males by race, and the incarceration rates become even more frightening, June 30, 2005:

White males: 709 per 100,000
Latino males: 1,856 per 100,000
Black males: 4,682 per 100,000
If you look at males aged 25-29 and by race, you can see what is going on even clearer, June 30, 2005:

For White males ages 25-29: 1,682 per 100,000.
For Latino males ages 25-29: 3,884 per 100,000.
For Black males ages 25-29: 11,955 per 100,000. (That's 11.9% of Black men in their late 20s.)
Or you can make some international comparisons:
South Africa under Apartheid was internationally condemned as a racist society.

South Africa under apartheid (1993), Black males: 851 per 100,000
U.S. under George Bush (2004), Black males: 4,919 per 100,000
What does it mean that the leader of the "free world" locks up its Black males at a rate 5.8 times higher than the most openly racist country in the world?

Statistics as of June 30, 2005 from Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 2005, Table 13; Statistics as of June 30, 2004 from Prison and Jail Inmates at Midyear 2004, Tables 14; except for the race rate statistics which are calculated from Table 13 and Census Bureau population estimates. South Africa figures from Marc Mauer, Americans Behind Bars: The International Use of Incarceration. All references to Blacks and Whites are for what the Bureau of Justice Statistics and U.S. Census refer to as "non-Hispanic Blacks" and "non-Hispanic Whites".)"

Peace and Blessings Family,

Do You Have ... or ever had ... Family in Prison?

My nephew is in prison, and will probably be there for the rest of his life. He Spent most of his young life in there too. He was in, got out, and went right back. I've never visited him in prison, not even sure what prison he's in. He was arrested, prosecuted, all that stuff, in Chicago, so he's probably in a prison in IL. I'm gonna talk to my Sister and find out.

I also had 2 cousins that spent time in prison. They're both out now.

I could probably have more Family Members incarcerated, but if so, i'm not aware of it.

I think it would be good for us to bring ourselves even closer together, as i can't imagine that there are a whole lot of us who don't, or never have had, a Family Member in prison ... but yall never cease to amaze me ... as i might be the only one! :(

Please vote in the poll above, and post your comments below.

I just love yall ... thanks for sharing !!! :love:

:heart:

Destee


Peace Destee,

My family member just got out for violation of parole. It was for just unintentionally missing a court ordered class. We were scared they were going to be nasty and make them serve out some time. Some good still came , because it made my family member see the reality of jail and they don't mind locking you up.


-------------------------
I am on a great journey
Http://********************

Family ... just from our un-scientific poll ... 88% of Black Families have or had Members in prison ... 88%!

If this isn't racial discrimination ... i don't know what is.

How can the Jena 6 or any Black Man expect a fair break, when the entire system is rigged against them?

Even if we are successful in gaining justice for the 6 young Brothers in Jena, there are millions more being mistreated.

Thank you all ... please continue to vote and share.

:heart:

Destee

Yes I have a family member who was incarcerated and is now out and thats my 18 year old little brother. He has been in and out of Jail since he was 13 years old. I am afraid that he will be on hi way back soon...I try not to think like that but that is always what ends up happening.

It's amazing how on this thread the focus is on injustice and not on making our young men obey and respect their own community. And this constant assertion that they are captured and enslaved is just plain stupid. I work in law enforcement as many of you know already. Now with practically everyone answering the poll saying that they have or have had a family member in prison, why hasn't someone produced a slave for the rest of us to question? Out of the millions of imprisoned/enslaved black inmates, no one has produced even the slightest evidence. No news broadcast has covered it. I've even heard Jessie Jackson mention something about it, he and Al Sharpton have their own talk shows, yet the subject has never really been explored. Isn't anyone curious about this? This would be the news story of the century, if it were true. Unfortunately, it's not true, in fact, it's a big fat lie told by paranoid black people, who would rather blame the white man for the criminal behavior of these young black men. Of course the true criminals are those fathers, for the most part, who didn't bother to stick around and raise these boys into manhood. Let's lock up absent fathers when their sons are committing crimes. The prison population would diminish sharply.

The yearly cost of sending a child to Harvard University is almost the same as the cost of putting a kid in prison, that is $45,000.00. What kind of bargain is that? The prison industrial complex is a benefit available to only the best prisoners. Who would spend that kind of money to enslave someone. MSNBC does several regular shows on prison life, does anyone ever watch them? Even when there is a black movie done about prison life, it doesn't cover anything on this slave issue, unless you're talking about the chain gangs, there is very little production going on there too. For those who want to know the truth about prison life, ask one of your relatives who has been there, most of them will tell you that they spent their time in recreation and just plain killing time, eating and getting fat. No one would even want the burden of being the slave master over a butch of thugs.

The criminal behavior will stop, the inprisonment of loads of black males will stop, family stability will resurface, poverty will end, once the black community looks into a mirror collectively, and say that we are responsibile for our own community, and we will not get anymore out of it, than we put into it. It's all up to us, there are no other operators involved.

It's amazing how on this thread the focus is on injustice and not on making our young men obey and respect their own community. And this constant assertion that they are captured and enslaved is just plain stupid. I work in law enforcement as many of you know already. Now with practically everyone answering the poll saying that they have or have had a family member in prison, why hasn't someone produced a slave for the rest of us to question? Out of the millions of imprisoned/enslaved black inmates, no one has produced even the slightest evidence. No news broadcast has covered it. I've even heard Jessie Jackson mention something about it, he and Al Sharpton have their own talk shows, yet the subject has never really been explored. Isn't anyone curious about this? This would be the news story of the century, if it were true. Unfortunately, it's not true, in fact, it's a big fat lie told by paranoid black people, who would rather blame the white man for the criminal behavior of these young black men. Of course the true criminals are those fathers, for the most part, who didn't bother to stick around and raise these boys into manhood. Let's lock up absent fathers when their sons are committing crimes. The prison population would diminish sharply.

The yearly cost of sending a child to Harvard University is almost the same as the cost of putting a kid in prison, that is $45,000.00. What kind of bargain is that? The prison industrial complex is a benefit available to only the best prisoners. Who would spend that kind of money to enslave someone. MSNBC does several regular shows on prison life, does anyone ever watch them? Even when there is a black movie done about prison life, it doesn't cover anything on this slave issue, unless you're talking about the chain gangs, there is very little production going on there too. For those who want to know the truth about prison life, ask one of your relatives who has been there, most of them will tell you that they spent their time in recreation and just plain killing time, eating and getting fat. No one would even want the burden of being the slave master over a butch of thugs.

The criminal behavior will stop, the imprisonment of loads of black males will stop, family stability will resurface, poverty will end, once the black community looks into a mirror collectively, and say that we are responsible for our own community, and we will not get anymore out of it, than we put into it. It's all up to us, there are no other operators involved.




Hmm. So you won't give up will you.

If one would take the time to read the entry that I made to this very thread, anyone could see that any broad sweeping statements of a disinterested Black Community to the injustices that may or may not relate to the members of OUR Community, or issues regarding community respect or obedience to reasonable 'laws' are just plain demented and completely off base.

And that is just on MY part alone.

There are several 'civilized' other responses here as well.


'Let's lock up absent fathers when their sons are committing crimes. The prison population will diminish sharply.'.....above


This is by far the single most foolish statement among foolish statements that in all MY years on this planet that have ever heard. Sir, provided that you are of sound mind, how could you even proceed to draw correlation to any individual father to his child when you can't draw correlation to the crimes of amerika to the entire black community?

First, should amerika be locked up for the crimes of humanity that HER sons are committing (and now all over the globe) since it's foundation?

According to your logic, this is EXACTLY what should have happened Long before the first Black Man should be 'locked up' for the crimes that his son may have committed.

Finally, I'D had the opportunity to spend a few hours speaking with the sheriff of a major amerikan metroplex a few years back and though he'd realized MY political 'position's,' the conversation somehow moved to economics.

(to make a long story short,)

In an honest exchange, he reflected upon how he figured his next years budget. If his department didn't spend at least what the government had given it last year, the government would then proceed to cut his budget or, if he spent more, he could get more money from a government that doesn't care in reality how much money his department spends in the first place because it's 'not their money.'

That's the budget plan. How do you think he would 'find ways' to increase his budget? This is just one example.

So for you to imply that a consideration of harvard economics and prison (or law enforcement) economics are even a reasonably comparable dichotomy would raise a red flag to even any first year psychiatry student regarding dementia.

'there are no other operators involved.'....above


Apparently, from MY observations of your continued 'contributions,' there are.




ROARIN........

You're really scambling for answers, aren't you roarin? Now it's the budget that causing the problem. What in the hell is that suppose to mean? The police chief wants more crime from the black community, so that he can get a bigger budget? That's what I call "spaced out economics". Actually I happen to work with a former police chief, I also have a degree in Accounting. You are simply wrong. In fact, crime is so out of control in the black community, that many people complain that the police don't even bother to respond to many calls, they'd rather have a donut and coffee. One years budget doesn't dictate what the next years budget will be, yearly budgets are based on pro forma reports. Next year's budgets could include many new programs etc. or fewer programs, which would reduce cost.

Going back into antiquity, your favorite defense, won't solve any of our problems. Whites have moved on from that. Your way of thinking is not helping the black man move out of criminality and into the mainstream.

You don't want to acknowledge that many of these boys are lost and know little about manhood, because they don't have fathers? What is your real problem? Did you abandon a male child? Who is suppose to raise these young men? Certainly, not the government you hate so much.

The one thing I have gotten out of these exchanges with you, is that I now understand why there are so many black male failures. You can't possibly be successful and continue to think that the white man is in some way to blame if you fail. You must think that white people are "gods". I'm reading Cosby's book currently, and it will probably be more helpful to you if you did. Beccause there is no place in the world where you can prosper with your way of thinking.

M Ron, what'd you do 'filibuster' w/ the 'top brass' at your agency for the correct response to my post? No matter. I'll give you a well measured response to this 'entry' also.

Know something? Again I never thought that I would agree w/you 'bout anything! But I can't help but to agree w/you 'bout my 'way of thinking' (for starters.) Because you are absolutely correct!

Because my way of thinking is justice, love for my people and the peace that shoulda existed always on this planet WITHOUT PRICE...I'll never be 'prosperous' against a socio-political structure that is determinate against these very attributes (and this is just the 'tip' of the iceberg.)

And because the thought of hypocrisy in my character could possibly induce a psychosis so extreme I could probably never recover...I could NEVER agree w/the 'programme' (no matter how lavish,) that has been pre-prescribed by krakkas in politics, because they THEMSELVES and their ENTIRE SYSTEM are psychotic!

M Ron, you are an intelligent man....I know I don't need to quote you chapter and verse concerning the atrocities invoked (still to this day,) upon the peoples of this earth by the opportunistic criminal arrogance of the white men whom are to this day, the very embodiment of amerikkkan politics and social structure....and from his infancy!

And if by teaching my Sons (of whom I have four,) that it is better to Stand as a Man (even though it may mean 'euro-poverty,') than to FALL as a slave at the feet of animals of whom will never even know where to begin to conceive of manhood, then I PROUDLY am a failure.

The man who will not die for something....is much too patheic to live.

Concerning the chief, I can only relate what information he had given me....(in which case I should not also be suprised, most cops, especially this 'chief' are liars.)

Finally, it's not that I don't want to acknowledge that Black Fathers in his childs life make all the difference....THEY DO. However, tell me again? Which intiative found within the europeans initial rampage upon this planet and the peoples of this planet endorses the progressive preservation of the Black Family?

On the contrary, Black Fathers have from the thirties and fourties been taken outta the mix and thrown in jail, ensuring your ability (and officers and their families like you,) to watch the super bowl on HD.

Btw, cosby is a babbling fool.



ROARIN.........

yes...

pops died incacerated.

he never came to see me, but I did go to see him.

I come from of a family of a long line of black men who've done time in prison. I did a day in jail for student protest about 20 years ago. So it doesn't count. My brother did a little time in South Africa. Every bra in my fam. who did time didn't want to be visited. I remember seeing letters from an uncle inside as a kid around my father's room. And that's about it. My father just did about seven years on some felonies, yes at the age of almost 60. He didn't want any one to visit him. Though he did stay in touch with my sister.

Staying in touch? It's a matter of choice for the incarcerated. I believe their choice should be respected.

And of course I whole heartedly believe that this system and those in charge of it are pointed at putting records on every one of us....

I come from of a family of a long line of black men who've done time in prison. I did a day in jail for student protest about 20 years ago. So it doesn't count. My brother did a little time in South Africa. Every bra in my fam. who did time didn't want to be visited. I remember seeing letters from an uncle inside as a kid around my father's room. And that's about it. My father just did about seven years on some felonies, yes at the age of almost 60. He didn't want any one to visit him. Though he did stay in touch with my sister.

Staying in touch? It's a matter of choice for the incarcerated. I believe their choice should be respected.

And of course I whole heartedly believe that this system and those in charge of it are pointed at putting records on every one of us....

Brother Sesh Ra Ur ... Welcome Welcome Welcome ... :wave:

Thank you for sharing with us. You bring this thread full circle, your post, as we all come from a long line of Brothers doing time. I too, whole heartedly believe, that they want the fingerprints, blood, urine, mind, DNA, freedom, and Spirit of every Black Man, to whatever degree they can get it.

I'm amazed at the results of this poll. While i didn't know what to expect, i surely didn't expect this. It is very telling. As you say, we come from a long line of Black Men incarcerated, as though criminality is in our very core and being as a people. 82.5% of us at this point, and it has been higher. They are such liars. It's like we're sleeping on this. Black Men (and even young Black Boys now) being incarcerated at overwhelming rates, around the world as you testify, and we've not been moved to stop it.

How weakened are a people, that do not have their Men?

Again, thank you for joining and sharing with us. Please make yourself at home, because you are.

:heart:

Destee

Brother Sesh Ra Ur ... Welcome Welcome Welcome ... :wave:

Thank you for sharing with us. You bring this thread full circle, your post, as we all come from a long line of Brothers doing time. I too, whole heartedly believe, that they want the fingerprints, blood, urine, mind, DNA, freedom, and Spirit of every Black Man, to whatever degree they can get it.

I'm amazed at the results of this poll. While i didn't know what to expect, i surely didn't expect this. It is very telling. As you say, we come from a long line of Black Men incarcerated, as though criminality is in our very core and being as a people. 82.5% of us at this point, and it has been higher. They are such liars. It's like we're sleeping on this. Black Men (and even young Black Boys now) being incarcerated at overwhelming rates, around the world as you testify, and we've not been moved to stop it.

How weakened are a people, that do not have their Men?

Again, thank you for joining and sharing with us. Please make yourself at home, because you are.

:heart:

Destee
Now that we ahve a music that glorifies CRIMEING, and youth young men and women seeing jail as a rights of passage
WHAT DO WE DO!

It seems we don't want to talk about drugs in the hood unless it's the "Rockefellor Law" but how many have been incarcerated for drugs or dug related?
And ones folks get out unemplyable with felonies what do WE DO to employ them???

Now that we ahve a music that glorifies CRIMEING, and youth young men and women seeing jail as a rights of passage
WHAT DO WE DO!

It seems we don't want to talk about drugs in the hood unless it's the "Rockefellor Law" but how many have been incarcerated for drugs or dug related?
And ones folks get out unemplyable with felonies what do WE DO to employ them???

While music glorifying crime may be a problem, i think it's negligible compared to the systemic racism poured into the very foundation of this country, its laws and verified by its history, permeating all that we say and do. If we fix this major problem, systemic racism, i believe the music will take care of itself.

I have no problem talking about drugs, what do you want to discuss about them? It may be better to start a new thread, with that being the focus, instead of in this one talking about prison.

What is the "Rockefeller Law" ... i've never heard of it.

I said in another post, we are a people that cannot feed our own selves, let alone employ ourselves. We can't collectively employ the "law abiding Sisters and Brothers" amongst us. The overwhelming majority of us must go to the white man and hope he finds us favorable enough, to give us a job. We must hope his niece, nephew, friend, cousin, etc., doesn't need the job before us. With this being the case for the majority of us, the felon, doesn't stand a chance. Which is why he doesn't get employed. It's not as though they have a problem hiring / employing felons ... as they have a long list of white felons growing richer every day ... it's just Black felons they have a problem with.

So ... until we can employ each other, our own selves ... we will be at their mercy for economic sustenance.

Not only the felon, but all of us.

:heart:

Destee

Yes, Sister: I've got a younger brother in prison in Arkansas. I myself did twelve years straight (from 1992 thru 2004), and came out better than America would care to admit. ASA

Yup. It has helped some and harmed others. I have a cousin that is a corrections officer and she not only has a couple of childhood friends there but a family member also.

currently...... my lil king's father is in prison...

I've been writing to him.......

He is hanging in there.... and I've been writing and trying to help him get an early parole....

my son has never been without him, so it has been an adjustment for us..

we had our ups and downs as a couple and it has been over for years... but we always have been one with regard to our child....

I really miss his presence because whenever I needed him to spend time with Ry or pick him up or anything he was there.......

in his letters he says he realizes the errors that he has made.... and he wished he would have listened to me.. and apologized for being so selfish....

but I wrote him told him not to beat himself up..

it's not really the mistakes that you make ... it's what you do after...

crazy is to continue the same behavior and expect different results...

in any event... my pops died incarcerated.... and I ain't having a repeat....

I'm glad that I can be strong enough for us all right now.........

but he understands that I shouldn't have to be...........

say a prayer for us ya'll.......

peace.

The physical prison is often a manifestation of the mental and social prison we find ourselves in. Our attempt to break out of the social or mental prison often puts us in conflict with social laws. Therefore it is the avenue of the mind that must be freed so that we become aware of other doors or avenues in our life. Without this mental expansion we will always "react instead of act". We will always be the "moved instead of the mover". The old saying; "free your mind and your @ss will follow is so true". If you are mentally locked down it's only a matter of time before it physically manifest. Cause and Effect.

unfortunately....yes. My older relatives have had trouble with the prison system in the past, and I have a bad feeling that if some of my younger relatives don't change their ways that they might end up there also......it's depressing and it angers me, because you just see the trend being passed down to future generations......

Well its sometimes sad to know how many people end up in prision. But its inevitable if you are making bad choices for yourself such as giving into activites around you, hanging out with the wrong crowd, or just being in the wrong area at the wrong time. People have to learn how to make decisions for themselves/ learn how to think for themselves. This involves thinking about whats going to happen down the road or what could their choices lead to. The fact of the matter is some people make bad choices and its a hazard to have those people roaming the streets and, just think, those are the ones who have been caught there are people who are free and still doing bad things. People should familiarize themselves with the 10 commandments whether they are religious or not because they give some very good pointers on things one should do. It also sucks when people who may be innocent get convicted but think about it those judges, lawyers, and jury were not present the time of the crime. Therefore they only know what they see(evidence) so like they say "If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, its a duck" (meaning if it seems like thats how it went down according to the evidence/ logic then its probably how it happened not based on image even though image and attitude can play apart in conviction) and, im sure many people have been found guilty because of those reasons. As far as people getting set up, those people will be dealt with, karma does exist believe it or not and even if karma doesn't catch up to them their conscious will. And if all else fails there is a place called Hell waiting for them at the end of their road. If you have ever been in jail or know someone in jail (and it wasnt your fault) then keep your head up and be strong and, most importantly share your story even if its just to a younger sibling make an attempt to change at least one person's life.

Yes, I have a cousin (adopted into the family) that has been in and out of prison a few times. Drug/Alcoholism. Stole his father's identity and wrote a bunch of checks and ruined father's retirement.

He had some short stints in prison, but whenever he comes back home he keeps gettin in trouble (hangin around the same people).

He is no longer allowed Home when he gets out. I actually think that it is a good thing. He needs to start over somewhere else, in my opinion.

Yes. I had an uncle who was in and out of prison trying to steal in order to support his addiction to heroin. I also have a young first cousin who's been in and out of prison trying to smuggle drugs from Bermuda to the States.



"And who'd think in elementary?..Heeey! I see the penitentiary, one day"-2Pac

I have a big family, there should be an option that says unsure.

I have had a cousin in and out of prison for over 20 years. The thing that causes me grief is that these same men father children (he has 5) and are never around to be a father to these children. Aslo, who started this weak statement that its like a family atmosphere in jail/prison when you stay so long. You never want to go back out into society because you couldn't adapt. This is wrong, and when a person wants to change they will. this trend of going in and out of jail/prison must end!

End this trend!

I have had a cousin in and out of prison for over 20 years. The thing that causes me grief is that these same men father children (he has 5) and are never around to be a father to these children. Aslo, who started this weak statement that its like a family atmosphere in jail/prison when you stay so long. You never want to go back out into society because you couldn't adapt. This is wrong, and when a person wants to change they will. this trend of going in and out of jail/prison must end!




Naturner,

Very powerful Naturner, very powerful, indeed! Great way to start off here at Destee.com. It was this post that caused me to reach out in soliciation of your help to begin to help fix this plight through generating truth, hope you will join us!

I had an uncle who did time for child molestation, he did 8 years. Won't say much about him because I really didn't care for him. Just answering the question of the topic and the anwer is yes, I do have a family member who did 8 years in the pen. He got out over 20 years ago and has not gone back to jail or prison.


Right now I have a friend who is in prison and to be honest, prisoners who are in prison un rightfully, I feel for them but those who seem like they do everyting they can do to keep going back, I wonder about them. My friend to be honest, he is a pest. He was in and out of juvenile and jail before he got the long stretch he is now serving in the pen. He has been in the pen for 12 years and has two more years to go. I like him as a person but his prison habits annoy the hell out of me. He says he wont be the way he is when he gets out but I find that hard to believe. Redemption begins in prison, if one can not make his time productive while in prison, what can one contribute to society or his family when he gets out?

Destee--although I have no family members incarcerated that I am aware of, I do work for the Department of Corrections in Wisconsin. The one thing that I have noticed is the lack of support for women incarcerated. On visitation days in a male facility the visiting rooms are packed. However, in female facilities, at most you see are a few women who are fortunate enough to have someone on the outside who are caretakers of their children and have brought the children to see there mother. Seldom do you find a man from the outside who remains in a relation with a female who is incarcerated. Yet many women struggle and spend their very last money to visit men incarcerated. I don't even want to begin to go into how these women who can barely keep a roof over their heads, find the means to put money on inmate's book or pay monthly phones bills that often time are as much as they are paying for rent. The reality of it is that in cases such as this, not only is the inmate doing time, but people that love and care about him/her as well.

Destee--although I have no family members incarcerated that I am aware of, I do work for the Department of Corrections in Wisconsin. The one thing that I have noticed is the lack of support for women incarcerated. On visitation days in a male facility the visiting rooms are packed. However, in female facilities, at most you see are a few women who are fortunate enough to have someone on the outside who are caretakers of their children and have brought the children to see there mother. Seldom do you find a man from the outside who remains in a relation with a female who is incarcerated. Yet many women struggle and spend their very last money to visit men incarcerated. I don't even want to begin to go into how these women who can barely keep a roof over their heads, find the means to put money on inmate's book or pay monthly phones bills that often time are as much as they are paying for rent. The reality of it is that in cases such as this, not only is the inmate doing time, but people that love and care about him/her as well.

I have had some female friends who were incarcerated and they will tell you in a New York minute, not to come and see them, that they just want to do their time and get out. However, with men, they act more like children who need their mommy or mommy's to come and check up on them. The men in prison compete with each other. So they will press a woman to come and see them so that they will look like (da' man )in front of other prisoners. Unfortunately, black women tend to spoil their men and that is why imprisoned black men get to have their cake and eat it too. Many male prisoners even get women to marry them, even if they are not allowed to have congical visits. What woman do you hear about in prison that goes out of her way to get a man to mary her?

I dont have but ready for if there is any thing wrong

The police seem to know my fathers side of the family pritty good. plenty of them got a federal record. Had an uncle in jail for ten years. He was inoccent though.

I have several uncles, cousins and near relatives and not any of them have ever gone to prison. I don't understand why so many black men end up in the prison system. My friends and I talk about this subject a lot because we are raising black males and do not want them to fall into the prison system. Maybe if there were other alternatives in front of the men that are in jail that they possibly may not have ended up there in the first place. It may have been the norm for some families so it would logical that others might follow in their foot steps.

IN AMERICA, I HAVENT HAD ANY AT ALL. THANK GOD. IN BARBADOS(MOST OF MY FAM LIVES THERE, I DONT THINK WE HAVE HAD ANY THERE EITHER. FEW WENT TO JAIL BUT IT WAS NOTHING BUT MISDEMEANORS.

Never any immediate family members but some cousins, yeah.

I've got some cousins that have gone to the pen once and never went back and I've got some others who have been in and out their entire lives.

Some of them have been petty thieves, some dope-dealers, some killers and maybe everything else. And some of them have survived attempted murder so many times from gunshots and knifings and car wrecks; but they're still here.


But, I think we've all got some cuzzins like "Craig and 'nem." lol

Yes, my cousin was in prison. He robbed a 7-11.

He's doing well now... he married and had two babies. So, it is possible to reform even after those bad experiences.

The best thing to do is to teach prison people how to reform after they get locked up, (even if it LOOKS LIKE they're not coming out).

hey destee my dad was locked up when i was 14 i allways try to send him money or see him it is about a six hour drive but its worth it bcuz my father raised me as a single parent me and my sister

hey destee my dad was locked up when i was 14 i allways try to send him money or see him it is about a six hour drive but its worth it bcuz my father raised me as a single parent me and my sister

Shiesha ... that's beautiful, you all standing by and with each other ... Thanks for sharing! :toast:

Thanks for joining us too! Make yourself right at home, because you are!

:heart:

Destee

Never any immediate family members but some cousins, yeah.

I've got some cousins that have gone to the pen once and never went back and I've got some others who have been in and out their entire lives.

Some of them have been petty thieves, some dope-dealers, some killers and maybe everything else. And some of them have survived attempted murder so many times from gunshots and knifings and car wrecks; but they're still here.


But, I think we've all got some cuzzins like "Craig and 'nem." lol


And I got one cousin....Lawd knows, I love 'im; but he so treacherous...you gotta be careful who you tell you kin to him! lol

My older brothers did small stints for stupid stuff...more like long jail time than prison (around 1 year each time).

I have one cousin serving life who killed his wheelchair bound girlfriend. He was high, she had money and either wouldn't get it or couldn't get it quick enough to give to him. I never met him, and I doubt I will. He plans to go live with his father when he gets out, and his father did terrible things to my mother. He feels like his father(also an ex-con) is the only one that understands what he went through, but I want no part of it.

I have another cousin who killed a man during a robbery. The evidence is sketchy, but he got a life sentence. I don't remember him much, but I talk to him at my aunt's house.